Cochise County Recent Arrests

Cochise County recent arrests were once easy to find online. The county used to post mugshots and inmate lists on the sheriff website. That changed in 2024 after a federal court ruling. Now you must call or visit to get arrest information in Cochise County. The sheriff's office still maintains records and can provide booking details over the phone. This guide explains how to find arrest records now that the online tools are gone. You will learn who to contact and what to expect when requesting Cochise County arrest information.

Cochise County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Cochise County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement across this large southeast Arizona county. Deputies patrol vast rural areas. They make arrests, serve warrants, and transport prisoners. All booking information goes into the county system.

After a legal review of the Houston vs Maricopa County 2024 ruling, the Cochise County Sheriff's Office stopped posting mugshots and inmate lists online. The Ninth Circuit Court found constitutional issues with such postings. Cochise County chose to disable their public facing tools rather than risk legal problems.

This does not mean records are hidden. Public records law still applies. You just need to request information directly instead of browsing online. The change affects convenience, not access rights. Anyone can still get arrest information through proper channels.

Note: The online mugshot and inmate list tools are disabled but phone requests still work.

Find Cochise County Arrest Records

Without an online portal, you have two main options. Call the jail or visit in person. Both work well for current inmates. Historical records take more effort.

For current inmates, call the Cochise County Jail at (520) 432-7540. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody. They provide basic booking information over the phone. This includes the arrest date, charges, and bond amount if set. You do not need to give a reason for asking. These are public records.

For written records or copies of arrest reports, contact the sheriff's main office. The address is 205 North Judd Drive in Bisbee, Arizona 85603. The main phone number is (520) 432-9505. Staff can process your request during business hours. Expect to pay copying fees for documents.

If you need records fast, call first. Ask what they need from you. Some requests can be handled same day. Others take a few days to process. Complex requests involving many records take longer.

Cochise County Records and Arizona Law

Arizona public records law supports access to arrest information. Under A.R.S. 39-121, public records must be open for inspection during office hours. This includes arrest reports and booking records maintained by the Cochise County Sheriff.

The sheriff cannot refuse a valid public records request. They can charge reasonable fees for copies. They must redact certain personal information. But the basic arrest record is public. You have a right to see it.

Arizona requires all arrests to be reported to the state. Under A.R.S. 41-1750, the Department of Public Safety runs the Central State Repository. Every arrest in Cochise County gets reported there. DPS keeps the master criminal history database for Arizona.

For your own criminal record, you can request a review from DPS. The Arizona DPS Criminal History Records page explains how. You submit fingerprints and a form. DPS sends your record within 15 days. This shows all Arizona arrests, not just Cochise County.

Why Online Search Changed

The Houston v. Maricopa County ruling changed how Arizona counties share arrest data. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found problems with posting mugshots online. The court said this could violate due process rights of people not yet convicted.

Cochise County reviewed this ruling carefully. After consulting legal counsel, they decided to stop posting inmate lists and mugshots on the sheriff website. This happened in late 2024. Other Arizona counties made similar choices. Mohave and some others also disabled their tools.

The ruling did not change public records law. Your right to request and receive arrest records remains. What changed is the passive availability online. You now must actively request records rather than browse them freely. This adds a step but does not block access.

Note: Some Arizona counties still post inmate information online despite the ruling.

Cochise County Jail Information

The Cochise County Jail holds inmates awaiting trial and those serving short sentences. The facility sits in Bisbee. It processes all county arrests regardless of which agency made the arrest. City police from Sierra Vista, Douglas, and Bisbee all bring arrestees here.

The jail phone is (520) 432-7540. Call this number for inmate information. Staff can confirm custody status and provide booking details. They answer during regular hours. After hours, limited information may be available from on duty staff.

Visitation uses video systems in Cochise County. In person visits are limited. Contact the jail for current rules about visiting inmates. Rules change so check before planning a trip. Inmate phone calls and deposits go through Securus Technologies.

Arizona State Inmate Search

If someone was convicted and sent to state prison, they leave the county jail. State prisoners are in Arizona Department of Corrections facilities. These are not in Cochise County. You need a different search tool.

The Arizona Department of Corrections runs its own inmate database. You can search it at Arizona Inmate Data Search. This shows current state prisoners and their locations. Release dates appear when set. The database does not include county jail inmates.

The state search is useful for tracking people convicted in Cochise County. Once they go to state prison, the county jail no longer has them. The state database picks up where county records end.

Track Cochise County Offenders

Arizona VINE helps victims stay informed about offenders. The system sends alerts when someone's custody status changes. You can sign up for free and track people in Cochise County.

VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. The VINELink website lets you register for alerts. Enter the name of someone in custody. When they get released, transferred, or escape, you get notified. Alerts come by phone, email, or text.

The service works statewide. It covers county jails and state prisons. Cochise County participates in the program. Registration is simple and takes a few minutes. VINE is especially useful when you cannot check custody status regularly yourself.

Cochise County Record Sealing

People with old arrests in Cochise County may be able to seal their records. Arizona passed a law allowing this in recent years. Under A.R.S. 13-911, certain convictions and arrests can be sealed after waiting periods.

The waiting period depends on the offense. 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 need only 2 years. Dismissed charges and arrests without charges may be sealed sooner.

Once sealed, the record does not appear in public searches. The person can legally deny the arrest for employment, housing, and loan applications. However, law enforcement and courts can still see sealed records. Sealing helps people move past old mistakes but does not erase the record completely.

Note: Sealing requires a court petition and only applies after the waiting period ends.

Request Cochise County Records

Getting copies of arrest records requires a formal request. You can make requests in person, by mail, or sometimes by fax. The sheriff's office processes public records requests during business hours.

Visit the Cochise County Sheriff's Office at 205 North Judd Drive in Bisbee. Bring ID and be ready to fill out a request form. Tell staff exactly what you need. The more specific you are, the faster they can help. Vague requests take longer to process.

Fees apply for copies. Arizona law lets agencies charge for copying costs. Expect per page fees for paper copies. Large requests cost more. Ask for a fee estimate before agreeing to the request. Payment methods vary by agency so bring cash as a backup.

Some information gets redacted from public copies. Under A.R.S. 41-4172, dates of birth, social security numbers, and home addresses are removed. This protects privacy while allowing access to arrest information.

Cities in Cochise County

Cochise County has several cities and towns. Sierra Vista is the largest with about 45,000 people. Douglas sits on the Mexico border. Bisbee is the county seat, a historic mining town turned tourist spot. Other communities include Willcox, Tombstone, and Benson.

None of these cities meet the 50,000 population threshold for a separate page. Sierra Vista comes closest. City police departments in these towns handle their own arrests. The county jail holds everyone regardless of arresting agency.

For city police records, contact that city's police department directly. Sierra Vista PD handles Sierra Vista arrests. Douglas PD handles Douglas arrests. The sheriff covers unincorporated areas. All arrestees go to the county jail, but incident reports stay with the arresting agency.

Nearby Arizona Counties

Cochise County borders several other Arizona counties. Each has its own sheriff and jail system. If you need arrest records from outside Cochise County, contact these neighbors:

• Pima County - west, includes Tucson
• Graham County - north of Cochise
• Santa Cruz County - southwest corner
• Greenlee County - northeast corner

Records do not transfer between counties automatically. You must contact each county separately for their arrest records. If someone was arrested in multiple counties, you need to check each one.

Contact Cochise County Sheriff

Here is the contact information for Cochise County arrest records:

• Address: 205 North Judd Drive, Bisbee, Arizona 85603
• Main Phone: (520) 432-9505
• Jail Phone: (520) 432-7540

Call the jail phone for current inmate information. Call the main phone for records requests and general questions. Visit during business hours for in person service. Written requests can be mailed to the address above.