Apache County Arrest Records

An arrest in Apache County is the process legalized to detain a person by law enforcement agencies if suspected of a crime. Normally, the suspect is taken into custody, rights read, and often taken to a detention facility for booking. The arrest can be carried out when the officers have reasonable grounds to think that a person has committed an offense; this may result from firsthand witnessing of a crime, information obtained on good authority, or even the arrest by a warrant from a judge. An arrest determination is essential for public protection, to prevent further commission of the criminal act, and to initiate legal proceedings against the suspect.

Apache detainees are usually incarcerated at the Apache County Jail, which is situated in St. Johns. The facility is responsible for inmates awaiting either trial or serving short sentences. Apache County Jail is run by the Apache County Sheriff's Office, which is responsible for processing and booking, and maintaining inmates.

Arrest records in Apache County are provided by the arresting agencies, usually the Apache County Sheriff's Office and city police departments like the Holbrook Police Department and the Winslow Police Department. These records contain arrest information such as the charges filed, the date and time of arrest, and events leading to the arrest. Essentially, arrest records are public records; thus, they are usually accessible to members of the public. However, access to these records may be restricted if the issues relate to ongoing investigations or certain privacy laws.

These records also bear a close similarity with records from the courts, such as Apache County Court Records, which reveal subsequent legal involvements and the various verdicts reached in the case and judicial decisions made concerning the individual under detention. More information about an individual's history and related court actions can be obtained with access to arrest records and through the courts, which are becoming an essential tool for the general community, employers, and the legal profession.

Are Arrest Records Public in Apache County?

Yes, arrest records in Arizona are available to the public according to the Arizona Public Records Law. This statute declares that all records are to be maintained by any public officer, and these records will be open to the public for inspection. It is under this law that most arrest records are available for the general public to access. These mostly provide information about the arrest made, such as the name of the arrested person, the filed charges, and the date and place of the arrest.

On the other hand, the law grants exemptions that allow sensitive information to be kept confidential and private. For example:

Exemption of Information Pending Investigations: Normally, information pending investigations is exempted because such would not interfere with the work of law enforcement and thus protect the integrity of the investigations. In this case, it will avoid disclosures that may impact the law enforcement policy or the investigation results.

Juvenile Records: Normally, arrest records of juveniles, or those persons below the age of 18, are not open to the general public to protect the privacy of minors. Arizona law provides juvenile records with greater confidentiality to avoid adverse consequences for minors and to ensure rehabilitation.

Personal Information and Privacy Concerns: Sometimes, medical or other information dealing with mental health, social security numbers, or any information that is considered very personal or sensitive has been redacted from arrest records for the protection of personal privacy. This applies with particular force to the information which might be disclosed as an invasion of personal privacy or would put the individual in jeopardy.

Witness Protection and Sensitive Information: If an arrest record has information that can place a witness or victim in harm's way, then such information can be withheld to protect such witnesses or victims. This is especially true in cases where the community is in immediate danger because of the crime, and disclosing the suspects or individuals close to the suspects may result in harm or retaliation against people connected with the case.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A public arrest record in Apache County would contain information such as the following.

Personal Information about the Arrestee: Full name of the arrested individual, age, and gender of the arrestee.

Details of Arrest: This includes the date, time, and place of the arrest. It also shows the agency that arrested the accused, whether it is the Apache County Sheriff's Office or some other local police department.

Offenses filed: Charges filed against the suspect detail the nature of offenses that the arrested person was accused of, and usually specify levels of offense, such as misdemeanor or felony in some.

Booking Information: The date of the booking and any relevant booking numbers or identifiers that pertain to the defendant in custody.

Bond/Bail Information: When applicable, this could be noted in the record, whether bail was set, the amount, and any conditions of release.

Court Information: The arrest record may indicate the court in which it will be or has been filed, which could indicate where the proceedings will be continued against an accused of an arrest.

Apache County Arrest Statistics

According to the Crime in Arizona 2020 report, Apache County reported 397 arrests, with 58 being juveniles and 339 being adults. Current statistics on arrests that might provide evidence of changes in trends and priorities in law enforcement are available to users through the FBI's UCR Crime Data Explorer.

Find Apache County Arrest Records

Apache County arrest records can be found by searching inmates and looking through public arrest information using various sources. These resources are available online and in person but depend on the agency and the information requested.

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry has an online facility called Inmate Datasearch, through which the general public can find records of people who have ever been incarcerated within the state prison system. Although it is primarily designed to focus on state prisoners and not those serving time in county or city jails, the tool can be utilized to determine if an Apache County resident has been transferred into state custody. In order to utilize this tool, the user must access the ADCRR Inmate Datasearch web page and enter the inmate's last name or the ADC number, then a search of any matching records will be performed. The search results show information such as the details of offense, dates of sentences, and facility details of where the inmate is housed.

The Apache County Sheriff's Office maintains the record of inmates spending their times in detention facilities, and the records are made available to interested members of the public as recent arrest information. Residents can often find information by contacting the Sheriff's Office directly either over the phone or in person at the Sheriff's Office to request arrest records. This office is a very valuable source for current information, especially about individuals held on a short-term basis.

Additionally, there are several local police departments - one for each of Apache County's towns and municipalities - which can be responsible for arrests. The police in St. Johns or Springerville, for instance, might keep records of arrests within their areas. While the majority of local police departments do not have accessible online databases, it is often possible to obtain information with a visit to the department in person and/or a telephone call to the department for a query on how to get the records.

Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator is helpful for those individuals who possibly may be in federal custody. While not Apache County-specific, this database will allow users to search for individuals in federal prisons across the United States. One can look up an inmate by providing either the first and last name or BOP register number. Access will be given about the current facility housing the inmate and any scheduled release date.

Free Arrest Record Search in Apache County

To acquire free arrest records in Apache County, resources can be utilized to discover public data at no extra cost by those looking for ways to find them.

The Sheriff's office serves as the regular source for arrest records and jail bookings at the local level. One can call them and request recent arrests or detainees held in county facilities or visit the office in person to access the record. For basic information, the staff can usually help without charge, though there may be some limitations to the details that can be given openly.

Other options include ADCRR Inmate Datasearch through the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry for state-level inmates or those who may have been transferred into state custody. Available online, the service requires only a name or ADC number to get the inmate's location, information about the sentence and potential date of release. It's free.

Further, local police departments in every town of Apache County, like in St. Johns or Springerville, may retain arrest records. While these records may also not be available online, they are normally willing to share information over the phone or by visiting in person.

Lastly, Apache County arrest information and public records can also be freely accessed through third-party websites. While most such websites charge for a detailed report, some basic information is usually free, and thus, a person could do some preliminary searches. Individuals must use third-party websites cautiously since not all sites are accurate or updated regularly.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Arizona, arrest records remain on an individual's record except for cases where they are qualified for a set-aside or sealing under some terms in accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-905 and Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-911.

A.R.S. § 13-905 provides that one can apply for a set-aside of conviction if one has completed the sentence and any probation imposed. A set-aside does not remove the arrest record but may reflect that a conviction was dismissed, which may impact how the record is viewed

ARS § 13-911: If the charges were dismissed, acquitted, or not filed, the arrest or conviction records may be sealed. The record is to be sealed by petitioning in court to limit the public's access.

Expunge Apache County Arrest Records

While full expungement of arrest records is not available in Arizona, persons may be entitled to have their record set aside or sealed, provided certain conditions are met. Usually, it requires individuals to have completed all parts of sentencing imposed upon them, including prison time, probation, fines, or restitution.These records may be eligible to be sealed if the charges were dismissed, acquitted, or not filed. There is a wait in some offenses before an application can be filed.

Records needed to set aside or seal an application include arrest records, court records, and sentencing records that show requirements were completed. With these, the applicant may draft the proper forms, usually an Application to Set Aside Conviction or a Petition to Seal Records, and file them with the original court. Sometimes, a hearing will be scheduled to afford the defendant the opportunity to make their case for sealing the record. The prosecutor may, but not obligated to, respond with any comments. If the judge grants this, the record is sealed and will not be openly accessible to the public. It will now be up to the individual to forward notice to all necessary agencies, law enforcement, or the Arizona Department of Public Safety, for instance, so that the records are updated. While not complete expungement, this process can potentially lessen the effects an arrest record has on an individual's life.

Apache County Arrest Warrants

An Apache County arrest warrant is a judicial document supplied by a judge or magistrate, which gives law enforcement agencies the legal right to arrest the named individual for the alleged commission of a crime. If an arrest warrant were issued, probable cause by law enforcement would be required by presenting evidence or sworn statements to the court. Warrants are issued based on many reasons, including suspicion of a serious crime, flight risk, and failure to appear in court, which is called a bench warrant. Most arrest warrants in Apache County include the suspect's name, the physical description and address, the offense involved, and any limitations on making the arrest. These warrants allow the police to locate and apprehend the individual whose name appears in the warrant. Active warrants remain effective until execution or withdrawal and can typically be confirmed with a call to the local law enforcement agencies.

Do Apache County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arizona arrest warrants issued in Apache County do not expire. An arrest warrant issued by a court remains effective for an indefinite period until it is either executed, where the suspect is arrested, once the court has formally dismissed or recalled it. Unlike other forms of legal orders, arrest warrants do not typically bear an expiration date. Therefore, law enforcement may act on the warrant at any time, even after a number of years from its issuance. However, some factors might change the status of an arrest warrant. The court can decide to withdraw the warrant if other evidence emerges proving innocence or the case is dropped. In the event of a person who voluntarily shows up, the warrant is normally cleared in court. In rare cases, a judge might consider all outstanding warrants during a warrant "amnesty" program. That would allow persons to take care of their warrants without being "immediately taken into custody". Otherwise, an arrest warrant issued in Apache County can be valid indefinitely and may be enforced at any time by law enforcement.