Arizona Criminal Records

Are Arizona Criminal Records Public?

Yes, the Arizona Public Records Law mandates that all documents related to criminal history are in the public domain. The Arizona Department of Public Safety is the central repository for criminal records and provides statewide criminal history records to anyone that performs a criminal record search.

Criminal records, considered public in the United States, are made available through some third-party aggregate sites. Searching with third-party websites is often easier as the information is not limited to geographic record availability. Information found on third-party websites can serve as a jump-off point for parties searching for a specific record or multiple records. Typically, requesters must provide the following information to gain access to these records:

• The record subject’s name, unless the subject is a juvenile.
• The record subjects’ last known location, including cities, counties, and states.

Third-party websites offer these search services, but they are not government-sponsored. The availability and reliability of these records may vary.

What is Considered a Criminal Record in Arizona?

Criminal records in Arizona are official documents detailing the criminal activities of individuals convicted of crimes within the state. An individual’s criminal records describe the events around their convictions. Also called rap sheets, they include details of their arrests, indictments, dispositions, and convictions. Documents describing these events are available from law enforcement agencies, Arizona courts, and detention facilities at all levels in the state.

What Shows Up on a Criminal Record in Arizona

The information provided in Arizona public criminal records includes:

• The convict’s full name and known aliases
• Age/Birthdate, sex, race, and other identifying personal information
• The subject’s mugshot and fingerprints
• Past and current criminal offenses and indictments
• Past and outstanding arrest warrants
• Conviction and inmate records

How to Obtain Criminal Records in Arizona?

Arizona criminal records are available in multiple state and local law enforcement and court databases. The Arizona Department of Public Safety provides statewide criminal history records upon request. Individuals can request a personal criminal record search while employers may request background checks on current and potential hires. To obtain such records, visit the Criminal History Records page of the ADPS.

Local criminal histories are available from Arizona sheriff’s offices and police departments. Contact the local law enforcement agency in person or by mail to request criminal records from there. Arizona courts also have online portals hosting criminal case records. The Arizona Judicial Branch provides a publicly accessible case search tool for those looking to perform a free public criminal record check. Not all of the state’s courts contribute records to this database. Find direct links to the main pages and record search pages of non-participating courts on the Unavailable Courts page.

Are Arizona Arrest Records Public?

Yes, Arizona arrest records are open to the public according to Arizona Revised Statutes 41-1750. Local law enforcement agencies within Arizona generate arrest reports and share them with the courts and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Interested persons can perform an arrest search by querying their local law enforcement offices. Gaining copies of public arrest records may come at a minimal cost, to cover printing. Individuals that wish to search for free arrest records may use the case search tool provided by the Arizona Judicial Branch.

What is Considered an Arrest Record in Arizona?

In Arizona, arrest records are official law enforcement documents describing the apprehensions and detentions of individuals alleged to commit crimes. Arizona arrest records do not indicate culpability or admission to the felonies and/or misdemeanors they describe. They only provide proof that the named individuals were brought in for questioning and possibly detained afterward.

What Shows Up on an Arrest Record in Arizona?

An Arizona arrest record contains the following information:

• The name, sex, date of birth, and other identifying information of the arrested individual
• Where and when the arrest took place
• The offense responsible for the arrest
• Name of the arresting officer
• State or local detention facility where the arrestee was booked

In Arizona, police records, or police reports, are not the same as arrest records. Although police records include arrest records, they also include logs of law enforcement actions and incident reports.

Arizona Arrest Warrant

An Arizona arrest warrant is a court-issued document authorizing a law enforcement officer to detain an individual. To obtain arrest warrants, law enforcement officers must demonstrate probable cause before Arizona judges (magistrate judges). An active warrant must have the signature of the authorizing judge. Note that Arizona law enforcement officers may arrest individuals without warrants for ongoing crimes they witnessed.

How Do You Check for Warrants in Arizona?

As of 2024, Arizona does not have a central repository where anyone can perform a warrant search. However, researchers may check county-level repositories or visit the US Marshall’s Warrant Search page. The information available on a warrant for arrest in Arizona includes:

• Arrestee’s full name and other identifying personal information
• Alleged offense
• Possible location and time of the arrest
• Date of expiration
• Name of issuer and date of issue

How to Lookup Arizona Inmate Records

The Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) oversees the operations of 10 state-run prisons and six private prisons. Records of inmates held in these facilities are maintained by the ADC and are available to anyone who wishes to perform an inmate lookup. To perform an inmate search in an Arizona state or private prison, use the Inmate Datasearch tool provided on the ADC website. Arizona inmate records are official documents providing details of inmates incarcerated in state prisons and county jails in the state.

How Do I Find Sex Offenders in Arizona?

The Arizona Sex Offender Registry provides a public database of registered sex offenders living in the state, managed by the state’s Department of Public Safety. Record seekers can use the Offender Search feature to find registered offenders by name, city, zip code, and street address.

While sex offenders are registered at the county level, Arizona has a statewide database of registered sex offenders. Arizona classifies registered sex offenders into three levels. Level 3 offenders are the most likely to reoffend while Level 1 are the least serious offenders. Arizona sex offender laws require law enforcement agencies, communities, and neighbors to get notified when convicted sex offenders are released.

• Level 1 offenders: Notify only law enforcement agencies upon release
• Level 2 offenders: Registered community organizations with children and organizations directly involved with children and victims of sex offenses
• Level 3 offenders: Notify same groups as level 2 offenders as well as neighbors of the offenders

Understanding DUI Laws in Arizona

Drunk driving is one of the most serious traffic violations an Arizona driver can commit. Arizona police officers constantly monitor the road and stop and test any drivers who appear impaired as they operate their motor vehicles. Officers employ chemical tests to confirm the driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) level.

To be found guilty of a DUI in Arizona, the motorist must be apprehended with a BAC above 0.08% (0.04% for commercial drivers). In Arizona, the penalties for driving under the influence range from ten to forty-five days in jail, $1,480 - $3,250 in fines, or 90 days to a year without a license.

Arizona Misdemeanors Laws: Offenses and Penalties

In Arizona, misdemeanors are minor offenses punishable by up to 6 months in a county or local jail. There is a list of Arizona misdemeanors with three classifications.

• Class 1 misdemeanors are punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a maximum fine of $2,500. Prostitution is an example of a Class 1 misdemeanor in Arizona
• Class 2 misdemeanors are punished by up to 4 months in jail and a fine up to $750. An example of a Class 2 misdemeanor is intentionally exposing someone to a sexually transmitted disease
• Class 3 misdemeanors are punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine up to $500. This is the least serious criminal offense in Arizona. Asking an adult to buy, sell, or give you alcohol if you are under the age of 21 is a Class 3 misdemeanor in Arizona.

Arizona Felony Laws: Offenses and Penalties

Arizona classifies crimes punishable by one year or longer in state prisons as felonies. The list of felonies in Arizona is split into six classes:

• Class 1 felonies are punishable by 16 years to life in prison. The only Class 1 felonies in Arizona are first- and second-degree murder. Second-degree murder is punishable by up to 16 years in jail while first-degree murder is punishable by death or life imprisonment
• Class 2 felonies are punishable by 5 years (presumptive term) and 12.5 years (aggravated term) in prison. Producing child pornography is a Class 2 felony
• Class 3 felonies are punishable by 3.5 years (presumptive term) and 8.75 years (aggravated term) in prison. An example is growing 4 or more pounds of marijuana
• Class 4 felonies are punishable by 2.5 years (presumptive term) and 3.75 years (aggravated term) in prison. Stealing property valued between $3,000 and $4,000 is a Class 4 felony in Arizona
• Class 5 felonies are felonies Arizona lawmakers have not classified. Pimping and pandering are also Class 5 felonies. The presumptive term for a Class 5 felony is 2 years while the aggravated term is 2.5 years
• Class 6 felonies are punishable by 1 year (presumptive term) and 2 years (aggravated term) in prison. In Arizona, judges can re-designated a Class 6 felony conviction as a Class 1 misdemeanor conviction

How to Obtain Arizona Parole Information

To be eligible for parole in Arizona, an inmate must complete the mandatory minimum length of their sentence or one-half or two-thirds of their sentence. The Board of Executive Clemency handles parole decisions in Arizona. Arizona state parole information is available from the ADC and searchable from the Department’s Inmate Datasearch page. The ADC has 17 parole offices all over Arizona. Members of the public can also contact these offices to enquire about parole information.

Are Probation Records Public in Arizona?

Probation records provide information about convicts serving their sentences outside of state prisons. These official documents include details of suspended sentences, terms of convicts’ supervised release, and parole officers assigned to parolees. The Adult Probation Service Division (APSD) administers Arizona’s probation programs and services. To request probation records, contact the APSD by calling (602) 452-3460 or visiting 1501 W. Washington, Suite 344, Phoenix, AZ 85007.

Are Juvenile Criminal Records Public in Arizona?

Juvenile criminal records provide details of juvenile cases involving criminal activities of minors. Arizona does not try juveniles as adults. The Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC) oversees the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders. The Department does not make juvenile records, including juvenile criminal records, public. Only select parties may request juvenile records in Arizona. The ADJC disseminates such records only for requests including signed releases from former juveniles (aged 18 and above) or the parents/legal guardians of juveniles (under the age of 18). ADJC may also release juvenile criminal records to criminal justice agencies and related parties only when ordered by a court or mandated by a state or federal statute.

What are Criminal Conviction Records in Arizona?

Arizona courts produce criminal conviction records after trials finding individuals guilty of the charges brought against them. In Arizona, juries and judges render convictions. Conviction records are official court documents that provide details of the indictments, pleas, hearings, and sentencing of individuals involved charged with criminal felonies and misdemeanors.

History and Accuracy of Arizona Criminal Records

The accuracy of Arizona criminal records depends on the method of recording and collecting the data included in the records. Before government records were digitized, these records were recorded on paper and kept in storage. Records kept in this way may be less accurate due to human error and paper record deterioration. Arizona criminal records digitized and converted to electronic records may retain such errors. However, those recorded and preserved using computer systems usually have significantly lower error rates and are easy to retrieve.

How to Find Arizona Criminal History Records for Free

Arizona criminal history record is an official document that provides details of the criminal activities of an individual convicted of crimes within Arizona. The document generally provides details such as the charge, arrest details, and conviction details. The record also provides the subject's full name, fingerprint, mugshot, incarceration records, race, age, sex, birth date, criminal offenses past or present, and outstanding warrants.

In Arizona, criminal history records are accessible to the public, and requests must be made online via the Arizona department of public safety public services portal or in writing.

Individuals making requests online would be required to open an account on the portal before requesting records.

Requests can also be made in person at:

Arizona Department of Public Safety, Public Service Center,
2222 West Encanto Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85009.

Requests must be made between 8 am and 5 pm on weekdays, excluding holidays. Individuals making requests via mail would be required to send a mail to:

Department of Public Safety,
Attention PRU MD3240,
P.O. Box 6638, Phoenix,
AZ 85005-6638

Record seekers can send their requests by fax to (602) 223-2945. To obtain paper copies of criminal history records, record seekers would be required to pay $9 for the first 9 pages and $0.10 for every additional page. To obtain copies via Fax, a fee of $9 is required. The maximum number of pages obtainable is 20 pages. A payment of $9 is required to obtain copies via mail, and the limit is 5mb. Records can also be obtained via DVD (4.7gb limit) after paying $15. Records can be obtained via thumb drives for a fee of $20 (16gb limit)

Requests for videos can also be made after paying a fee of $21.33 for every 30 minutes of the video. This payment would be made in addition to the methods of delivery listed above (mail, fax, etc.).

Individuals seeking their criminal history records to examine them to determine accuracy can obtain free records in Arizona. Also, individuals seeking to inspect records without taking any copies are allowed access to these records and can take notes from them, provided they do not take back any copies. Individuals requesting copies to make claims to be presented to a bureau or department within the United States, such as claims for allotment, insurance, compensation, allowance, or some other benefit, can also obtain free copies.

Are Police Records Public in Arizona?

Yes, Arizona police records are considered public records, but access to these records is restricted. Police records are official documents maintained by the police that contain records of criminal offenses. Police records typically contain criminal offense records, traffic violations, firearm registration or transfers, and accident reports.

Not all police records are available for public inspection. In accordance with chapter 6 of the Arizona agency handbook, certain police records of portions of police records are classified as confidential. Some of this information is:

• Records containing victim location or identification as per section § 13-4434 of the Arizona handbook
• Medical records of minors, non-disclosable related to reportable injury Sex Offender statements, photographs, and fingerprints § 13-3620(G) § 13-3823
• Information with respect to an ongoing investigation that would jeopardize the outcome of a criminal case or put witnesses at risk
• Information revealing the identity of confidential informants
• Records containing concealed weapon permit § 13-3112(J)
• Records of students that are caught in possession of or involved in the sale or use of drugs in a drug-free school zone § 13-3411(G)
• Wrongful arrest records

How to Obtain Police Records in Arizona

In Arizona, individuals seeking to obtain police records would need to contact the records department of the police department in charge of maintaining the record. Police records could be obtained online, in person, via phone, fax, or mail.

To obtain police records, the requester must provide certain information, such as payment where applicable and a valid ID card.

It is good to note that not all police records will be made accessible to the public. For example, certain records that relate to ongoing investigations and contain images of a witness who is a minor or contain details that may endanger witnesses are not made available to the public.

Are Police Reports Public in Arizona?

A police report is a document detailing information informed and found by law enforcement agents handling a crime or incident or making an arrest. The report typically contains the names of individuals involved, witnesses, the crime committed, the offender(s), and the nature of the incident. A police report records all intricate details of criminal activities even when it may not seem significant at the time. Photos taken at the crime scene, witness reports, and arrest records are usually included in the report. There are 4 major types of police reports, these are:

• Incident report: This report generally gives a brief detail of the call the police officer responded to. It usually contains the name of the officers who responded first to the call, the date and location of the incident, as well as the time when the incident occurred.
• Accident report: This report provides details of an accident that has occurred and the victim of the accident. It is taken at the location where the accident occurred and specifies what kind of accident (whether it is a car, machinery, or workplace accident) occurred.
• Crime report: This report gives details about a crime, including the nature of the crime (burglary, car theft, robbery, etc.) as well as descriptions of the suspect and other suspect information. This report is very important and is used extensively in criminal Court proceedings.
• Arrest report: This gives details of an arrest, such as the details of the officer who carried out the arrest, the reason why the arrest was made, time of arrest, location, and descriptions of the individual who was arrested. This report is also vital to court proceedings.

Arizona police reports are considered to be public information and, as such, are accessible to the general public, but it is good to note that not all police reports or portions of reports are accessible to the public. For example, the public could be restricted from access to certain reports or portions of reports if it could jeopardize an ongoing investigation or endanger the life of an involved party such as the witness or even the offender.

How to File a Police Report with Arizona Law Enforcement

In Arizona, individuals seeking to file police reports can do so online via local law enforcement websites, depending on the jurisdiction where the incident occured. Or in person with their local law enforcement officials. Police reports can also be filed on the Arizona department of public safety website. Individuals would be required to select from a list of categories one that best describes the kind of incident they would like to report. The incident could be:

• A gang-related activity.
• Immigration-related crime.
• Information on wanted fugitives
• Information on terrorist or terrorist activities

Provision is also made for individuals who want to report anonymously or report incidents that are not captured in any of the categories listed above. Certain criteria exist for filing police reports which depend largely on the local law enforcement agency within the jurisdiction. One of the most common criteria is whether or not the crime is in progress or is an emergency. Police reports cannot be filed online for incidents that are in progress or considered emergencies. Instead, a 911 call must be placed in these situations. Certain other common exemptions are:

• Missing person reports
• Loss or theft of a firearm
• Crimes committed against children
• Sexual offenses
• Investigations into the death of an individual or persons.
• Damage done by a vehicle to property
• Threats of violence in a school or workplace.
• Damage done to government property

Individuals who have completed the online submission process would be given a tracking number and permission to print a copy of their submission. The time taken to process the report depends on the local law enforcement agency in charge within that jurisdiction, but reporters are allowed to call the law enforcement agency if no response has been gotten from them after the stipulated time frame has elapsed.

Where to Find Free Arizona Public Police Records

In Arizona, police records are considered public records and as such, must be made accessible to the public. Therefore, these records could be accessed free of charge for the purpose of inspection and examination of the records. Individuals inspecting these records are allowed to inspect over extended periods and can also take notes when inspecting the records. However, record seekers who wish to obtain copies of these records would be required to pay the stipulated fees.

Police records can be inspected in person or obtained in person at the local law enforcement agency records department, provided it is during business hours. Records can also be viewed and obtained online via the online database of the law enforcement agency that maintains the records.

How to Find Mugshots in Arizona

A mugshot is a photo of an individual who has committed an offense, taken by law enforcement for official purposes such as a police record. A mugshot typically shows a close-up front and side view of the individual who has been arrested.

In Arizona, mugshots are considered to be public records and can be accessed by record seekers online via the inmate data search function on the Arizona Department of corrections rehabilitation and reentry website. Mugshots could also be accessed online on the website of the local law enforcement agency that maintains the record.

Records could also be accessed in person at the records department of the local law enforcement agency that maintains the record.

Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry
1601 W. Jefferson
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 542-5497