Yuma County Arrest Records

Per AZ Rev Stat §13-3881, An arrest occurs following the restraint of the individual to be arrested or by the suspect's submission to the custody of the officer making the arrest. Arizona laws permit police officers to arrest individuals who violate local and state laws with or without warrants. Per AZ Rev Stat §13-3883, an arrest can be made without a warrant if a peace office has probable cause to believe:

• A person has committed a felony.
• A person has committed a misdemeanor in the officer's presence.
• A person to be arrested was involved in a traffic accident and violated any criminal section of the Arizona Transportation Code, and such a violation occurred before or immediately after such a traffic accident.
• A person has committed a misdemeanor or a petty offense
• A person has committed any public offense that makes them removable from the county.

After the arrest, the arrestee is brought to the Yuma County Detention Center to be detained before trial. The Admitting Department will book the arrestee in the Center. A bond will be set if the arrestee is eligible for a bond. However, an initial court appearance will be set if the arrestee is not eligible for a bond. Pursuant to Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure, an arrestee must appear before a judge to be advised of charges and rights within 24 hours of arrest. The judge will appoint a prosecutor if the defendant cannot afford to hire an attorney. The Initial appearance is usually conducted from Monday to Friday via video court. If the person was arrested for a misdemeanor, the case will be tried in the Yuma County Justice Court, but felony cases will be tried in the Yuma County Superior Court.

In 2023, approximately 10,649 inmates were processed in and out of the Yuma County Detention Center. About 5,317 of these inmates were booked, while 5,332 were released. The arrest records of these inmates are available for public perusal. The Yuma County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) is the official custodian of these records. Arrest information is also featured within Yuma County Court Records held by the county judiciary.

Are Arrest Records Public in Yuma County?

Yes. The Arizona Public Records Law permits arrest records in the custody of law enforcement agencies to be open to the public at all times during office hours. Therefore, Yuma County residents can request to inspect or obtain copies of arrest records from the local police department and the Sheriff's Office. Note that some arrest records or portions of them are deemed confidential in Yuma County. Examples of such records are:

• Investigatory records
• Medical records
• Juvenile arrest records
• Personal identifying information of a witness, such as social security number, date of birth, home address, personal telephone number and email address, and official state or government-issued driver's license or identification number (AZ Rev Stat § 39-123.01).

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Local and state law enforcement agencies issued arrest records to Yuma County residents because they are public records. A typical arrest record contains the following information:

• Demographic information (name, subject number, age, gender, race, height, and weight)
• Mugshot (picture, and date and time taken)
• Booking history (booking number and date, release date, prisoner type, housing facility, and booking origin
• Bond information (number, type, and amount)
• Charge description, offense date, docket number, crime class, and arresting agency
• Sentence details (sentence and offense date, sentence length and status, court cause number, and crime)
• Disposition and disposition date
• Work program (assigned date, completed date, and work assignment)

Yuma County Crime Rate

The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) has a Crime Statistics portal where individuals can find Yuma County criminal rate reports. On the portal, select a jurisdiction: the Yuma County Sheriff's Office or Yuma Police Department. Then, choose a year and a theme to conduct a search. The portal shows that the Yuma County SO and PD recorded 3,969 crimes in 2023, a decrease from the 4,335 crimes reported in 2022. Crimes against persons totaled 1,704, while crimes against properties totaled 2,265. The portal also shows the NIBRS report for crimes against society, which totaled 1,199.

Yuma County Arrest Statistics

Record seekers can find Yuma County arrest statistics on the Arizona Department of Public Safety's (DPS) Crime Statistics portal. The 2023 report shows that approximately 3,396 arrests occurred in Yuma County in 2023, an increase from the 3,238 arrests made in 2022. About 374 were juvenile arrests, and 3,022 were adult arrests. The NIBRS report reveals 774 arrests for crimes against persons, 570 arrests for crimes against society, 751 arrests for crimes against property, and 1,301 arrests for Group B crimes.

Find Yuma County Arrest Records

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry (ADCRR) permits access to arrest records without charges through its Inmate Data Search portal. The search parameter is my number or name. Alternatively, requesters can visit any of the ADCRR's state prisons or private facilities to find a person's arrest records. Basic information about the inmate must be provided to the record staff to process the request.

Inquirers seeking to find arrest records of Yuma County inmates housed in federal prisons can contact the following law enforcement agencies:

• The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP): Interested persons can use the BOP's Inmate Locator to find Yuma County arrestees in federal prisons. The search criteria are by number or name. They can also make in-person requests at any BOP facility.
• The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Individuals can find arrest records online or in person at an ICE's local field office or detention facility. Online requesters can conduct a search using an A-Number or biographical information.
• The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): The FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS) issues arrest records online, by mail, and through approved channelers to subjects of records for $18. Mail requesters must send a completed Applicant Information Form to:

FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306

The United States Capitol Police (USCP): The USCP issues arrest records online and by mail. Mail applicants must fill out a Request Form and send it to:

United States Capitol Police
Reports Processing Section
119 D Street, Ne
Washington, DC 20510

Free Arrest Record Search in Yuma County

The Yuma County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) Detention Bureau freely provides arrest information to the public through the Inmate Web Portal. The search criteria are by name, subject number, booking number, booking date range, or housing facility. Individuals can also call the Bureau at (928) 782-9871 to be connected to the Admitting Clerk. The arrested person's full name and date of birth, if known, must be provided.

Alternatively, requesters can use third-party online platforms for arrest record searches. These sites return results for arrest information across multiple jurisdictions. However, only the initial search is for free. Extensive searches attract a small fee payable by credit card.

Get Yuma County Criminal Records

Individuals can get Yuma County criminal records from local police departments for free. Most departments accept requests by mail or in person. For example, the San Luis Police Department requires inquirers to send a completed Local Records Check Form and a valid government-issued photo identification card to the Records Section at:

San Luis Police Department
1030 E Union Street
P.O. Box 3720
San Luis, AZ 85349
Phone: (928) 341-2460
Fax: (928) 627-5446

The Yuma County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) also issues criminal records to subjects of record. Requests can be submitted by mail or in person with picture identification. Mail requesters must print the Local Record Check Form (English or Spanish) and send the completed form to the YCSO. The processing time for criminal record requests is 3 business days. The YCSO does not charge fees for criminal records.

Record seekers interested in obtaining complete criminal records must contact the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS). The DPS restricts copies of criminal records to authorized individuals/agencies. Eligible individuals/agencies can contact the DPS at the following address to retrieve their desired records:

Arizona Department of Public Safety
2222 W. Encanto Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85009
Phone: (602) 223-2000

Individuals can review their criminal records by completing a Record Review Packet, which includes a Record Review Contact Information Sheet, a Fingerprint Card, and a notarized authorization letter (if applicable). Requesters can obtain the form by calling the DPS's Central State Repository Section at (602) 223-2222 or by downloading it from the website. Requesters must print the fingerprint card and have their fingerprints taken by a law enforcement agency official. The official's badge/serial number and the agency's name must appear in the block provided. A notarized letter of authorization is only required if the request is made by an attorney representing the subject of record. Mail the complete Record Review Packet to:

Arizona Department Of Public Safety
Criminal History Records Unit
P.O. Box 18450
Phoenix, AZ 85005-8450

Within 15 days, a response and a copy of the criminal record will be mailed to the record seeker. This service is free. Note that the requester's personal information, like identity and address, will not be included in the response.

Yuma County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

An arrest record is an official document maintained by local government agencies that lists the offenses and booking information of an arrested person. Per AZ Rev Stat § 41-1750, criminal records are information gathered by criminal justice agencies on persons that consists of personally identifiable and arrest information, indictments, detentions, and other formal criminal charges and any disposition arising from those actions, including sentencing, formal correctional supervisory action, and release.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Yuma County, arrests remain on a person's record forever. For example, arrest records of crime reports and investigation records (felonies, murder, 1st and 2nd-degree murder, manslaughter, and negligent homicide records) are permanent. However, the Arizona State Library, Archives, & Public Records provides General Retention Schedules where the public can find information about some arrest records:

• Arrest logs stay on record for one (1) year.
• Crime reports and investigation records - felonies and sex offenses (may include sex offender registry or other sex offense-related records) remain on record for a hundred and nine (109) years.
• Crime reports and investigation records - felonies and other serious offenses as defined by ARS 13-706(F)(1) remain on record for ninety-nine (99) years.
• Crime reports and investigation records - felonies and all other felonies remain on record for twenty-five (25) years.
• Crime reports and investigation records - misdemeanors remain on record for ten (10) years.
• Crime reports and investigation records - petty offenses remain on record for three (3) years.
• Booking/jail/detention facility records - adults remain on record for ten (10) years.
• Booking/jail/detention facility records - juveniles remain on record until the offender's 18th birthday
• arrest fingerprint cards and inmate retention records remain active for thirty (30) days.
• Arrest warrant service and tracking records remain on record for two (2) years.

Expunge Yuma County Arrest Records

Arizona law does not provide for the expungement of arrest records. However, setting aside is permitted by law. Per AZ Rev Stat § 13-911, a person is eligible to file a petition to seal arrest records if the person was:

• Arrested for committing a crime, but no charges were filed
• Charged for committing a crime, and the charge was afterward dismissed or resulted in a not guilty verdict at a trial.
• Convicted for committing a crime and has fulfilled all the requirements of the court-imposed sentence, including the payment of all monetary obligations and restitution to all victims.

Petitioners must file a petition to seal their arrest records with the appropriate court in Yuma County. The court will grant or deny the petition within 30 days of the request. The prosecutor and victim of the case will be notified of the request, and their response will determine whether the petition will be granted or denied. A decision can be made without a hearing, except if the petitioner, prosecutor, or victim requests it.

Upon receiving the petition, the court will notify the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) and request that the department prepare and submit a report that includes the necessary information to assist the court in making its determination. A fee may be required except if the petitioner is indigent, has been found not guilty, the case was dismissed, or has not been prosecuted. If the petition is granted, the court shall issue an order sealing all records relating to the petitioner's arrest, conviction, and sentence. The clerk of court would be directed to notify the DPS and the prosecutor of the sealing order. The DPS will designate the arrest records as sealed and inform all appropriate state and federal law enforcement agencies of the sealing.

Yuma County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a written document issued to a law enforcement officer when a judge has received a sworn statement that establishes probable cause that a person has committed a crime and needs to be arrested. Pursuant to AZ Rev Stat § 13-3887, the executing officer is expected to inform the named person of the reason for the arrest and of the fact that a warrant has been issued for thier arrest. The officer may be excluded from doing this if the person arrested flees or forcibly resists before the officer can state the fact of the warrant or when giving such information will imperil the arrest. The Office can make the arrest without having the warrant at hand, but must be shown to the arrestee if they request it. After executing the warrant, the officer must bring the arrested person before the issuing magistrate without delay or the nearest or most accessible magistrate in the country if the issuing magistrate is absent (AZ Rev Stat § 13-3897). An arrest warrant is executed when the accused is arrested. Per AZ Rev Stat § 13-3882, an arrest can be made at any time and on any day.

Yuma County Arrest Warrant Search

The Yuma County Sheriff's Office's (YCSO) Warrant Department provides warrant information online and in person to the public. Arrest warrants records can be viewed for free at the "Press Release Section" of the YCSO's website. Individuals could see the wanted person's mugshot, full name, age, and charge.

In-person requests can be made during business hours from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A case number, name, birth date, and social security number (if available) would be required to process the request. The YCSO is located at:

Yuma County Sheriff's Office
141 S. 3rd Avenue
Yuma, AZ 85364
Tel: (928) 783-4427
Fax: (928) 539-7837

Do Yuma County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants do not expire in Yuma County until the defendant is arrested or brought before a court. The Sheriff's Office's Warrant Department can only cancel or quash them upon receipt of a court order. The department validates arrest warrants to ensure they are still active.