Phoenix Arrest Records

In Phoenix, Arizona, arrest records are government files regarding arrest events. Such events typically include the arrestee's personal data, arrest charges, booking information, and bond amount. Generally, arresting officers in Phoenix apprehend persons suspected of breaking the law. They may also conduct arrests to prevent a potential loss of life or property. That being said, officers may book and detain offenders in the county jail, pending the outcome of further investigations.

The Phoenix Police Department is responsible for creating and maintaining records of arrest events. The agency may release the records upon request from interested parties. Some public documents in Phoenix also contain arrest information. Case in point: Arizona court records concerning criminal cases may include arrest details like the arrest charges, date, crime scene evidence, and bond amount.

Are Arrest Records Public in Phoenix?

Arrest records are mostly accessible to the public in Phoenix. Under Title 39 of the Arizona Legislature, public members can inspect or obtain copies of public records from designated agencies. These agencies are required to maintain and release the records to eligible parties. Moreover, the agency must provide options through which the public can obtain records in its custody. For instance, the Phoenix Police Department may allow in-person inquiries for arrest records. Interested parties can request the records by visiting the agency at:

Phoenix Police Department
620 West Washington Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85003

Government agencies may redact portions of arrest records from public view. Such records typically contain information whose disclosure does not serve the public interest. Examples of non-public arrest records include:

• Sealed or expunged arrest documents.
• Crime victims' information can be disclosed only if the record subject allows the record disclosure.
• Investigation procedures and strategies.
• Personal information of the arresting officers.

Phoenix Arrest Statistics

According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, the Phoenix Police Department made 47,602 arrests in 2023. The agency made arrests for crimes against persons, society, and property.

In contrast, the Arizona State Prison Complex in Phoenix housed 479 inmates as of October 31, 2024. However, there was no information on the inmate population in the county jail. Interested parties may make inquiries by visiting the county jail at this address:

2939 West Durango Street
Phoenix, AZ 85009
Phone: (602) 876-0322

Find Phoenix Arrest Records

Public members can find information on arrests in Phoenix through inmate records. These records typically include arrest information like the arrestee's name, physical description, arrest charges, booking date, and bond amount.

In order to look up inmate records, inquirers must conduct searches on databases maintained by government entities. At the local level, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office maintains an online searchable database of inmate records. You can access inmate records in the database by entering the booking number or the inmate's name into the required search boxes.

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry also maintains a searchable database for inmates held in state-owned correctional facilities. To search records on the platform, inquirers must fill in the inmate's name or ADC into the platform.

Alternatively, the Federal Bureau of Prisons maintains inmate records through the Inmate Locator platform. The platform provides information on inmates held in federal penal institutions.

Phoenix Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Phoenix arrest records are not the same as criminal records. The records differ in terms of content, creation process, custodian agency, and social implications.

Based on the content, you will only find arrest-related data in arrest records. Such records typically contain the arrestee's personal data, arrest charges, date, the arresting officer's information, and bond amount. In contrast, criminal records contain all crime-related data, including arrest, court, and incarceration information.

The records also differ based on their custodian agencies. Arresting agencies like the police department are mostly responsible for providing access to arrest records. However, the Arizona Department of Public Safety is the custodian of criminal records. The agency generates criminal records by collecting information from all concerned parties.

These records have different implications in a record subject's life. Arrest records have no negative implication since they do not reveal court convictions. However, criminal records contain court convictions and may lead to negative impacts like discrimination.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Phoenix, arrest records will stay visible on your records until you remove or expunge them. There are specific guidelines for removing arrest records from public files. For instance, the offender must first fulfill the legal criteria before they can expunge the record.

Phoenix Arrest Warrants

Phoenix arrest warrants are court orders that call for the arrest of suspected offenders.
Court judges are responsible for issuing arrest records, and they may do so under these conditions:

• The offenders refused to honor the court summons.
• An arresting officer presented a complaint or affidavit that revealed evidence of the offender's crimes.

Arrest warrants issued in Phoenix must contain the following data:

• The offender's name, aliases, and physical description.
• Criminal charges.
• Warrant document number.
• Warrant issuance date and location.
• The court judge's name and signature.

Do Phoenix Arrest Warrants Expire?

Yes, Phoenix arrest warrants do not have an expiration date. The record remains valid even after the statute of limitations for the crime has elapsed. A warrant only becomes inactive after the defendant gets arrested or the court nullifies it.

Expunge Phoenix Arrest Records

Expungement is a legal procedure for removing documents from publicly accessible domains. To expunge arrest records, you must file a motion to seal the record at the Maricopa Superior Court. However, you can only expunge criminal records by filing a petition at the court that handled the case.

Who is eligible to expunge arrest records in Phoenix

Per Arizona laws, you can expunge arrest records if:

• The arrest charges were dismissed.
• You were convicted and have completed the court sentence.
• You were charged, but the case was dismissed or did not lead to a guilty verdict.

How to expunge arrest records in Phoenix

Follow these steps to expunge arrest records:

1. First, determine if you are eligible to expunge.
2. Next, fill out a petition for expungement.
3. File the completed form with the superior court.

The court may make a decision within 30 days of receiving the petition. Within this timeframe, the court will send a copy of the petition to the prosecutor. Note that the prosecutor may request a hearing if there are objections to the petition.