Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, FL Phone Number, Address & Locations

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Manatee County, Florida · Sheriff, jail, records and public-safety services · Reviewed September 27, 2026

Manatee County Sheriff Office FL: Phone, Jail, Records & Services

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office handles much more than patrol calls. Residents and families use the agency for inmate and arrest information, jail questions, incident reports, countywide criminal-history requests, civil process, fingerprinting, victim advocacy and other law-enforcement services.

The part that often causes confusion is knowing which office controls which record. The Sheriff handles law-enforcement and jail records, the Manatee County Clerk controls criminal court cases, Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains statewide criminal-history and sex-offender resources, and municipal police departments may control incident reports for arrests they made.

Official Manatee County Sheriff website Official arrest inquiry Manatee County court records
Independent-site notice: CountySheriffsOffice.org is an independent informational website. It is not the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Manatee County government, Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Florida Department of Law Enforcement or any other government agency.
Use the correct office before travelling: the Sheriff’s Operations Center and Records Section are in Bradenton, while the Manatee County Jail is on Harlee Road in Palmetto. Court records are handled by the Clerk in downtown Bradenton. These are different locations serving different purposes.
Quick answer

Which Manatee County Office Should You Contact?

One of the most useful things to know before calling is that the Sheriff’s Office, jail and Clerk answer different questions. Calling the correct place first can save a trip across Bradenton or north to the jail in Palmetto.

Manatee County Sheriff and court service routing
If you need…
Best starting point
What to prepare
Common mistake
Current inmate or booking
MCSO Arrest Inquiry
Legal name and approximate booking date
Using an old arrest article as proof of current custody
Jail status or booking question
Manatee County Jail
Full legal name and booking number if known
Driving to the Bradenton Operations Center for a jail-housing question
Criminal court date or disposition
Manatee County Clerk
Case number or defendant name
Treating the Sheriff’s booking charge as the final court result
Incident report or body-camera record
Agency that created the record
Case number, date, location and involved names
Requesting a Bradenton Police report from the Sheriff
Countywide criminal-history check
MCSO Records Section
Accurate identity information
Assuming it is a statewide Florida search
Statewide Florida criminal history
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Legal name and identifying details
Using a local jail search as a statewide background check
Civil summons or writ service
MCSO Civil Section
Original/certified process, service copy and full address
Sending incomplete paperwork or the wrong fee
Manatee County Sheriff’s Office 600 US Highway 301 Boulevard West, Suite 202, Bradenton, FL 34205
Main telephone 941-747-3011
Manatee County Jail 14470 Harlee Road, Palmetto, FL 34221
Jail information 941-747-3011 · extension 2915
Emergency Call 911
Current Sheriff Rick Wells
Phone numbers and locations

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Contact Details

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office contact information
Office or service
Address / contact
Best use
Sheriff Operations Center / Administration
600 US Highway 301 Boulevard West, Suite 202, Bradenton, FL 34205 · 941-747-3011
General Sheriff administration and public-service routing
Records Section
600 US Highway 301 Boulevard West, Suite 202, Bradenton, FL 34205 · 941-747-3011
Sheriff incident records, local background checks and record requests
Manatee County Jail
14470 Harlee Road, Palmetto, FL 34221 · 941-747-3011 ext. 2915
Current custody and jail questions
Civil Process
600 301 Boulevard West, Suite 202, Bradenton · 941-747-3011 ext. 2242 or 2256
Summonses, subpoenas, writs and other civil process
Victim Advocate Unit
941-747-3011 ext. 8400
Crime-victim support, referrals and justice-system assistance
Manatee County Clerk — Criminal
1115 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205 · 941-741-4019
Criminal cases, court dates and official court records
Local address trap: the Sheriff’s Operations Center at 600 US Highway 301 Boulevard West in Bradenton is not the county jail. The jail is at 14470 Harlee Road in Palmetto.
Local jurisdiction

Sheriff Record, Police Report and Court Record Are Not the Same Thing

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office provides law-enforcement services throughout the county and serves unincorporated areas directly. Incorporated municipalities can have their own police departments.

This distinction matters because a person arrested by a municipal police department can still be booked into Manatee County Jail, while the original police incident report remains with the arresting police agency.

Manatee County law enforcement and record responsibilities
Question
Likely source
Why
Is someone currently booked in county jail?
Manatee County Sheriff
MCSO operates the county jail and booking system.
What happened during a Sheriff-handled incident?
MCSO Records
The Sheriff controls its own incident reports and related records.
What happened during a Bradenton Police incident?
Bradenton Police records
The arresting municipal agency normally controls its own incident report.
What charges were formally filed in court?
Manatee County Clerk
Court filings and final dispositions belong to the judicial record.
What does Florida’s statewide criminal-history repository show?
FDLE
FDLE maintains Florida’s statewide criminal-history system.
Practical example: if Bradenton Police arrests someone and the person is booked into Manatee County Jail, use the Sheriff for custody information, Bradenton Police for the police incident report and the Clerk for the criminal court case.
Arrest and booking information

How to Use the Manatee County Sheriff Arrest Inquiry

Florida’s Department of State lists the Manatee County Sheriff’s arrest inquiry as the county’s public jail-search resource. It is the better starting point when you need current or recent booking information.

Open the official arrest inquiry. Start with the Sheriff-operated search instead of a copied booking directory.
Search the person’s legal name. Use the name most likely to have been used during booking.
Try a broader search when necessary. Remove a suffix, middle name or punctuation when the exact search produces no result.
Open the likely booking. Compare identifying information rather than relying only on the name.
Review every listed charge and bond. One person can have more than one case or release condition.
Save the booking number. It is useful for jail questions, visits, court follow-up and other inmate services.
Use the Clerk for the court result. A booking entry is not the final disposition of the criminal case.
After opening the official Manatee County Sheriff Arrest Inquiry:
  1. Search the legal last name and first name.
  2. Open the most likely booking.
  3. Compare the booking date and other identifying details.
  4. Write down the booking number.
  5. Review every listed charge and bond entry.
  6. Check the Clerk’s court system for filed-case information.
Very recent arrest? booking data may not appear instantly while intake, fingerprinting, medical screening and record entry are still happening. For urgent custody questions, call the jail rather than assuming an empty online result means no arrest.
Corrections

Manatee County Jail Address, Phone and Family Workflow

Manatee County Jail is located at 14470 Harlee Road, Palmetto, FL 34221. Florida’s statewide county-jail directory lists the Sheriff’s main number, 941-747-3011, with extension 2915 for the Manatee jail.

Jail address 14470 Harlee Road, Palmetto, FL 34221
Jail telephone 941-747-3011 ext. 2915
Official custody search Manatee County Sheriff Arrest Inquiry
Court follow-up Manatee County Clerk Public Records Hub

If someone was arrested today

  1. Search the Sheriff’s arrest inquiry.
  2. Save the booking number.
  3. Review every bond or charge entry.
  4. Call the jail if the booking is too recent to appear online.
  5. Use the Clerk once a criminal court case is filed.
Do not assume a displayed bond guarantees release. another charge, warrant, court order or hold can affect whether the person is actually release-eligible.

Professional visitation uses ViaPath/GTL

The Sheriff’s current professional-visitor application directs approved professional visitors to the Manatee County ViaPath/GTL visitation system. Family visitation procedures and provider requirements can change, so check the Sheriff’s current jail information before registering or paying for a remote visit.

After opening the official Manatee County Sheriff website:
  1. Open the jail or corrections information area.
  2. Verify the inmate’s current custody before registering for services.
  3. Open the current visitation instructions.
  4. Use only the provider linked or named by the Sheriff.
  5. Review identification, scheduling and conduct rules before travelling.
Criminal court cases

Use the Manatee Clerk for Court Dates and Case Results

The Sheriff’s booking system answers an arrest-and-custody question. The Manatee County Clerk’s Criminal Division maintains court files for arrestable offenses filed in Manatee County.

The Clerk’s Public Records Hub allows public court searches by person or business name, case number, citation number or case type.

After opening the Manatee County Clerk Public Records Hub:
  1. Select Court Records.
  2. Use the case number when you already know it.
  3. Otherwise search the defendant’s legal name.
  4. Confirm the correct criminal case.
  5. Review public docket entries, hearing information and disposition.
  6. Use the Clerk’s copy process when you need an official or certified document.
Manatee County Clerk criminal and record services
Service
Current detail
Criminal Division
1115 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205
Criminal phone
941-741-4019
Public Access & Research
941-741-4040
Business hours
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Ordinary copy
$1.00 per page
Certification
$2.00 per certification
Record search without case number
$2.00 per year searched
Locked document icon: the Clerk explains that some records are “View on Request.” A user can click the lock icon and provide an email address so staff can review the document for online release. Some other documents remain confidential and cannot be publicly displayed.
Incident reports and public records

Request Manatee County Sheriff Incident Reports and Body-Camera Records

Florida public-record requests work best when the requester identifies the specific agency that created the record. Manatee County government itself directs Sheriff incident reports, background checks and body-camera footage requests to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office rather than the county administration’s general public-record office.

MCSO Records Section 600 US Highway 301 Boulevard West, Suite 202, Bradenton, FL 34205
Main number 941-747-3011
Records contact extension Ext. 2295 is used on current MCSO public-record correspondence
Record examples Incident reports, local background checks and body-camera footage

Information that makes a request easier to locate

  • Sheriff case or incident number.
  • Date and approximate time.
  • Incident location.
  • Names of people involved.
  • Specific record requested.
  • Preferred delivery method.
After opening the Manatee County Sheriff public-record information:
  1. Confirm that MCSO created the record.
  2. Choose the appropriate public-record request method.
  3. Provide the case number whenever possible.
  4. Describe the exact report, photograph, audio or video needed.
  5. Wait for the Records Section to advise whether fees or additional clarification apply.
911 audio is different: Manatee County’s general public-record system identifies 911 calls as a County Government record category, while Sheriff incident records and body-camera footage belong with MCSO. If you need the original 911 call rather than a Sheriff’s transferred call or incident report, verify the request route with Manatee County Public Safety.

Florida email privacy warning

Florida public-record agencies warn that email addresses can themselves become public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to a future public-record request, use the agency’s telephone or written-mail route where appropriate instead of emailing.

Criminal-history searches

County, State and Federal Background Checks Are Different

A Manatee County arrest inquiry is not a complete criminal background check. The correct system depends on the geographic scope and purpose of the search.

Manatee County criminal background check options
Need
Correct starting point
Important limitation
Current or recent Manatee jail booking
MCSO Arrest Inquiry
Not a conviction history
Manatee County law-enforcement background
MCSO Records Section
County-level scope
Manatee court criminal history
Manatee County Clerk
Manatee court records, not statewide repository data
Florida statewide criminal history
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Separate state repository search
Federal identity-history summary
FBI
Separate fingerprint-based federal process
Local Clerk distinction: the Manatee County Clerk explicitly states that it cannot provide a statewide background check. It can assist with Manatee County court records, while countywide law-enforcement background requests go to MCSO and statewide searches go to FDLE.
FCRA warning: an inmate roster, arrest inquiry or basic public-record search is not automatically a legally compliant consumer report for employment, tenant screening, credit, insurance or another eligibility decision governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act or similar law.
Warrant questions

Do Not Rely on a Third-Party Warrant List

Warrant status can change after a court recall, arrest, service, case update or data-entry change. If your concern involves your own possible warrant, verify the information through an official law-enforcement or court source before making decisions about travel or surrender.

After opening the official Manatee County Sheriff website:
  1. Look for the warrant or public-information service.
  2. Use the person’s complete legal identity.
  3. Verify that the result is current.
  4. Use the court case number when one is available.
  5. For your own warrant, consider speaking with a Florida attorney before taking legal action based solely on an online result.
Warrant-payment scam: do not send gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers or hurried payment-app transfers to an unsolicited caller claiming you must pay immediately to cancel a warrant. Independently call the Sheriff or court using a number from an official government source.
Summonses, subpoenas and writs

Manatee County Sheriff Civil Process Fees and Requirements

The Sheriff’s Civil Section serves qualifying legal process in Manatee County. Florida law sets statewide Sheriff service fees, and MCSO publishes local submission requirements.

Manatee County Sheriff civil process fees
Process
Published Sheriff fee
Summons, subpoena, notice, motion, order or similar service-only process
$40 per person / per process
Writ of Attachment
$90
Writ of Bodily Attachment
$90
Writ of Possession
$90
Writ of Replevin
$90

What the Sheriff says to include

  • Original or certified copy of the process.
  • Service copy and required attachments.
  • Name of the person or entity to be served.
  • Complete physical service address.
  • Correct nonrefundable fee.
Deliver in person 600 301 Boulevard West, Suite 202, Bradenton, FL 34205
Mail Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Attn: Civil, 600 301 Boulevard West, Suite 202, Bradenton, FL 34205
Civil telephone 941-747-3011 ext. 2242 or 2256
Payment Review the current MCSO instructions before sending funds
After opening the Sheriff’s current civil-process instructions:
  1. Identify the exact process being served.
  2. Count every person who must be served.
  3. Prepare the original/certified process and service copies.
  4. Include the complete physical address.
  5. Confirm the current fee before mailing payment.
Fingerprint services

Fingerprinting at the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office

Manatee County’s public-information system lists Sheriff fingerprinting on weekdays. Electronic and hard-copy fingerprint services are available for supported requests.

Published weekday hours Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Lunch closure 12:00–1:00 p.m.
General published fee $10 for most requests
Published concealed-permit MCSO fee $5
Verify before driving: fingerprint requirements differ by employer, licensing authority and application. Ask the requesting agency whether it requires ink cards, electronic submission, a particular ORI number or a specific approved vendor before going to the Sheriff’s Office.
Victim support

Manatee County Sheriff Victim Advocate Unit

The Sheriff’s Victim Advocate Unit assists crime victims with support through the criminal-justice process, referrals, victim-compensation assistance and related advocacy.

Victim Advocate Unit Manatee County Sheriff’s Office
Main line 941-747-3011
Victim Advocate extension 8400
Location 600 Highway 301 Boulevard West, Suite 202, Bradenton

The Florida Attorney General’s victim-services directory lists services such as crisis counseling, criminal-justice support, referrals, victim-compensation assistance, emergency legal advocacy and other victim support.

After opening the MCSO Victim Information Portal:
  1. Enter the Sheriff’s case number.
  2. Complete the victim-verification step.
  3. Review the available case-status information.
  4. If the portal cannot find the case, call the Sheriff’s Office rather than assuming the case is closed.
Immediate danger: an online victim portal is not an emergency service. Call 911 when there is an immediate threat of violence or another emergency.
State registry

Florida Sex Offender and Predator Search

Sex-offender and predator registration information is maintained through Florida’s statewide system rather than a general Manatee County jail search.

After opening the FDLE Sexual Offender and Predator Search:
  1. Choose an offender-name or neighborhood search.
  2. For a neighborhood search, enter the Manatee County address or ZIP code.
  3. Select an appropriate search radius.
  4. Open individual results and review the reported status and address-source information.
  5. Use the FDLE correction contact if you believe registry information is inaccurate.
Important context: FDLE states that the registry is intended to help the public access reported registration information. A listing should not be treated as an independent prediction of the risk a particular person presents.
Call the right number

Emergency vs. Non-Emergency Sheriff Contact

When to call 911 or the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office
Situation
What to do
Crime or violence happening now
Call 911
Immediate threat to life or safety
Call 911
Serious medical or fire emergency
Call 911
Routine Sheriff administrative question
Call 941-747-3011
Jail inmate information
Call 941-747-3011 ext. 2915 or use Arrest Inquiry
Sheriff public-record question
Contact the MCSO Records Section
Court date or court case
Use the Manatee Clerk rather than calling 911 or patrol dispatch
Local practical guidance

Manatee County Mistakes That Are Easy to Avoid

  • Do not drive to the jail for a Records Section request. The jail is in Palmetto; Sheriff’s Records is at the Bradenton Operations Center.
  • Do not request a municipal police report from the Sheriff. Ask the agency that created the incident report.
  • Do not treat a Sheriff’s booking as a court disposition. Use the Clerk’s criminal case search.
  • Do not assume a county background check is statewide. FDLE is the Florida statewide criminal-history source.
  • Do not pay a warrant caller without independent verification. Call the official agency directly.
  • Do not send a broad record request when you know the case number. Specific requests are easier for staff to locate and price.
  • Do not use an old jail directory for visitation or vendor information. Providers and schedules can change.
  • Do not assume every Manatee arrest was made by MCSO. Municipal and state agencies also make arrests that can result in county-jail bookings.
Maps and locations

Manatee County Sheriff and Jail Maps

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Operations Center
600 US Highway 301 Boulevard West, Suite 202
Bradenton, FL 34205

Phone: 941-747-3011

Manatee County Jail
14470 Harlee Road
Palmetto, FL 34221

Phone: 941-747-3011 ext. 2915

Before you call or visit

Five-Minute Manatee County Preparation Checklist

Identify your exact task. Jail custody, court record, police report and background check are separate services.
Write down the complete legal name. Add the date of birth or case number when known.
Use the arrest inquiry before calling about an inmate. Save the booking number.
Check the Clerk when the question is really about court. Court dates and disposition come from the judicial record.
Identify the arresting agency for incident reports. Sheriff records and municipal police reports are separate.
Call before making a special trip. Hours, fingerprint services, visitation and public-counter procedures can change.
10 practical questions

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office FAQs

What is the main Manatee County Sheriff’s Office phone number?

The main Manatee County Sheriff’s Office number is 941-747-3011. Call 911 for an immediate police, fire or medical emergency.

Where is the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office located?

The Sheriff’s Operations Center and Records Section are at 600 US Highway 301 Boulevard West, Suite 202, Bradenton, FL 34205.

Where is Manatee County Jail?

Manatee County Jail is at 14470 Harlee Road, Palmetto, FL 34221. Florida’s county-jail directory lists 941-747-3011 extension 2915 for jail information.

How do I search for someone arrested in Manatee County?

Use the official Manatee County Sheriff Arrest Inquiry. Search the legal name, open the likely booking and compare identifying details before relying on the result. Save the booking number for follow-up questions.

How do I find a Manatee County criminal court date?

Use the Manatee County Clerk Public Records Hub and select Court Records. Search by case number when possible or use the defendant’s legal name, then verify the correct case and latest docket information.

How do I request a Manatee County Sheriff incident report?

Contact the MCSO Records Section. Prepare the Sheriff case number, incident date, location, involved names and the exact report or recording you need. Records staff can advise about availability, redaction and fees.

Can the Manatee Clerk provide a statewide Florida background check?

No. The Clerk explains that it can assist with Manatee County records but does not have access to statewide criminal-history records. Florida statewide criminal-history searches are handled through FDLE.

How much does Manatee County Sheriff charge for civil process?

The Sheriff’s published civil-process instructions list $40 per person or process for many service-only documents and $90 for certain writs such as attachment, bodily attachment, possession and replevin. Confirm the current fee before submitting paperwork.

Does the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office provide fingerprinting?

Manatee County’s public-information system lists weekday Sheriff fingerprinting with electronic and hard-copy options. Confirm the current hours, fee and the fingerprint format required by the requesting employer or licensing agency before travelling.

Who do crime victims contact at the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office?

The Manatee County Sheriff Victim Advocate Unit can be reached through 941-747-3011 extension 8400. The unit assists with criminal-justice support, referrals, victim compensation and related advocacy. Call 911 for immediate danger.

Official resources

Primary Manatee County and Florida Sources

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office

Main official source for Sheriff’s services, corrections, records and public information.

Open the official Manatee County Sheriff website
MCSO Arrest Inquiry

Official county booking and arrest-search route.

Open Manatee County arrest inquiry
Florida County Jail Directory

State of Florida directory confirming Manatee County Jail’s location, telephone and official arrest-inquiry route.

Open Florida county jail directory
Manatee County Clerk Public Records Hub

Court records and other Clerk-maintained public records.

Open Manatee Public Records Hub
Manatee Clerk Criminal Division

Criminal case information, Clerk contacts and criminal-court guidance.

Open the Criminal Division
FDLE Sexual Offender and Predator Search

Florida’s official statewide offender registry.

Open FDLE offender search
Manatee Sheriff Victim Information Portal

Case-status resource for verified crime victims.

Open victim case-status portal

Editorial review: this guide was researched and reviewed against Manatee County Sheriff, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Department of State, Manatee County Clerk and other primary public resources on September 27, 2026.

Freshness: office hours, extensions, jail procedures, visitation providers, civil-process instructions, fingerprint fees, records fees and online portals can change. Confirm a time-sensitive detail through the responsible official office before travelling, mailing original documents or making a payment.

Legal and privacy notice: arrest and booking information can contain allegations rather than convictions. Juvenile, sealed, expunged, confidential and otherwise legally protected information may not be publicly available.

Consumer-reporting notice: this article, an arrest inquiry or an ordinary public-record search is not a consumer report and should not be treated as one for employment, housing, credit, insurance or another decision governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act or similar law.

Free Sheriff Office & Inmate Search Assistant

Find Jail Info, Inmate Search Steps, Visitation Rules, Bond Help, Warrants and Official Sheriff Links

Use this free tool before calling a sheriff office, searching a jail roster, checking arrest records, visiting an inmate, asking about bond, requesting a report, or looking for official county sheriff resources. It does not collect names, case numbers, booking numbers, or personal information.

Start Sheriff Office Helper Emergency: Call 911
8 toolsInmate lookup, warrant safety, bond, visitation, records, reports and official search links.
All countiesWorks sitewide for county sheriff, jail, corrections and detention center pages.
No private dataNo inmate name, DOB, booking number, phone number or case number is required.
Safety firstClear emergency, legal and scam-warning language for sensitive sheriff-office searches.

What sheriff office task do you need help with?

Choose your situation. The tool will suggest the safest next step, what to prepare, and which official resource to check first.

If this is an emergency, a crime in progress, a threat to life, or immediate danger, call 911. This website is not a sheriff office, jail, court, legal service, or emergency service.
Fastest safe order

Start with the official sheriff or jail roster, confirm custody by phone only when needed, then check court records for hearings or case details.

Scam warning

Do not pay anyone who calls demanding gift cards, crypto, wire transfers, or urgent warrant payment. Verify through official sheriff channels.

Inmate Search Step Helper

Use this before searching a jail roster or inmate lookup portal. It helps you choose the best search method and avoid wrong-person matches.

Bond, Release and Custody Status Helper

Use this to organize what to check before asking about bond, release timing, facility location or court status.

Visitation, Phone and Mail Checklist

Use this before planning a jail visit, video visit, inmate phone setup, commissary deposit, or mail delivery.

Warrant Information Safety Helper

Use this if you are trying to understand warrant information safely. This tool does not confirm warrants and does not provide legal advice.

If you believe you may have an active warrant, consider speaking with a licensed criminal defense attorney before going to any law enforcement office. Do not ignore court notices.

Sheriff Report and Arrest Record Request Helper

Use this before requesting accident reports, incident reports, arrest records, jail records, public records or background-related information.

Sheriff Call / Warrant Payment Scam Checker

Use this if someone called, texted, emailed or messaged you claiming to be from a sheriff office, court, jail, deputy or warrant unit.

Official Sheriff Office Resource Finder

Enter county and state to create safe searches for official sheriff websites, jail rosters, inmate lookup, warrants, visitation, records requests, court records and this site’s guide.

Sheriff Office vs Court vs Jail

  • Sheriff/Jail: custody, booking, jail roster, visitation, inmate mail, some warrants.
  • Court/Clerk: case status, hearings, court records, fines, court dates.
  • Attorney: legal advice, warrant risk, criminal charges, bond strategy.

Best sitewide placement

Add this tool after the first inmate-search or contact section, or before FAQs. It turns a normal guide into a practical action page.

Important safety note

This tool is educational only. It is not a sheriff office, jail, court, legal service, emergency service, or official records portal. For emergencies, call 911.

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