Arizona Criminal Records

Individuals who have had contact with law enforcement and were subsequently charged and convicted for a criminal offense would automatically have a criminal record in Arizona.

An Arizona criminal record, also known as a rap sheet, is a document that features details of an individual's criminal history within state limits.

Typically, these records are a compilation of reports from the criminal justice system concerning an offense committed by a particular individual. They are collated and revised on all government levels and the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) is tasked with their management and dissemination.

Are Criminal Records Public in Arizona?

Yes. Under Arizona Revised Statute Title 39 and Chapter 6 of the Arizona Public Record Law, criminal records in Arizona are presumed public. However, not all public records are open for public inspection. Only a part of a criminal record may be accessed by members of the public in the state, as the custodian of complete records only provides them to authorized entities.

The Arizona Public Records law also outlines instances where records are exempt from public disclosure. For example, if the state's interest overrides the need for the public to know, the record would be sealed. Furthermore, private information and criminal records of minors are considered confidential.

Arizona Crime Records by County

Arizona crime records are datasets helpful for tracking criminal activities within the state. They are maintained by law enforcement agencies throughout Arizona at county and state levels and may be accessible online, via mail, or in person. Although the ADPS makes crime records available online, not every county does the same. For example, the Sheriff's Office of Maricopa County, Arizona's most populous county, does not directly provide crime statistics on its web page. As a result, persons seeking them are redirected to an approved private vendor or would need to make in-person requests to the office. Notwithstanding, the Attorney's office provides an online data dashboard of the statistics on criminal cases handled in the state.

On the Arizona Department of Public Safety's site, the department publishes an annual crime report. However, the theme-based Arizona Crime Statistics compiled by the Access Integrity Unit of the Arizona Department of Public Safety online is more current. Inquirers can select a jurisdiction (county), a year, and a theme to view the crime data.

The data published on the site is a collection of crime data submitted monthly by various agencies (including local law enforcement) throughout the state.

Interested persons can also find Arizona crime records by county by checking the website maintained by either the Department of Police or the Sheriff's office. For example, the Police Department of the City of Phoenix publishes its Crime statistics and maps online. Inquirers may find these statistics listed as 'bias crimes statistics, 'uniform crime reporting (UCR), 'quarterly hotspot maps,' and 'annual hotspot maps.' For instance, Yavapai County crime data is available online.

Arizona Criminal Record Check

Arizona criminal record checks grant inquirers access to a person's criminal history.

Residents who want to check their Arizona criminal record can download the record review package or call the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Criminal History Records Unit at (602) 223-2222.

A record review package usually contains:

• Instructions.
• A contact information sheet.
• A blank applicant's fingerprint card.
• Pre-addressed return envelope.

Once all needed documents are downloaded and filled out, the inquirer can follow the instructions to request their record. Citizens can also check the Record Review Packet Checklist to ensure all documents are provided. The processing time for these records is 15 working days from the day of submission.

Interested persons can also search court information on the Arizona Supreme Court web page. A researcher can look up a criminal case by providing a case number or name.

Note: the case information provided may need to be completed and are not official records.

On the other hand, individuals with an account can use the eaccess portal to search for a case.

Additionally, requesters can visit the courthouse in person or visit the Sheriff's office or Police Department to request a record.

Find Criminal Records Online in Arizona

Unfortunately, Arizona's central repository for criminal records does not provide remote online access to the records it maintains. Nonetheless, citizens can explore the online options to access criminal cases (criminal records are part of case documents) courts provide. However, not all cases can be accessed online. In most cases, requesters will need to send a request by mail or stop by the courthouse to request a copy.

Free Criminal Record Search in Arizona

Agencies and persons with authorization can obtain criminal records from the Department of Public Safety for free using a fingerprint. The inquirer must submit a fingerprinting card in person at the office, which may come at a cost. However, only the subjects of these records may access them.

Interested persons can also check out third-party sites that provide free criminal record search options. Although a full-scope search may not be entirely free, inquirers will likely be able to access some information at no cost. Residents who need the entire record may be required to register and pay a fee for every search or a preferred subscription plan.

Does Your Criminal Record Clear After 7 Years in Arizona?

No. However, per the Fair Credit Reporting Act, individuals carrying out a background check for employment would only have access to the last 7 years of a person's criminal record. However, this is exclusive to background checks for certain types of jobs.

Other than the aforementioned, Arizona criminal records are permanent and accessible to the public without limitation, except they are expunged or sealed.

Arrest Record Vs Criminal Record

Arrest records are documents pertaining to the arrest(s) of the subject of the record, whereas a criminal record features more than the details of an arrest. Individuals would find the details of the offense committed, convictions, and sentencing, which are not featured in an arrest record in a criminal record.

Residents can usually get arrest records from the Office of the Sheriff or the Department of Police in Arizona. In contrast, criminal records are maintained by the Department of Safety.

Arizona Police Records

Arizona police reports include crime reports, arrest reports, incident reports, accident reports, 911 records, body cameras, warrants, calls for service, information reports, photographs, video, audio, and crime statistics. Essentially, they provide an official account of the day-to-day of law enforcement activity.

In Arizona, although a record may be presumed open, it may not be accessible to members of the public. Hence, some police records or parts of a record may not be available for public viewing. Police reports available to the public include reports that are not personal to the subject and reports whose disclosure to the public outweigh the need for confidentiality. Also, reports that do not involve minors or victims of a crime can be obtained by the public.