Mesa Arrest Records

Officers of the Mesa Police Department (MPD) can execute arrests with or without a warrant for felonies, misdemeanors, petty offenses, or violations of local criminal ordinances.

Per departmental policy, arrestees are processed (booked) at the Mesa Police Holding Facility, and their identifying and offense details are collected to create documents like the arrest record. Those detained on Mesa misdemeanor charges remain at the holding facility until their initial court appearance (within 24 hours); juvenile suspects may be conveyed to an appropriate agency/facility or released to a parent/guardian. However, suspects arrested on non-Mesa charges are transported to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Intake, Transfer, and Release (ITR) and held until arraigned in court.

MPD arrest files frequently corroborate and inform other official documentation—like Maricopa County arrest records, jail rosters, prosecutorial files, criminal court dockets, and Arizona criminal history records—by contributing pertinent details like an offender's identifying information, initial charges, fingerprint data, and incident summaries.

Are Mesa Arrests Public Record?

Yes. Arizona's Public Records Law facilitates public access to Mesa arrests. Following this law, anyone can examine documentation about a Mesa arrest unless restricted by statute or judicial order. Exempt information or documents may be redacted for public release (where practicable) or may only be available to legally entitled parties, like the subject of the record. Confidential records include:

• Juvenile arrest records (except records pertaining to felonies per A.R.S. § 13-501)
• Active criminal investigative/intelligence data and surveillance techniques
• Sealed arrest information
• Informant details
• Comments about a witness or suspect's character or reputation

Mesa Crime Rate

Mesa averages 3,224 crimes per 100,000 residents annually, as evidenced by a five-year trend analysis spanning 2020 to 2024. Comparing distinct three-year blocks (2019–2021 and 2022–2024) spotlights a slight increasing trend in the city's crime density. From 2019 to 2021, the crime rate stood at 3,189.12 per 100,000 population. This figure saw a minor boost between 2022 and 2024, rising to 3250.63 per 100,000 population.

Further breakdown by offense category (violent, property, hate) and yearly changes offer a more nuanced understanding of Mesa's crime landscape and evolving patterns.

In 2024, the overall crime rate in Mesa showed an upward trajectory, increasing by 3.28% more than the previous year. Violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, robbery, and sexual assault) jumped 8% from 2023, with simple assault as the most prevalent offense and a concerning 717 incidents involving the use of firearms. Within the violent crime category, there were meaningful decreases in particular offenses:

• Homicide: Dropped by 48.15%
• Robbery: Fell by 8.16%

Conversely, other violent crimes experienced surges

• Aggravated Assault: Rose by 11.46%
• Sexual Assault: Increased by 7.83%

The first half (H1) of 2025 indicates a positive shift in the city's violent crime distribution. Preliminary data reveal an overall 66.05 % decline, with notable decreases spotted across all reported offenses.

Similarly, Mesa saw a promising reduction in overall property crime frequency in the first half of 2025. In 2024, property crimes totaled 9,984 offenses, with notable decreases in Motor Vehicle Theft (-25.92%), Arson (-21.74 %), Fraud (-16.18%), Larceny (-7.97%), and Burglary (-5.83%).

The city's hate crime distribution in 2024 went down by 78.57% from the previous year. However, H1 2025 noted a 66.67% increment compared to 2024.

(Source: Arizona Crime Statistics)

Find Mesa Arrest Records

Below are official sources for retrieving Mesa arrest records.

Free Arrest Record Search in Mesa

To find information on persons arrested in Mesa at no cost, one has the following options:

• The Mesa Police Department's Inmate Search portal: Updated hourly, this database returns public arrest and booking information for free. However, a detainee's information disappears from the listings after their release. Alternatively, one can call the Mesa Police Holding Facility at (480) 644-2323.
• The MCSO's Inmate Information site: This tool can be searched by name and birth date for arrestees transferred to the MCSO's custody after an MPD arrest.

In addition, third-party aggregators publish public arrest information and often prove helpful in retrieving older records, but a user's access may be blocked until they subscribe or pay the designated fee.

Criminal Background Check in Arizona

The Arizona Department of Safety (AZDPS) maintains Arizona criminal history record information (i.e., arrest and disposition information reported by all Arizona criminal justice agencies). Copies of Arizona criminal records are non-public and available only to the record subjects and other authorized entities (like employers).

Individuals can request a free criminal record check on themselves. The AZDPS Criminal Records webpage offers forms and instructions for personal reviews, which can be initiated online or by mailing a completed fingerprint card, contact sheet, and notarized authorization (if represented by an attorney) to:

Arizona Department of Public Safety
Central State Repository Section
P.O. Box 18450 | Mail Drop 3110
Phoenix, AZ 85005-8450

Processing takes approximately two weeks.

Mesa Inmate Search

After sentencing in Mesa, convicts can be transported to any of these facilities:

• Maricopa County Jail System: The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office system of five jails houses misdemeanants, with placement based on gender, security risk classification, sentence, and treatment needs.
• Central Arizona Florence Correctional Complex in Florence, Arizona: Holds people arrested and held by the Mesa Municipal Court Judge for misdemeanor offenses.
• Arizona Department of Corrections (ADCRR) Prisons: Reserved for felons and death row inmates. State inmate information is accessible via the ADCRR's online Inmate Data Search or a public records request.

Mesa Police Record Lookup

The CJID disseminates MPD police records (certified police reports, 911 audios, calls for service, and law enforcement recordings) online via its Records Center. The fee charged per request varies. For example, a police report costs $5 for the first 50 pages, 20 cents per additional page, plus $10 for certification. Processing times depend on complexity, volume, and the incident type.

For police records, the CJID can also be contacted or visited at their office location:

59 S. Hibbert
Mesa, AZ 85201
Phone: (480) 644-2310

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Mesa?

In Mesa, arrests are typically permanent unless sealed or expunged by court order. Arizona law (A.R.S. § 41-1750 (A)(1)) mandates all felony, DUI, sexual, and domestic violence arrests and dispositions to be reported to the Arizona DPS. These records are kept in the Arizona Computerized Criminal History (ACCH) database and shared with the FBI, persisting until a state-issued sealing or expungement order is received.

Arrests for less serious offenses or for which the state requires no reporting (like misdemeanor drug arrests) may exist only in local law enforcement databases. These may be discoverable on a local arrest history check and are retained per general law enforcement retention schedules. Expungement or sealing orders can limit public access or destroy these records.

How Can I Get My Record Expunged for Free in Mesa?

A.R.S. § 36-2862(A) regulates the expungement (complete removal) of qualifying marijuana-related arrests, charges, adjudications, or convictions from a person's criminal record. To start, petitioners must complete the relevant expungement form and submit it to the court that resolved the case. For example, the Mesa Municipal Court uses the Expungement Petition for Municipal or Justice Court. There is no filing fee, and indigent petitioners may be exempt from AZDPS fees for criminal history record research and corrections.

Arizona law (A.R.S. § 13-911) permits criminal case record sealing, not expungement, for non-marijuana offenses. Generally, individuals must request sealing at the appropriate venue (§ 13-911(C)) by submitting the Petition and Order to Seal. However, they must be legally eligible, have no pending charges, and meet applicable statutory waiting periods and conditions. Filing a sealing petition in Mesa is free, but all court-ordered monetary obligations or restitution must be paid first.

The Arizona Judiciary's website has several free or low-cost legal aid clinics or resources for interested petitioners.

Mesa Warrant Search

Arrest warrants, issued by Mesa's Municipal Court judges for misdemeanors/petty offenses or by judges of the justice courts/the Maricopa Superior Court for cases under their jurisdiction, direct police to apprehend individuals for suspected law-breaking or court order violations. When a warrant of arrest is issued for contempt of court, it is called a "bench warrant".

One can find outstanding arrest and bench warrants in Mesa by:

• Accessing the MCSO's Warrants Database (filters can be applied to search a particular local, state, and federal law enforcement agency, including the Mesa Police Department)
• Conducting a case number search on the Mesa Municipal Court's online case management system or stopping by the courthouse at 250 East 1st Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85210
• Walking into the nearest precinct to make inquiries (photo ID required). However, visitors risk an immediate arrest if a warrant is found in their name.

Do Mesa Warrants Expire?

No. Felony and misdemeanor warrants issued in Mesa, Arizona, are valid indefinitely until served (i.e., the suspect is apprehended) or recalled by a judge. Events that may compel a court to nullify a warrant include charge dismissals, the subject's voluntary appearance to resolve the matter, or the subject's death, which renders execution impossible.