Arizona Inmate Search

Arizona operates nine state-run prisons and six private correctional facilities, all of which are overseen by the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry (ADCRR). These facilities collectively have a total operating capacity of approximately 43,600 inmates, with an average daily confined population of 35,000 inmates. Additionally, county jails and federal correctional institutions within Arizona house about 16,000 inmates. Data indicates that Maricopa County accounts for over 50 percent of the number of individuals convicted and incarcerated in Arizona, with Pima and Pinal Counties coming in second and third at approximately 11 and 6 percent, respectively.

Inmate searches are a vital tool for families, friends, attorneys, and any other interested party who wishes to locate individuals incarcerated in Arizona and access information about their status. These searches also help ensure transparency and accountability within the Arizona criminal justice system by providing the public with access to relevant inmate records.

What is Arizona Inmate Lookup?

An Arizona inmate lookup is a service that allows interested parties to search for and access information about individuals incarcerated within Arizona's various correctional facilities. You may perform these lookups through several resources, including the ADCRR's Inmate Data Search tool and VINELink – this platform also allows interested parties to register for notifications on changes in an inmate's status, such as their release or transfer to another facility.

Arizona inmate lookup tools are valuable for individuals seeking to maintain contact with inmates or monitor updates in their cases. These tools also promote transparency in Arizona's criminal justice system, aligning with the state's commitment to providing access to public records, per the Arizona Public Records Law.

What Information Can You Find in an Arizona Inmate Search?

You can typically find a wide array of information when you conduct an inmate search in Arizona, including:

• The inmate's first, middle, and last name
• The inmate's ID number
• The inmate's photo
• The inmate's gender and ethnic origin
• The inmate's physical features (height, weight, hair and eye color)
• The inmate's date of admission
• The inmate's custody class
• The inmate's sentencing and commitment information
• The inmate's projected release date and release type
• The inmate's current location and mailing address

How Are Inmate Records in Arizona Created and Stored?

When someone is arrested in Arizona, local law enforcement completes a RAP sheet, which is the first document that goes into an Arizona inmate's records. This RAP sheet will include the offender's name, address, physical description, and details about the crime they were arrested for. After that, any change that takes place in the offender's life (during their period of incarceration) gets recorded in the file. These inmate records are typically accessible online via searchable databases.

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) is the primary custodian of the state's inmate record repository and is responsible for keeping these records updated and making them publicly available. To this end, the ADCRR provides an inmate lookup tool that may be accessed at any time or from any location, making it easy for the public to find inmate records. Local law enforcement, court clerks, and other relevant officials within the Arizona criminal justice system also maintain inmate records within their respective jurisdictions on searchable databases that may be readily accessed by interested parties looking to conduct an inmate search.

What Does Arizona's Prison System Look Like?

Arizona has a multifaceted prison system that includes state-run prisons, county jails, federal prisons, and privately managed correctional facilities. The state-run prisons are operated by the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) – these prisons typically house individuals convicted of felony offenses under state law and sentenced to terms longer than one year. The ADCRR also contracts with private prisons to manage several facilities and house some of its minimum and medium-security inmates. However, juvenile offenders (individuals under the age of 18 who have been charged with or convicted of delinquent acts) are generally placed under the custody of the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC).

County jails in Arizona are managed by local sheriff's offices and primarily hold pretrial detainees and pre-sentencing offenders, individuals convicted of misdemeanors, and offenders serving short sentences of one year or less. These jails may also house inmates awaiting transfer to state or federal facilities, and several counties also collaborate with their local courts to operate juvenile detention centers. Likewise, Arizona is home to four federal correctional facilities - FCI Phoenix, FCI Safford, FCI Tucson, and USP Tucson – that house individuals convicted of federal crimes. These facilities are operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and are not under state jurisdiction.

Types of Correctional Facilities in Arizona

The state of Arizona uses a combination of state-operated prisons and private prison facilities to house its various inmates. There are also four federal prisons, along with multiple county jails (at least one in each county) and a juvenile detention center, run by the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC). Inmates residing in any of the state's long-term correctional facilities, including juvenile detention, are typically eligible to participate in the extensive educational programs offered by the prison. The programs offered include:

• Functional Literacy Program
• GED Preparation Program
• Work-Based Education
• Special Education
• Resource Centers

Arizona State Prisons

Arizona has a total of 15 state prisons (this includes one female-only facility at Perryville) that house adult inmates at various security levels. Nine of these are prison complexes directly operated by the state's Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR), while six are privately owned and run prison facilities that are under contract with (and overseen by) the ADCRR:

State-operated Prisons

• Arizona State Prison Complex – Douglas
• Arizona State Prison Complex – Eyman
• Arizona State Prison Complex – Lewis
• Arizona State Prison Complex – Perryville
• Arizona State Prison Complex – Phoenix
• Arizona State Prison Complex – Safford
• Arizona State Prison Complex – Tucson
• Arizona State Prison Complex – Winslow
• Arizona State Prison Complex – Yuma

Private Facilities

• Central Arizona Correctional Facility (operated by The GEO Group)
• Arizona State Prison - Florence West (operated by The GEO Group)
• Arizona State Prison – Kingman (operated by the GEO Group)
• La Palma Correctional Center (operated by CoreCivic)
• Phoenix West Correctional & Rehabilitation Facility (operated by The GEO Group)
• Red Rock Correctional Center (operated by CoreCivic)

Arizona County Jails

Each of Arizona's 15 counties has at least one jail (larger counties like Maricopa and Pima Counties operate multiple jail facilities or detention centers). These county jails are managed and overseen by the sheriff's office in each jurisdiction and they primarily house individuals awaiting trial, sentencing, serving short-term sentences, or awaiting transfer to state prisons:

• Apache County Jail
• Cochise County Jail
• Coconino County Jail
• Gila County Jail
• Graham County Detention Center
• Greenlee County Jail
• La Paz County Jail
• Maricopa County Jail
• Mohave County Jail
• Navajo County Detention Center
• Pima County Jail
• Pinal County Jail
• Santa Cruz County Jail
• Yavapai County Jail
• Yuma County Jail

Sheriff's offices in Arizona typically provide an online inmate lookup tool for their respective jail facilities, through which interested members of the public may perform jail inmate searches (by name, booking number, or other identifying information) and access select jail records.

Arizona Juvenile Detention Centers

Arizona has one state-operated juvenile detention center - the Adobe Mountain School. This facility is operated and managed by the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC). Instead of just punishing youth offenders, the ADJC utilizes a combination of education, health, and special rehabilitation programs to change the path of juvenile delinquents. Family participation is encouraged and an intricate part of the treatment programs.

Note that some counties also operate local juvenile detention facilities. It should also be pointed out that juvenile records in Arizona are typically confidential and may only be accessed by authorized parties. As such, a juvenile inmate search is generally not available, unlike adult facilities, where you may access their inmate information online.

Arizona Community Correctional Facilities

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry operates 16 community reentry offices that help inmates transition back into society after their incarceration by providing support services, such as job placement assistance, substance abuse counseling, and housing resources:

• Black Canyon Regional Office
• Cochise Regional Office (ASPC-Douglas)
• Flagstaff Office
• Kingman Office
• Maricopa Reentry Center (MRC)
• Mesa Regional Office
• Pima Reentry Center (PRC)
• Prescott Office
• Safford Office (ASPC-Safford)
• Snowflake Office
• South Mountain Regional Office
• Special Supervision Unit ((EMU, SMI, and STG)
• Tucson East Office
• Tucson Regional Office
• Western Regional Office
• Yuma Office (ASPC-Yuma)

Why are People Incarcerated in Arizona?

There are approximately 52,000 people incarcerated in Arizona, with most of them held in state prisons either directly operated or overseen by the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry (ADCRR). Incarceration in Arizona generally results from a wide range of offenses, which can be broadly categorized into the following categories:

• Violent crimes, such as murder, manslaughter, assault, robbery, and sexual assault.
• Property crimes, such as burglary, theft, vandalism, and arson.
• Drug offenses, such as the possession, distribution, and manufacturing of illegal drugs.
• Public order offenses, such as disorderly conduct and weapons violations

Incarceration in Arizona is typically done to protect society and public safety, deter future crime, rehabilitate individuals, and also ensure that offenders are appropriately punished for their actions. To this end, violent crimes and certain drug offenses (particularly repeat offenses) usually carry long sentences, while property crimes, public order offenses, and other non-violent offenses often carry shorter terms or alternative sentencing options, such as probation, community service, or enrollment in treatment programs.

Interested members of the public may use Arizona inmate search resources like the ADCRR's Inmate Data Search tool and VINELink to look up individuals incarcerated within the state and view details like their current location and estimated release date.

Arizona's Incarceration Rate and Statistics

Arizona has some of the highest incarceration rates in the United States (driven in part by strict sentencing laws and high recidivism rates). However, in recent years, the state has made efforts to reduce its prison population through criminal justice reform and rehabilitation programs, resulting in a moderate decline in incarceration rates.

The table below illustrates Arizona's year-end incarceration rates and total inmate numbers between 2016 - 2022:

Life After Incarceration in Arizona

While inmates released from prison in Arizona typically focus on rebuilding their lives by reconnecting with family, finding stable housing, and securing employment, they often face significant challenges in doing so. This is evidenced by Arizona's recidivism rate of approximately 40% (meaning that nearly four out of ten released offenders are likely to return to prison within three years of release).

To combat this, the state offers a range of reentry resources aimed at helping former inmates successfully reintegrate into society and reduce their chances of recidivism. These include educational training, substance abuse treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, housing assistance, and even hands-on job training and work experience through programs designed to prepare inmates for vocational employment upon their release, like the Arizona Correctional Industries. Some of these programs are offered in partnership with community organizations that offer mentorship and support networks for eligible inmates.

How Does Parole Work in Arizona?

When an inmate serves a portion of their sentence in state (or federal) prison and has demonstrated good behavior, the prison board may decide to grant them parole. If this happens, the inmate is released with specific stipulations and must meet regularly with a parole officer for a term of 3-5 years. This supervisory program is intended to help inmates re-acclimate to society and secure steady work, regular income, and a stable home environment. Arizona also offers other types of release, such as work furlough, home arrest, and emergency parole for specific circumstances. As of 2022, Arizona's parole population included approximately 6,640 individuals.

Arizona Parole Population in 2022

How Does Someone Get Probation in Arizona?

In certain situations, offenders who commit less serious, non-violent crimes may be sentenced to probation rather than prison (at the discretion of the judge). What this means is that the offender will not be held in custody in a correctional facility and is free to work and live in an open society. However, they must check in regularly with a probation officer and may have to satisfy other stipulations set by the court. Probation terms usually run for a few years, and during this time, the offender must stay out of trouble; otherwise, their probation will be revoked, and they will go directly to prison. As of 2022, Arizona's probation population included approximately 73,100 individuals.

Arizona Probation Population in 2022