Are Arizona Inmate Records Public Information?
Yes. In accordance with Arizona's public records law, inmate records are considered to be public information and may be accessed and inspected by contacting the state custodian agencies that maintain them.
Arizona inmate records are official documents kept on individuals incarcerated or booked into prisons, jails, and other detention facilities in Arizona. Per Arizona public records laws, these records are publicly available from various authorities in charge of these correctional institutions.
A typical inmate record will include the inmate’s personal details and administrative records regarding the inmate’s sentencing, incarceration, prison transfer, release, parole, and incarceration history. Inmate records, such as records of the inmate's medical history, are generally available to interested persons unless restricted by law or court order. These records can be obtained by making in-person or mail requests to concerned record custodians or by conducting an Arizona inmate search on any of the state’s available online databases.
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and, therefore, are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
Arizona inmate records are maintained and held by the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC), county sheriff's offices, and local police departments. The ADC maintains prison inmate records, while county sheriff's offices and local police departments maintain jail inmate records. Consequently, state residents can inquire through these agencies to locate an Arizona inmate who’s in custody.
To find someone in jail, an inquirer can contact a county sheriff's office or local police department or use the Arizona inmate lookup services they provide. Meanwhile, inquiries to find someone in prison are directed to the ADC and the Arizona inmate lookup services they provide. Generally, inmate records in the state include and are not limited to an inmate’s mugshot, personal information such as their name and gender, and their projected release date.
How to Find Someone in Jail in Arizona
Anyone who wants to know how to find someone in jail and how to find out why someone is in jail in Arizona can do so by contacting the agencies responsible for maintaining jail inmate records. In Arizona, county jail inmates’ records are maintained by county sheriff's offices. Meanwhile, city and town jail inmates’ records are maintained by local police departments. Hence, one may contact these agencies to make inquiries about how to find someone in jail.
State residents can request an Arizona inmate search through these agencies to find out who’s in custody. Most Arizona county sheriff's offices and local police departments maintain county inmate rosters and Arizona jail inmate search portals specifically to serve this purpose.
A county’s jail roster contains the details of each incarcerated individual who’s in custody. Arizona inmate search portals are online web portals and services used to query online jail inmate databases and jail rosters to find inmates. Arizona jail inmate search portals and jail roasters are usually accessible online through Arizona county sheriff's offices and local police departments' websites. Some examples include the Yavapai County inmate search portal and the Pinal County inmate search portal.
Interested parties may also contact or visit a county sheriff's office or local police department to make inquiries if these agencies do not maintain their jail inmate rosters or Arizona inmate search portals online. These agencies would be able to provide information on how to find someone in jail, how to find out why someone is in jail, and an inmate's current custody status.
Interested persons can also find out what jail someone is in through third-party websites that offer Arizona inmate locator services. Users can utilize these services to locate inmates from different counties, cities, and town jails simultaneously because they are typically not geographically limited. However, because these websites are run independently and are not backed by the government, the availability and accuracy of records are not always guaranteed.
How to Conduct a Free Inmate Search by Name in Arizona
Inquirers may conduct a free inmate search by name using the Arizona Department of Corrections Online tool available on the department’s website. To use this tool, select ‘Inmate Data Search’ under the ‘Public Resources’ tab. Users will be navigated to a page where they can enter the inmate's full or partial name along with their ADC number. The results provided will feature all inmates with information matching the entered query; it will feature:
- The inmate’s full name
- Date of birth
- The inmate's mugshot
- Facility
- Current incarceration status
- Charges and sentencing
In addition to the ADC’s search tools, members of the public may conduct an Arizona inmate search by querying local law enforcement offices in the county where the inmate is held. However, searches of this nature will require the inquirer to know the location of the individual's incarceration and their last name or DOC number.
How to Facilities Operated by the Arizona Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
The Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) is the administrative head of state prisons. The agency also oversees the management of privately operated prisons in the state. There are ten (10) such state prisons in Arizona and six private prisons. Four of the six private prisons are managed by the GEO Group, while Corrections Corporation of America and Management and Training Corporation each run one prison. Interested persons may view the full list of Arizona state and private prisons to perform a prison lookup.
Besides these state correctional facilities, Arizona also has a number of city, town, and county jails. Local police departments are in charge of city and town jails and generally operate as temporary holding facilities. Sheriff’s Offices run county jails in Arizona.
The addresses and contact information of correctional facilities in Arizona are as follows:
Arizona State Prison Complex - ASPC Douglas
6911 North BDI Boulevard,
Douglas, AZ 85607
Arizona State Prison Complex - ASPC Eyman
4374 East Butte Avenue,
Florence, AZ 85232
Arizona State Prison Complex - ASPC Florence
1305 East Butte Avenue,
Florence, AZ 85132
Arizona State Prison Complex - ASPC Florence
1000 Fairgrounds Road,
Globe, AZ 85501
Arizona State Prison Complex - ASPC Florence - North Unit
1310 East Butte Avenue,
Florence, AZ 85132
Arizona State Prison Complex - ASPC Florence - Picacho Unit
25230 Picacho Boulevard,
Picacho, AZ 85241
Arizona State Prison Complex - ASPC Florence - South Unit
1312 East Butte Avenue,
Florence, AZ 85132
Arizona State Prison Complex - ASPC Lewis - Bachman Unit
26700 South Highway 85,
Buckeye, AZ 85326
Arizona State Prison Complex - ASPC Perryville - Complex Detention MAIN
2105 North Citrus Road,
Goodyear, AZ 85395
Arizona State Prison Complex - ASPC Phoenix - Alhambra Reception
2500 East Van Buren Street,
Phoenix, AZ 85008
Arizona State Prison Complex - ASPC Safford - Ft. Grant Unit
15500 South Fort Grant Road,
Ft. Grant, AZ 85643
Arizona State Prison Complex - ASPC Safford - Graham Unit
896 South Cook Road,
Safford, AZ 85546
Arizona State Prison Complex - ASPC Tucson - Catalina Unit
10000 South Wilmot,
Tucson, AZ 85734
Arizona State Prison Complex - ASPC Tucson - SACRC Unit
1275 West Star Pass Boulevard,
Tucson, AZ 85734
Arizona State Prison Complex - ASPC Tucson - Santa Rita Unit
10000 South Wilmot,
Tucson, AZ 85734
Arizona State Prison Complex - ASPC Winslow - Apache Unit
38322 US Highway 180,
St. Johns, AZ 85936
Arizona State Prison Complex - ASPC Winslow - Complex Lock-Up MAIN
2100 South Highway 87,
St. Johns, AZ 86047
Arizona State Prison Complex - ASPC Yuma - Cheyenne Unit
7125 East Juan Sanchez Boulevard,
San Luis, AZ 85349
AZDJC - Adobe Mountain School
2800 West Pinnacle Peak Road,
Phoenix, AZ 85027
AZDJC - Black Canyon School
24601 North 29th Avenue,
Phoenix, AZ 85027
AZDJC - Catalina Mountain School
14500 North Oracle Road
P.O. Box 8988 CRB,
Tuscon, AZ 85738
Eagle Point School
25701 South State Route 85,
Buckeye, AZ 85326
Florence Service Processing Center (ICE)
250 North Pinal Parkway,
Florence, AZ 85132
Hualapai Detention Center
924 Rodeo Way
P.O. Box 69,
Peach Springs, AZ 86434
How Do I Send Money to an Inmate in Arizona Prisons or Jails?
The ADC provides different means of sending money to inmates in state and private prisons in Arizona. Generally, friends and families can send cashier’s checks and money orders directly to the facilities where inmates are incarcerated. The ADC also accepts electronic deposits through these three vendors, GTL, Keefe, and JPay.
All three contracted payment processors allow friends and family to deposit money in inmate accounts by:
- Cash deposits in designated retail locations or other walk-in destinations
- Card deposits online (credit and debit cards only)
- Card deposits by phone calls to designated toll-free numbers (card and debit cards only)
- Money transfer through mobile apps
Read the brochures provided by JPay, GTL (Spanish), and Keefe to find details of the various inmate account funding options available. Check the inmate deposits page on the ADC website to see the various fees charged by these payment processors for fund transfers.
Meanwhile, local correctional facilities have different provisions for sending money to inmates. While some jails allow friends and family to send checks and money orders by mail, others do not. Nevertheless, most local jails allow cash and credit/debit card deposits via designated kiosks in the facility lobby. Certain jails contract payment vendors to process money deposits into inmate accounts - these vendors usually allow online transfers and money deposits via phone calls.
How to Get Approved to Visit an Inmate in Arizona Prisons and Jails
Persons who intend to visit someone in Arizona prisons must submit a visitor’s application and wait for approval from the prison administrative staff. Once approved, visitors must follow the facility’s visitation rules. Generally, the ADC requires prospective visitors to submit applications to visit inmates incarcerated in state and private prisons in Arizona. This involves completing an online or application form for mail-in requests. Each application attracts a $25 application fee, which the ADC uses to conduct background checks on applicants. On average, it takes thirty (30) days to process an application for inmate visitation. Denied applicants must wait 180 days before re-applying.
Meanwhile, approved applicants must visit per the facility’s visitation rules. A rule of thumb is to use the prison lookup tool to find details of its visitation regulations and schedule. A few Arizona county jails make provisions for video visitations. So, friends and family can opt for onsite or remote video visits. Note that facilities that provide this service also charge for it. Each visitor can only be on the visitor list of one inmate unless they are directly related to more than one inmate. For more details about visiting an inmate in an Arizona state or private prison, read the ADC’s inmate visitation guidelines.
How to Find a County Inmate Roster in Arizona
A county inmate roster provides information on incarcerated individuals held in a particular county’s jail. In Arizona, county inmate rosters are typically maintained by county sheriff's offices as searchable online databases. These online databases are found on the county sheriff’s office website. An example of these databases is Pima County inmate lookup.
The inquirer must know a subject’s name or an inmate ID to use a county’s inmate roster. With an inmate's name or ID, one can search for and access the inmate's record on the jail roster. These include the inmate's full name, age, booking number, bond amount, court cases, and the name of the facility where the inmate is being held. If a county’s inmate roster is unavailable online, one may contact the county sheriff's office to make inquiries about it.
How to Perform Arizona Prison Inmate Search
The ADC provides a handy inmate search tool on its website to help members of the public perform a statewide Arizona prison inmate search. Generally, searchers must know the inmate’s full name or ADC number to perform a search and retrieve the applicable inmate records. A name-based inmate search often returns several results, so use the inmate’s gender and current custody status to narrow down the search results.
Friends and family members who are interested in learning about the records of specific inmates may contact the ADC by email at IFFLiaison@azcorrections.gov. Alternatively, these requesters may call (602) 364-3945 or (866) 333-2039 toll-free.
The ADC sends electronic copies of inmate records to requesters by email unless the requester specifies that the agency sends paper copies by mail. The record custodian charges 50 cents per page for paper records and 10 cents per page for electronic records. Paper copies of subpoenas cost 25 cents per page plus a processing fee of $25 per hour. These fees are payable on the ADCPay portal.
Meanwhile, interested persons can use the Federal Bureau Of Prison's “find an inmate” portal for federal inmate searches. On the portal, the inquirer would need to provide an inmate's name or number to perform a federal inmate search or an Arizona jail inmate search.
How to Perform Arizona Jail Inmate Search
Local police departments and Sheriff’s offices provide specific information on how to find out if someone is in jail. Interested persons may call the law enforcement agency or visit in person to make these inquiries.
However, performing an Arizona jail inmate search is the fastest way to find a person in jail. Most local jails in Arizona maintain an official website where interested persons may perform a county jail search. To begin, visit the county, city, or town official website and look for the page listing the Sheriff’s Office or police department - check the website’s navigation bar. Follow the link to the local law enforcement web page, which typically contains an inmate roster or jail log.
Suppose the local law enforcement agency does not maintain such rosters or logs. Then, the searcher must visit or call this agency to enquire about individuals booked into its detention facility.
Arizona State Prisons and County Jails: Understanding the Difference
Like most US states, Arizona state prisons and county jails are both state-run and county-run. The state prison system is overseen by the Arizona Department of Corrections, while each county sheriff's office oversees its jail system.
There are 13 state prisons and 67 county and city jails in Arizona, which house more than 40,000 inmates. The largest of these is the Lewis Prison in Buckeye, holding up to 4,000 inmates. Other state prisons include the Florence Correctional Center, the Perryville Prison Complex, and the Arizona State Prison - Kingman. Offenders serving sentences of more than one year, including those serving life sentences, are usually housed in Arizona state prisons.
In addition to these state-run facilities, there are also numerous county jails throughout Arizona. These jails typically house inmates who are awaiting trial or sentencing or who have been sentenced to less than one year of incarceration. The Maricopa County Jail is the largest county jail in Arizona and one of the largest in the United States, with an inmate capacity of over 10,000.
How Do I Find an Inmate Release Date
Interested persons may use the Arizona inmate data search system to look up inmates’ projected release dates. The system also contains information on the inmates’ parole hearings and hearing outcomes. The system is maintained to improve public safety as victims of crimes can use it to find the release date of their assailant.
How Do I Find Out Where Someone is Incarcerated in Arizona?
The first place to start the search is online on the Arizona inmate lookup tool. A free inmate search by name will provide information on persons convicted to state prison facilities. For persons incarcerated in county jails, visit the Sheriff’s Office’s website for the inmate roster. But how does one know where exactly to search? First, the interested person must find out the sentence length. Generally, offenders convicted of misdemeanors are incarcerated in county jails where the offender spends less than twelve months. On the other hand, persons convicted of felonies are incarcerated in state prison facilities, where the offender spends more than one year.
