Search Arizona Arrests & Criminal Records for Free: All Counties in AZ

To find arrest records on friends, family, loved ones, colleagues or associates, searchers can use the guide below to sort through government databases or use the free methods available right now.

In addition, this guide shows anyone how to get ahold of criminal records in Arizona that reveal past crimes, and parole and probation information, all of which can be obtained through government agencies thanks to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

No matter what’s being searched for, this resource will guide users through the complexities of obtaining public records and streamline the process to make it quick and easy.

The remainder of this guide will show you how to do the following:

• Find recent arrests in every Arizona county.
• See what crimes someone committed in AZ and how to get copies of these records.
• Determine if someone has a warrant, is married, on parole, on probation, or a sexual offender in the state of Arizona.
• Seal or expunge criminal records that originated in Arizona.
• Locate prisoners in Arizona state prisons and federal prisons.
• Run an Arizona background check for personal or professional purposes.
• Review Arizona laws surrounding public records.

Can the Public Access Criminal & Arrest Records in Arizona?

Criminal records in the state are considered public records as codified in law under Title 39 of the Arizona State Code with some exceptions; the same holds true for Arizona arrest records since they fall under the same statute.

Exceptions to release of arrest or criminal records includes the following restrictions:

• Juvenile records are sealed and are not considered public domain. Only those on a strict need-to-know basis can access juvenile criminal records in Arizona.
• Information pertaining to victims of crimes is not considered part of the public record and must be redacted (meaning removed or blacked out) in any records released.
• Personally identifying information that can be aid in identity theft situations can also be withheld from official documents and publicly accessible files in Arizona. This includes information such as social security numbers, dates of birth or other PII.
• Sealed or expunged records are not considered public domain and cannot be released.¹

What’s Shown on Arizona Arrest Records vs AZ Criminal Records?

While Arizona arrest and criminal records are often referred to in the same context, they are different in the amount of information provided.

An arrest record shows that a person was taken into custody on a criminal charge, what level the charge is (felony or misdemeanor) and where the person is being housed until trial.

Arrest records may also show demographics on the person and include a mugshot. Arrest records should always be used with caution since they are not conviction records.

Criminal records are more extensive than arrest records. A criminal record shows the record of arrest, but also includes any additional data such as court dates and location, disposition of case (if the defendant was found guilty or acquitted, or if the charges were dropped or a diversion program entered), and sentencing information (if the person was placed on probation or was incarcerated).²

How To Find Recent Arrests & Why Someone Is in Jail for Free Through Arizona Law Enforcement Agencies

The quickest way to find out if someone is in jail in Arizona for free is to check with the local sheriff’s department. However, it is possible to search arrest records through the online public access portal maintained by the Arizona State Department of Public Safety for a nominal fee.

Requests for records through the state agency must be made in writing or through the online portal and require payment depending on the type of record delivery requested.³

There is also a turn around time between when the request was made and when the information is released, so this is not the most efficient method of finding out who is in jail in Arizona.

To complete the search, do the following:

1. Open the Arizona State Department of Public Safety website.
2. Click Public Records Unit.
3. Create an account by selecting Public Services Portal by clicking ‘Continue’ under ‘Request a Report or Record’.
4. Tap the link to create an account.¹²
5. Enter your information.
6. Request records through the online portal by typing in last name and at least first initial.
7. Confirm the returned results match the person you are searching for and pay the small fee.

Arizona County Arrest Records Search (AZ Inmate Search & Mugshots)

Each of fifteen counties of the state maintains its own jail under the county sheriff’s office and are an excellent source for Arizona arrest records because they can be checked online with ease.

These jails house inmates awaiting trial on criminal charges, but may also include those who are sentenced to short incarceration terms as part of sentencing (typically minimum security inmates) or being held until a spot opens at a Department of Corrections facility.⁴

The table below lists the county detention facilities that have online inmate search portals or rosters available to the public. The information provided ranges from charges filed, any sentencing if entered, bail information, and, in some cases, mug shots.

The following county sheriff’s offices do not publish inmate lists on the website:

• Cochise County Sheriff’s Office 520-432-9505
• Coconino County Sheriff’s Office 928-226-5200
• Gila County Sheriff’s Office 928-402-8666
• Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office 520-761-7875

To locate an inmate at one of these facilities, a person would need to call the local sheriff’s office or jail.

Search Arizona City Jails: Look Up Recent Arrests

There are three main city jails in Arizona as well. These are maintained by the police department and are typically short-term holding cells until an inmate can be transferred to the county jail or is released on bail. Individuals must call the city jail or police department to see if someone is being held in the city facility.

• Glendale City Jail 623-930-3020 (does not publish mugshots)
• Avondale City Jail 623-333-7009 (does not publish mugshots)
• Scottsdale City Jail 480-312-2503 (does not publish mugshots)

Another option to find out if someone is in jail in Arizona is to employ the services of a bail bondsman. Not only can a bail bondsman locate a person who has been arrested, the bondsman may also be able to help get the individual released on bail or bond awaiting trial.

County records only cover arrest in that particular county, so if statewide records are needed, the searcher will have to look elsewhere.

AZ Statewide Lookup: Public Arrest Record Search

Statewide records can be accessed through the Arizona Department of Public Safety online search portal.

While this is not a free search, it does contain arrest and criminal records in Arizona for anyone in the state that has been charged with a crime.

How To Contact an Inmate & Post Bail in AZ City or County Jails

When someone is in jail, it’s important to know how to contact them and post bail. The table below lists visitation information and how to contact an inmate or jail staff.

Information on posting bond for someone can be obtained by calling the county or city jail, or by hiring a bail bondsman to help with the process. Jails are not the only option for finding Arizona arrest records or criminal record information on a resident.

How To View Criminal Records in Arizona

The court system is another excellent resource for criminal records within a state. Each county in Arizona has an elected clerk of superior court that is responsible for maintaining records of all court proceedings in that county.

More detailed information can be obtained by searching public records at the courthouse where the case was tried. Each clerk of court’s office maintains a public terminal that can be accessed for free, and printed copies of records can be obtained for a small fee.

The table below lists the clerk of court’s office for each judicial district in Arizona:

How To Run a Statewide Criminal Record Search via the Arizona Judicial Branch

Arizona’s Judicial Branch maintains an online search portal for the public to locate court records generated within the state. Currently 177 of the state’s 184 courts participate in the only records program.

Searches can be conducted by the party’s name or by using the case number. Information returned on a search request includes case number, court where the case was tried, disposition date, filing date and the type of court (civil or criminal).

In some cases, case minutes (or a copy of the court record) will be uploaded in the database as well.⁵

How To Get A Copy of Criminal Records & Criminal History Information in AZ

For an official criminal record report in Arizona, the individual will need to request one through the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS).

The Arizona DPS provides both state-wide records searches (name-based) and national criminal record checks, which are fingerprint based, depending on the need of the agency or individual. Local law enforcement and sheriff’s offices can also provide an Arizona criminal history.

DPS reports can include criminal histories, accident or citation records, civil summons records, and, in some cases, 911 tapes and transcripts. Records are released based on guidance provided in Arizona Statute 41-1750. Criminal records reports are only available to in-state agencies or employers approved by the DPS.⁶

Record requests can be made online using the portal maintained by the department. Fees are also paid through the portal. Requests can also be mailed to the address below:

Department of Public Safety
Attn: Public Records Unit MD3240
Post Office Box 6638
Phoenix, AZ 85005-6638

Mail in requests must include a check or money order for the records fees. Mail in requests can take several weeks to process.

National, FBI screenings can be requested by mailing the fingerprint card and request to the address listed here:

FBI, SCU
1000 Custer Hollow Rd
Clarksburg West Virginia 26306

The state department of public safety is the official repository for Arizona criminal records, but other state agencies can have information that is typically part of the criminal history report. Criminal history reports can also be provided by local law enforcement agencies or sheriff’s departments. Fingerprinting can also be completed at the local level for a fingerprint-based background check.

What’s the Best Way To Find Out if Someone Is on Probation or Parole in Arizona?

When someone is convicted of a misdemeanor or felony offense and placed on supervised probation, these records are typically maintained by the state’s department of corrections. Parolees are also supervised by department of corrections workers in Arizona as part of the community corrections division.

To illustrate just how many people are on probation and parole, the following image shows the combined total of probationers and parolees in Arizona, along with their ethnicities. Furthermore, these totals are also compared to the number of individuals on community supervision (including probation and parole) in other states across the United States.

Searches for individuals who are on or have been on supervised probation, or are currently or formerly incarcerated in the prison system and placed on parole or released from custody can be made online at the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry’s Inmate Search Portal.

Searches can be name-based or by DOC number. To search just supervised probation or parole records, the searcher would check the circle beside the filter to narrow the results. Information provided by the DOC online search includes offender’s full name, a mugshot (in most cases), demographics, projected release from supervision date, and most recent location of incarceration.

The records do not show the offense the person was incarcerated for, or the offense type (misdemeanor or felony).

For those currently incarcerated, the records will also reflect the mailing address to the prison facility and the custody classification (for example, maximum security, death row, or minimum security). Parole hearing dates are also available through this search portal.

Additionally, parole and probation information in the state can be acquired by contacting the Arizona Parole Offices and Probation Departments in each county.

Detailed guidance can be found in the instructions for looking up parolee information in Arizona or the AZ probation search tutorial.

Clearing Criminal Histories: What’s the Best Way To Seal or Expunge a Criminal Record in Arizona?

Criminal records are considered public records unless they are sealed or expunged.

In 2021, Arizona passed Senate Bill 1294 allowing for individuals to petition the court to seal most convictions after the terms of sentencing have been successfully completed and a waiting period has passed with no further criminal charges (other than minor traffic offenses).⁷ The waiting periods are based on the severity of the crime and are as follows:

• Class 2 & 3 Felonies: 10 years
• Class 4 & 5 Felonies: 5 years
• Class 1 Misdemeanors: 3 years
• All Other Misdemeanors: 2 years.

Class 1 felonies and certain other violent offenses (felony and misdemeanor sexual assaults, homicides, and other violent crimes outlined in the statute) are not eligible for sealing.

While sealing records does not erase them from a person’s record, it does limit the release of records making them inaccessible to the public. This prevents sealed matters from appearing on background checks for employment or housing applications.

At sentencing, the courts are required to notify defendants of their right to seal after conditions are met for all but those crimes excluded from the statute. The defendant then has to file a petition with the court once the conditions are met to have the record removed from public view. The legislation goes into full effect on 31 December 2022.⁸

How To Find Someone in Arizona Prisons (State & Federal Prison Searches)

The same portal that allows individuals to search for probationers and parolees can be used to search for active inmates in the Arizona Department of Corrections. Information provided for active inmates is the same as that for those on community supervision.

To complete an Arizona DOC check, do the following:

1. Open the Arizona DOC website.
2. Under Public Resources click Inmate Data Search
3. Click Search by ADC Number or Search by Name (most searches will be by name).
4. Enter the last name and at least the first initial of the first name.
5. Select person’s gender.
6. Choose type of search from the following and hit Search:
   1. Active
   2. Inactive
   3. Supervised/Parole (meaning those on supervised probation or those released early for community supervision)
   4. Absconder (those that have escaped prison or failed to report on probation or parole as required).
7. Scroll through the list to find the individual and click on the ADC number to see detailed information about the inmate including charges, location, and disciplinary actions while in prison or on supervision.

Arizona is also home to four federal prisons located in Phoenix, Safford and Tucson. Federal inmates can be located by conducting a name-based search through the Federal Bureau of Prison’s Online Portal. Search results will show the location the inmate is housed and projected release date or date the inmate was released if no longer in custody.

How To Check if You or Someone Else Is Wanted in Arizona (Conducting an AZ Warrant Search)

A search for active warrants can typically be done at the local law enforcement website; however, not every department publishes active warrants. Some courts will also publish warrant lists or have search portals to see if someone has an active warrant.

Mohave County Courthouse has an online portal to do a name-based warrant search for that county. This lists warrants for both superior and municipal courts in that area.⁹

The following law enforcement agencies also have online warrant search portals available to the public:

• Apache County Sheriff’s Office
• Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
• Mohave County Sheriff’s Office

Using Maricopa County as an example, the online “Most Wanted” posters display locals with warrants along with their names and the monetary rewards for tips that lead to them.

Additional details about looking up local warrants can be found via the steps for searching warrant details in Maricopa County or the tutorial on looking up anyone wanted in Pima County. These resources also offer useful information on locating various other kinds of county records.

The Arizona Judicial Branch Public Access to Court Information portal can also be used to see if someone has an arrest warrant issued against them in the state. This can be done via a name-based search for each county in Arizona.

While resources were provided for local searches, interested parties can also check out the guidance on finding warrant information throughout Arizona for a broader outlook.

A Look at Arizona Background Checks & Associated Agencies

Several agencies in Arizona either conduct or require a background check for someone to work in the state. The table below outlines the agencies and which types of background checks are completed:

Background checks by these agencies look for disqualifying offenses that would show an applicant is a potential threat to the safety of others.

How To Find Convicted Sex Offenders via the Arizona Statewide Registry

Sex offenses are considered especially heinous, and those convicted of a sexual assault in Arizona are required to register with the sheriff’s department in the county they reside. The information is then stored in a database maintained by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS).

The DPS website links the general public to the Arizona Sex Offender Registry where a name-based or address-based search can be conducted to see if someone is on the registry.

Information provided in the online search includes individuals full name and aliases, registration level, current status (active, inactive, or absconded), mugshot of offender, description of the individual, identifying scars or tattoos or marks, last known address, and crime.

The search results also allow users to click on the map to see the surrounding area where the offender resides. Searches can also input an address into the system to see how many registered offenders are within a radius up to five miles.¹⁰

There is also a national sex offender registry which can be used to search for Arizona sex offenders; however, it is best to start with the state site and then move on to the National Sex Offender Registry.

Understanding Arizona Laws on Criminal & Arrest Records

Any criminal records in Arizona that are released must be in compliance with state and federal laws limiting what can be released, how it can be delivered and who can access the records.

Federal laws include the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) which limits use of non convictions to a seven year lookback period as well as limits credit history reports to that same time limit. FRCA also provides guidance to commercial background check agencies and employers on how to conduct screenings and use the reports legally.

Background checks must be the same for everyone, and cannot be used in a discriminatory manner. When a person feels a report has been used unlawfully to discriminate against them, they can report the matter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission which provides background check guidance to employers and anti-discrimination law enforcement.

Release of public records in Arizona is subject to guidelines in Title 39 of the State’s Codes. Title 39 maintains that court records with the exception of juvenile records, sealed records or information identifying victims of crime are considered public records and must be made available upon request.

Arizona Statute 13-905 allows offenders to petition to set aside convictions and get a certificate of second chance which can remove barriers to employment for many individuals. The statute does not, however, remove questions about convictions on applications.

Knowing where to search is the first step in conducting a background check; this streamlined resource outlines how to search criminal and arrest records through official resources for the most accurate results.