Arizona Recent Arrests
Arizona recent arrest records are kept by county sheriff offices and police departments across the state. You can search these records online through various databases. The Arizona Department of Public Safety runs the Central State Repository for all criminal records in Arizona. County jails post inmate lists and booking data on their websites. Some counties let you search by name or booking number. Others post daily arrest logs you can view for free. This guide shows you where to find recent arrest information in Arizona and how to request official records.
Arizona Arrest Records Quick Facts
Arizona Central State Repository
The Arizona Department of Public Safety keeps all criminal records at one central location. This is the Central State Repository. It holds arrest records from every law enforcement agency in Arizona. Under A.R.S. § 41-1750, DPS must collect arrest and disposition data from all criminal justice agencies in the state. This makes the repository the most complete source for Arizona arrest records.
You can review your own Arizona criminal record through the DPS Public Services Portal. The Criminal History Records page has all the forms you need. A response will be mailed within 15 days. The record review is free. You must send your fingerprints with the request. Arizona law does not let DPS run checks for private citizens or employers. You can only get your own record this way.
The DPS Public Services Portal lets you submit requests online. You can track your request status here too.
This page explains how to get your Arizona arrest record from the state repository. It lists what forms to use and where to send them.
The records request process takes time. DPS gets many requests each week. They ask you not to call about status until 30 business days have passed. You can check online instead. The Records Request Page has more details on fees and wait times.
This shows the DPS records request page with fee info and contact details for the Public Records Unit.
Search Arizona Arrest Records Online
Arizona offers several ways to search for recent arrest records. The method you use depends on what you need. For your own record, use the DPS portal. For current jail inmates, check the county sheriff website. For police reports, contact the local police department.
The DPS Public Services Portal handles record review requests. You need to create an account to use it. The portal login page lets you sign in or register. Once inside, you can submit forms and track requests. This portal is only for your own records. You cannot search for other people here.
The portal home page shows the main options for submitting record requests to Arizona DPS.
This login screen is where you access your account to check Arizona arrest record request status.
Each county also runs its own inmate lookup system. These show who is currently in jail. Most update every few hours. You can search by last name in most counties. Some show booking photos. Others list charges and bail amounts. The county sections below have links to each local search tool.
Arizona Inmate Data Search
The Arizona Department of Corrections runs a statewide inmate search. This covers state prisons only. It does not include county jails. The Inmate Data Search portal lets you look up anyone in the state prison system. You can search by name or ADC number.
The Inmate Data Search shows current prisoners in Arizona state facilities. It includes release dates and housing info.
Under A.R.S. § 31-221(E), inmates can only view their own summary record file. Release dates shown on the search have not been audited. They can change. The department warns users to verify dates before making plans based on them.
For county jail inmates, you must use each county's own search tool. Maricopa County has the largest jail system. Pima County is second. Both have online inmate search portals. Smaller counties may only have phone lookup or PDF lists. Some counties have turned off their online search tools due to recent court rulings.
Arizona Victim Notification System
Arizona VINE alerts crime victims when an offender's custody status changes. If someone you know gets arrested, you can register for updates. VINELink is the web portal for this service. You can sign up for phone, text, or email alerts. The service is free and runs 24 hours a day.
VINELink lets you track an offender's status in Arizona. You get alerts when they are released, transferred, or escape.
The Arizona Criminal Victim Notification System expanded in 2023. HB 2482 added new features. A contract was awarded in July 2024. The expanded program starts with the incident call. Victims get updates through the whole criminal justice process now. Live operators can help in over 190 languages. Call 1-800-247-9763 for assistance.
Arizona Public Records Law
Arizona has strong public records laws. A.R.S. § 39-121 says public records must be open to anyone during office hours. This includes arrest records held by law enforcement. You do not need to give a reason to ask for records.
This statute gives the legal basis for public access to Arizona government records, including arrest data.
Law enforcement can share arrest information with the public. Under A.R.S. § 41-1750, agencies may disclose "reasonably contemporaneous" arrest info. This means recent arrests can be made public. Many sheriff offices post booking logs online for this reason. However, some personal details get redacted. Under A.R.S. § 41-4172, agencies must remove dates of birth, social security numbers, and addresses from public copies.
This shows the full statute text for the Central State Repository that handles all Arizona criminal arrest records.
Sealing Arizona Arrest Records
Arizona allows people to seal certain arrest records. A.R.S. § 13-911 covers the sealing process. You can seal arrests that did not lead to charges. You can seal dismissed cases. You can seal some convictions after waiting periods pass.
The sealing statute lists what records can be sealed and the waiting periods for each type of offense in Arizona.
The waiting periods depend on the crime type. Class 2 and 3 felonies require 10 years. Class 4 through 6 felonies need 5 years. Class 1 misdemeanors have a 3-year wait. Class 2 and 3 misdemeanors only need 2 years. Once sealed, you can legally say the arrest never happened. This applies to job applications, housing, and loans. Some offenses cannot be sealed at all.
Note: Sealing is different from expungement. Sealed records still exist but are hidden from most searches.
Arizona County Arrest Records
Each Arizona county runs its own jail and keeps its own booking records. Most counties post inmate lists online. The search tools vary by county. Maricopa County has a full online search portal. Some smaller counties only post PDF lists. A few have stopped online posting due to a 2024 court ruling.
In Houston v. Maricopa County, the Ninth Circuit found that posting mugshots and personal info may violate due process rights. Mohave, Cochise, and some other counties turned off their inmate search tools after this ruling. You can still get records by calling or visiting in person. The county pages below have current info on each location.
Counties with active online inmate search include Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai, Yuma, Apache, La Paz, and Navajo. Counties with limited or no online access include Coconino, Mohave, Cochise, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, and Santa Cruz. Check each county page for current status and contact info.
How to Get Arizona Arrest Records
There are several ways to get arrest records in Arizona. The method depends on what you need and who you are.
For your own criminal history, use the DPS Record Review process. Download the packet from the DPS website. Fill out the forms. Get your fingerprints taken on an FD-258 card. Mail everything to DPS. The review is free. You will get a response in about 15 days. This gives you your full Arizona criminal history.
For current jail inmates, use the county sheriff inmate search. Most are free to use online. You need the person's name to search. Results show booking date, charges, and bail info. Some counties show photos. Some do not. County jails only show current inmates. Once someone is released, they drop off the list.
For police reports, contact the police department that made the arrest. Each city has its own records unit. Fees vary by department. Phoenix charges $0.24 per page. Tucson charges $5 per report. Most departments have online request portals now. You can submit forms and pay online.
For older records, you may need to contact the court. The county superior court keeps case files after arrests lead to charges. You can look up case info on the Arizona court public access portal. Some info is free. Detailed documents may cost money to get.
Browse Arizona Arrest Records by County
Each county in Arizona has its own sheriff department that handles arrests and jail operations. Pick a county below to find local inmate search tools and records request info.
Arizona Arrest Records by City
Major Arizona cities have their own police departments with records units. Pick a city to learn about local arrest records and how to request police reports.