Search Arizona Public Records

How to Look Up Criminal Records in Arizona

According to the law, arrest records fall under the Freedom of Information Act and must be made available to the general public upon request. State and local government maintains the database of criminal records. For Arizona criminal background checks, the state uses fingerprinting to match up criminals with their records, but they can also be requested using someone’s name and date of birth — the DPS procures all the records from courthouses and police departments to provide the public with a repository for obtaining them.

Victims & Offenders by Gender and Race

What Information Does Arizona Criminal Records Report Include?

An arrest report will show all the information collected by the arresting agency. First, it includes the person’s name, address, phone number, and a physical description. Also, sometimes they contain Arizona public mugshots, fingerprints, the name of the arresting officer, the agency that detained him or her, the location of the arrest, the booking details, and if any vehicles were involved. The date of the arrest record will also be listed along with other unique information that pertains to the situation.

Arizona Police Report and Mugshots

Are Arizona Police Reports Public Record?

Yes, police reports in Arizona are considered public records. Arizona’s Department of Public Safety (ADPS) is the government agency and repository for most types of records, including local and county police reports. Some of the types of police records they store are vehicle collision reports, citations, warnings, arrests, repair orders, mugshots, and law enforcement agency requests for offense reports. To make a request, you may need some information such as:

• Subject’s name.
• Subject’s date of birth.
• Date and time of the incident.
• Location of the event.
• Officer’s name.
• VIN.
• Officer’s badge number.
• How you are connected to the event.

The ADPS does charge fees for copies of police reports. You may also visit a police department or the Sheriff’s Office in person to obtain a copy. Depending on the location, there may or may not be a fee involved. Many have specific forms you must fill out, and you must provide a valid U.S. ID before they are issued to you. Some police departments have even set up portals where you can create an account online and search local police reports to review in the comfort of your own home.

Mugshots Arizona

Arizona mugshots are also public records, and they are collected and stored in the state’s inmate database. Using a search form on the Arizona correctional website, you can find someone’s mugshots pretty easily. However, this database includes mugshots of convicted persons who are incarcerated or were released from prison. Those held in jail or arrested but not convicted, will not be included in this set of images.

As part of the arrest process in Arizona, when local police remand a suspect to jail, they also take two photos of them (both a front-facing and profile image) as mugshots for the file. These mugshots stay with the police record and the suspect’s criminal records.

Mugshots have been used by law enforcement since the 1880s, soon after photography was invented. It has become an important part of the criminal record, helping victims, witnesses, and even investigators to identify criminals.

Arizona Arrest Booking Process

When someone is arrested in Arizona, local police take them into custody and book them. The booking process entails:

• The suspect is handcuffed and taken to the police station.
• They are read their Miranda rights before being taken into custody.
• Officers ask some basic questions, and forms are filled out.
• The arrested person does not have to say anything, and they have rights to a lawyer.
• They are fingerprinted, and police take mugshots of them.
• Suspects are placed in jail, and a bail figure is set.

The person will remain in jail until their initial hearing or someone pays their bail.If they are a flight risk, bail or a bond may be set very high.

Violent Crime Rates for the last 10 years

The crime rate has decreased over the past decade in Arizona, going from 26,534 crimes in 2006 to 26,198 by 1% lower than it was back in 2006. The largest percentage of violent crimes falls into the Aggravated Assault category, with Revised Rape being the least popular crime in the state.

Arrest Law

The law allows police officers to arrest someone with a warrant that has been granted by a judge for suspicion of a crime. If an officer witnesses a crime being committed that is a misdemeanor or felony, they can arrest that person without a warrant. If someone else witnesses them committing a felony or tells the police, they know they did it; the officer can arrest them without a warrant. Police officers can even arrest someone at their home, without a warrant if they think they might be a flight risk, destroy evidence or hurt someone else. People arrested may have to pay bail to be released from jail if they are booked. Their hearing with the judge should take place within 24 hours after arrest.

The Arrest Rates in Arizona

Last year 257,062 people were arrested in AZ. Thirty thousand five hundred nine were arrested for violent crimes, which accounted for 13.3% of the total offenses. Another 35,980 people were arrested for property offenses. August was the month with the highest number of crimes committed. Of those arrested, 41,565 were adults, and 5,987 were juveniles. 70.5% of those arrested were male; the remainder was female. From the total people arrested, 47,552 were classified as Part I and 209,510 were classified as Part II.

State Offender and Victim Age Group Statistics

Most of the violent crime offenders in Arizona were 20-29 and the largest percentage of violent crime victims were 20-29.

Crime Victim Demographics

Residence Home is the place where the majority of crimes in Arizona were committed, in most of the crime cases the offender was a stranger.

Arizona Arrest Records by Type of Crime

The popular arrests for 2017 in Arizona was for All Other Offenses (except traffic) - 84,078, the same popularity of the arrest type was seen in Alabama, Alaska, and Arizona. The least popularity had Gambling arrests - with only 13 crimes a year.