Maricopa County Recent Arrests

Maricopa County handles more arrests than any other county in Arizona. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office runs four major jail facilities in the Phoenix metro area. You can search for recent arrests online through the sheriff's inmate lookup system. The county also posts booking information and maintains records of all arrests made by MCSO deputies. This guide explains how to find arrest records in Maricopa County and what information is available to the public.

Maricopa County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is the largest sheriff department in Arizona. It handles law enforcement for unincorporated areas and runs the county jail system. MCSO deputies make thousands of arrests each year. All booking records go into the county database.

You can search for current inmates through the MCSO Inmate Information page. The system lets you search by booking number or by name. For name searches, you need the last name, first name, and date of birth in YYYYMMDD format. Results show current inmates only. Once a person is released, their record drops from the active search.

The Custody Bureau manages daily safety and security across all detention facilities. Staff process new bookings around the clock. Each arrest gets a unique booking number. This number helps track the case through the system.

The state inmate search system works alongside county tools to help locate offenders who have moved to state prison from the Maricopa County jail.

Maricopa County Jail Locations

Maricopa County operates four main jail facilities. Each one handles different types of inmates. All are in the Phoenix area. When someone gets arrested in Maricopa County, they go to one of these locations for booking and holding.

The 4th Avenue Jail sits at 201 S. 4th Avenue in Phoenix. This is the main intake facility for the county. Most new arrests start here. Staff process bookings and handle initial court appearances. The facility phone number is (602) 876-0322.

Estrella Jail is located at 2939 W. Durango Road in Phoenix. It houses female inmates and some male inmates classified at lower security levels. The same main jail phone works for all facilities.

Lower Buckeye Jail sits at 3250 W Lower Buckeye Road in Phoenix. This facility handles medium security male inmates. It has capacity for several thousand inmates at any time.

Towers Jail is at 3127 W. Gibson Lane in Phoenix. This facility handles various security classifications. All four jails use the same booking system, so records transfer between locations as inmates move.

Note: Contact any facility at (602) 876-0322 for general booking and inmate information in Maricopa County.

Request Maricopa County Arrest Records

The Maricopa County Sheriff maintains arrest records under Arizona public records law. You can request copies of booking records, incident reports, and other arrest documentation. The process follows state rules set by A.R.S. § 39-121.

To get records from MCSO, contact their public records unit. You can visit in person at 550 West Jackson Street in Phoenix. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. You can also call (602) 876-1000 for information about records requests.

The MCSO Public Records page has details on what you can request. Per A.R.S. § 39-129, payment must be cash, money order, cashier's check, or business check. The department does not accept personal checks or credit cards for records fees.

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

Recent Changes to Maricopa County Records

A 2024 court ruling affected how Maricopa County shares arrest records online. In Houston v. Maricopa County, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found issues with posting mugshots and personal information online. The court said such posting could violate due process rights.

This ruling led several Arizona counties to change their practices. Some turned off online inmate search tools entirely. Maricopa County continues to offer inmate search but has adjusted what information appears. The mugshot lookup feature may have limited availability depending on current policy.

You can still get arrest records through formal requests. The Houston ruling did not change public records law. It only affected how agencies post information online without a specific request. In-person and written requests still work the same way they always have in Maricopa County.

Search Maricopa County Arrests Online

The MCSO website offers online inmate search tools. These show current inmates in the county jail system. The search is free to use. You need basic information about the person you want to find.

To search by name, you need all three pieces: last name, first name, and date of birth. The date of birth must be in YYYYMMDD format. For example, January 15, 1985 would be 19850115. If you have the booking number, you can search with just that instead.

Search results show inmates currently in custody. The database updates regularly. If someone was released, they will not appear in search results. For historical records, you need to submit a formal public records request to the sheriff's office.

The county also posts press releases about major arrests. These are public statements, not searchable databases. Check the MCSO website news section for recent announcements about significant cases in Maricopa County.

Maricopa County Records Fees

Fees for arrest records in Maricopa County follow state guidelines. The exact cost depends on what you request. Basic information searches are often free through online tools. Formal copies of documents have set fees.

Payment rules are strict. Cash works at the counter. Money orders and cashier's checks work for mail requests. Business checks are accepted with proper ID. Personal checks and debit or credit cards are not accepted for any records fees at MCSO. Plan your payment method before visiting.

Arizona law allows fee waivers in some cases. If you need records for a legal matter but cannot afford fees, ask about waiver options. The process requires showing financial need.

Cities in Maricopa County

Maricopa County contains most of Arizona's largest cities. Each city has its own police department that handles arrests within city limits. The sheriff handles unincorporated areas. All county inmates go through the MCSO jail system regardless of which agency made the arrest.

Major cities in Maricopa County include Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Glendale, Gilbert, Tempe, Peoria, Surprise, Avondale, Goodyear, and Buckeye. Each city page has details about local police records and how to request arrest reports from that department.

If you are not sure which agency handled an arrest, start with the county. MCSO can direct you to the right department if they do not have the record you need.

Contact Maricopa County Sheriff

The main sheriff's office is at 550 West Jackson Street in Phoenix, AZ 85003. General phone is (602) 876-1000. For jail and inmate questions, call (602) 876-0322.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Jail facilities operate 24 hours a day, but administrative services follow regular business hours. For urgent matters outside business hours, call the main jail number.

Online resources work any time. The inmate search runs 24/7 on the MCSO website. You can look up current inmates whenever you need without waiting for office hours.

Nearby Arizona Counties

If you need arrest records from areas outside Maricopa County, check these neighboring counties:

• Pinal County - south and east of Maricopa
• Yavapai County - north of Maricopa
• Gila County - east of Maricopa
• La Paz County - west of Maricopa

Each county runs its own jail and inmate search system. Records do not automatically transfer between counties. You need to contact each one separately for their arrest records.