Santa Cruz County Arrest Records

Santa Cruz County sits on the Arizona-Mexico border in the southeastern part of the state. The sheriff handles recent arrests throughout this border county and runs the Adult Detention Center in Nogales. Unlike some Arizona counties, Santa Cruz does not offer online inmate search. You need to call the jail directly to check on inmates. This page covers how to find arrest records in Santa Cruz County, the request process, fees, and contact information for the sheriff's office and jail facility.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for this southern Arizona county. Deputies work along the international border and throughout the rural areas of the county. The sheriff also operates the county detention center.

Recent arrests in Santa Cruz County are processed at the Adult Detention Center in Nogales. The facility opened in 2011 and can house up to 372 inmates. All bookings go through this location. Staff enter arrest information into the county system during intake.

Santa Cruz County does not have an online inmate search tool. To find out if someone is in custody, you must call the jail directly. Staff can tell you if a person is being held and provide basic booking information. This requires a phone call during business hours or to the 24-hour jail line.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety maintains statewide criminal records under A.R.S. § 41-1750.

Use the state inmate search to find offenders who transferred from Santa Cruz County jail to state prison.

Santa Cruz County Detention Center

The Santa Cruz County Adult Detention Center is at 2170 N. Congress Drive in Nogales. This modern facility replaced an older jail when it opened in 2011. The building was designed to efficiently house and process inmates for this border county.

The jail has capacity for 372 inmates. It handles booking for all arrests in the county. Staff work around the clock to process new intakes and manage the inmate population. The facility includes holding areas, housing units, and video visitation systems.

Video visitation replaced traditional in-person visits. This system eliminates waiting in line. Family members schedule visits through the video system. The process is more convenient for many visitors while maintaining security at the facility.

Contact the jail at (520) 761-7875 for inmate information. The main sheriff's office number is (520) 761-7869. Jail staff can confirm custody status, explain visiting procedures, and answer questions about bail. They operate 24 hours a day.

Note: Call the jail directly at (520) 761-7875 to check if someone is currently in Santa Cruz County custody.

Request Santa Cruz County Arrest Records

Arizona public records law gives you access to arrest records. Under A.R.S. § 39-121, public records must be available for inspection during office hours. This includes booking records, arrest reports, and related documents from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff.

To request records, contact the sheriff's office. You can call first to learn their preferred method. Some offices want written requests. Others accept walk-in requests. Provide as much detail as you can about what you need. The person's full name is essential. Arrest dates help narrow the search. More detail means faster results.

Certain information gets removed before release. Under A.R.S. § 41-4172, personal details like birth dates, social security numbers, and home addresses are redacted. You receive the arrest information without the most sensitive personal data. This protects privacy while allowing public access.

Response time depends on request complexity and staff workload. Simple requests may be ready quickly. Larger or older requests take more time. The sheriff must respond within a reasonable period. Mention any deadlines you face when submitting your request.

Check Santa Cruz County Arrests

Without an online search tool, checking on arrests in Santa Cruz County requires direct contact. Call the jail at (520) 761-7875 to ask about current inmates. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody and provide basic information.

When you call, have the person's full name ready. A birth date helps if you have it. Staff will check their records and let you know if the person is being held. They can also explain the charges and bail amount if applicable.

The lack of online search makes things slower than in counties with web tools. Plan to call during reasonable hours when staff are available. Peak times may mean a wait. Off hours and weekends have fewer staff but the jail is always operational.

For historical records not in active custody, you need a formal request. The sheriff maintains files on all past arrests. These do not get deleted when someone is released. A records request gives you access to closed cases and older booking information.

Santa Cruz County Records Fees

Getting copies of arrest records costs money. Viewing records in person is free under Arizona law. Copies have fees. The county sets rates based on state guidelines.

The sheriff's office has a few set fees. Fingerprint clearance cards cost $7.00 per card. You must pay by money order only for this service. Other records have their own fee schedules. Ask staff for the cost of your specific request before submitting.

Different types of records have different costs. A simple booking sheet costs less than a full incident report with multiple pages. Requests for audio, video, or digital evidence cost more than paper records. The staff can give you a quote once they understand what you need.

Payment methods may be limited. Money orders are required for some services. Cash works for most counter transactions. Check with the office about acceptable payment before your visit. This saves time when you come to pick up your records.

Santa Cruz County Arrest Record Sealing

Arizona allows sealing of certain arrest records. The law is found in A.R.S. § 13-911. Sealing hides a record from most searches. Employers and landlords will not see sealed records in background checks.

Different offenses have different waiting periods before you can petition. Class 2 and 3 felonies require 10 years. Class 4 through 6 felonies need 5 years. A Class 1 misdemeanor has a 3 year wait. Lesser misdemeanors need 2 years. Arrests that never led to charges can be sealed immediately.

You petition the Superior Court to seal a record. Santa Cruz County Superior Court handles these requests. Fill out the required forms and submit your petition. The court reviews whether you meet all requirements. If approved, the record becomes sealed and you can legally deny the arrest on job applications.

Getting legal help is wise if you want to seal records. The process has specific steps. Missing something delays your petition. Local legal aid organizations may help if cost is a concern.

Santa Cruz County Victim Notification

Arizona operates the VINE victim notification system statewide. VINE lets crime victims track offenders in custody. You register to receive alerts about changes in an inmate's status.

Sign up at VINELink using the offender's information. Choose how you want to be notified. Options include phone calls, emails, and text messages. The system sends alerts for releases, transfers, court dates, and escapes.

VINE is free for victims and their families. The system runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Status changes trigger immediate notifications. This helps victims stay informed and plan for their safety.

Arizona expanded victim notification in 2023 with HB 2482. The new CVNS system starts notification at the incident call. This means victims get information earlier in the process. Contact continues throughout the criminal justice proceedings.

Santa Cruz County Border Location

Santa Cruz County sits directly on the U.S.-Mexico border. Nogales is a twin city with Nogales, Sonora just across the international line. This location affects law enforcement in the area.

The sheriff works alongside federal agencies on border related matters. Cases involving immigration or cross-border crimes may involve multiple agencies. Records from federal agencies are not in the county system. For federal cases, contact the relevant federal agency directly.

Arrests that happen in Mexico are not in Arizona records at all. If someone was arrested across the border, you need to contact Mexican authorities. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff only has records of arrests made in Arizona under Arizona law.

The border location means the jail sometimes holds people on federal charges pending transfer. These individuals appear in county custody records even though their case is federal. The jail can explain the situation when you call about a specific inmate.

Towns in Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz County has no cities over 50,000 residents. Nogales is the largest city with around 20,000 people. Other communities include Tubac, Patagonia, and Rio Rico. None meet the threshold for separate city pages.

Nogales has its own police department. Arrests by Nogales Police go through city processes initially. Inmates are typically housed in the county detention center. For Nogales city arrests, you may need to contact both the city police and county jail.

The sheriff handles unincorporated areas and smaller communities. Outside Nogales city limits, the sheriff is the primary law enforcement. All county inmates end up at the same detention center regardless of which agency made the arrest.

If you are unsure which agency handled an arrest, start with the county jail. They can tell you if someone is in custody and which agency brought them in. From there you can contact the right department for records.

Contact Santa Cruz County Sheriff

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office is at 2170 N. Congress Drive in Nogales, AZ 85621. Call the main number at (520) 761-7869. The jail direct line is (520) 761-7875.

Office hours apply for records requests and administrative tasks. The jail operates continuously. For emergencies, call 911. Non-emergency matters after hours can go to the main number where dispatch can assist or take messages.

When calling about inmates or records, be ready with information. Full names are essential. Any dates you know help staff search. Clear, specific questions get faster answers. Staff handle many calls and appreciate callers who come prepared.

Nearby Arizona Counties

Santa Cruz County borders other Arizona counties. For arrest records from these areas:

• Pima County - north of Santa Cruz, includes Tucson
• Cochise County - east of Santa Cruz

Each county maintains separate records. A search in Santa Cruz County will not show Pima or Cochise arrests. Contact each county sheriff directly for their arrest information.

Santa Cruz also borders Mexico to the south. Arrests in Mexico are not in any Arizona records system. For cross-border matters, you need to work with Mexican authorities. Arizona agencies can only provide Arizona records.