IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR PASCO AND PINELLAS COUNTIES, FLORIDA
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2016-006 PI-CIR
RE: PROCEDURES FOR RETURN OF FIREARMS – PINELLAS COUNTY
Section 933.14(3), Florida Statutes, provides that no firearm seized by law enforcement
with a search warrant or without a search warrant upon view by an officer of a breach of the
peace shall be returned except upon court order. It is necessary for the efficient administration of
justice to establish a uniform procedure in Pinellas County for determining the appropriateness
of ordering the return of firearms taken by law enforcement under section 933.14(3), Florida
Statutes, where no arrest was made and no charges were filed.
In order to provide for the timely and uniform disposition of petitions for the return of
firearms within Pinellas County, and in accordance with Article V, section 2, Florida
Constitution, Rule of Judicial Administration 2.215, and section 43.26, Florida Statutes, it is
ORDERED:
1. Any person who seeks the return of a firearm seized by law enforcement under
section 933.14(3), Florida Statutes, where no arrest was made and no case was filed must file a
Petition for Return of Firearm(s) with the Clerk of Court. The petition must be sworn and must
be served on the law enforcement agency in possession of the firearm(s). A form Petition for
Return of Firearm(s) is attached to this administrative order as Attachment A.
2. All Petitions for Return of Firearm(s) must specifically identify the firearm(s)
and/or ammunition sought to be returned and must further allege that (1) the firearm(s) and/or
ammunition is/are the petitioner’s personal property; (2) the firearm(s) and/or ammunition is/are
not the fruit of criminal activity and was/were not involved in criminal activity; (3) the firearm(s)
and/or ammunition is/are not being held as evidence by the relevant law enforcement agency; (4)
the petitioner is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under any provision of Florida or
federal law, including 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9); (5) the petitioner has not been convicted of a
misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, and has not had adjudication of guilt withheld or the
imposition of a sentence suspended on any misdemeanor crime of domestic violence unless 3
years have elapsed since probation or any other conditions set by the relevant court have been
fulfilled or expunction has occurred; (6) the petitioner is not prohibited from possessing a firearm
and/or ammunition pursuant to the terms of any pretrial release, bond, probation, or any other
type of community supervision or court program; (7) the petitioner has not been Baker Acted as
a result of this incident or otherwise. If the petitioner has been Baker Acted, the petitioner will
provide the Judge with a copy of the documents furnished to the petitioner or the petitioner’s
representative by the facility, upon or after discharge of the petitioner from the facility, which
contain any evaluations, diagnoses, prognoses, recommended course of treatment, and
recommended or prescribed medications; (8) the petitioner does not have an active Domestic
Violence Injunction or a Repeat Violence Injunction against him/her; (9) the petitioner has not
been adjudicated mentally defective as defined by section 790.065(2)(a)4.a., Florida Statutes, or
if the petitioner has been adjudicated mentally defective, the petitioner has had his or her