Arizona Inmate Population Records
Arizona maintains inmate population records at two levels. The state prison system tracks all inmates serving felony sentences through the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry. County jails hold people awaiting trial or serving short terms. You can search these inmate records online through official databases. Most searches are free and open to the public. This guide shows you where to look and what you can find in Arizona inmate records.
Arizona Inmate Population Quick Facts
Arizona State Prison Inmate Search
The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry runs the state prison system. They call it ADCRR for short. This agency holds inmates who got felony sentences of one year or more. The ADCRR keeps records on every person who has been in state custody since 1985. You can search these records free online at any time.
The ADCRR Inmate Data Search lets you look up inmates by name or ID number. Type the last name and first initial to start a search. You can also use the six digit ADCRR number if you have it. The system lets you filter results by status. Pick from active inmates, inactive cases, people on parole, or absconders who left supervision without permission. Each search result shows the inmate name, status, and ADCRR number.
Search results give you basic facts about each inmate. You can see their current status and facility location. The system shows release dates, but ADCRR warns these dates have not been verified and may change. To get details about the crime, you need to contact the Clerk of Court in the county where the case was filed. The ADCRR search does not show birth dates to protect against identity theft.
ADCRR Inmate Search Rules in Arizona
Arizona law puts limits on who can use inmate data. The ADCRR search information page explains the rules. Under A.R.S. 31-221(E), inmates cannot access other prisoner records. They can only view their own automated summary file, and only once per year.
Sending inmate search data to a prisoner is a crime. Under A.R.S. 13-2505, this counts as promoting prison contraband. The charge is a Class 5 felony. You could get two and a half years in prison for this offense. This rule exists to stop inmates from getting data on other prisoners that could put people at risk.
The public can search freely. You do not need to be a family member or have a reason to look someone up. The search is open to all. Just know that what you find is for your own use, not to send to someone in custody.
County Jail Inmate Search in Arizona
County jails are different from state prisons. They hold people waiting for trial and those serving sentences under one year. Each of the 15 counties in Arizona runs its own jail. Most counties have online inmate search tools, but a few do not.
Maricopa County has the largest jail system in Arizona. It is the fourth largest in the whole country. The Maricopa County Sheriff runs five detention facilities in the Phoenix area. You can search inmates online through their website. Pima County in Tucson also has online search. So do Pinal, Yavapai, Yuma, Navajo, Apache, and La Paz counties. Each county uses a different system, so the search steps vary.
Some counties took their inmate search offline after a 2024 court ruling. The case was Houston v. Maricopa County. It raised issues about posting mugshots and booking data online. Mohave and Cochise counties now only give inmate info by phone. You can call the jail directly to ask if someone is in custody. This is less handy than online search, but it still works.
Note: County jail records are separate from state prison records, so check both if you are not sure where someone is held.
Arizona Inmate Public Records Requests
You have the right to request inmate records in Arizona. The state public records law is A.R.S. 39-121. It says public records must be open for inspection during office hours. This applies to inmate records held by ADCRR and county jails. Anyone can ask to see these records.
To get records from ADCRR, contact the Public Access office. The ADCRR public records page has details on what you can request. You can ask for paper or digital copies of most records. Some things are off limits. ADCRR stopped giving out inmate visitation lists and tablet contacts in 2024. They made this change for safety reasons.
ADCRR charges fees for records. Paper copies cost 50 cents per page. Electronic copies cost 10 cents per page. If your request needs staff time to process, they charge $25 per hour. Subpoena requests for paper records cost 25 cents per page. You can pay online at the ADCRR payment portal. Contact Public Access at (602) 542-5886 or email PublicAccess@azadc.gov to start a request.
Arizona Inmate Master Record Files
ADCRR keeps a master record file on every person committed to the department. A.R.S. 31-221 requires this. The file tracks the whole time a person is in state custody. It includes booking data, sentence info, disciplinary records, and release plans.
Most of the master file is public record under Title 39. But some parts are kept private. Medical and mental health records need a release form from the inmate. If you have a signed release, send it to PublicAccess@azadc.gov to request those records. The request must follow A.R.S. 31-224.01 rules.
Arizona Inmate Victim Notification
Crime victims have special rights in Arizona. They can ask to be told when an inmate is released or escapes. This is called victim notification. Two state laws cover this. A.R.S. 13-4412 requires jails to tell victims when an accused person is released. A.R.S. 13-4413 sets timelines for notice about prisoner status.
ADCRR has a Victim Services office. They help crime victims stay informed about the inmates who harmed them. You can reach Victim Services at (602) 542-1853 or toll free at (866) 787-7233. Email them at VictimServices@azadc.gov. Their office is at 701 East Jefferson Street in Phoenix. The ADCRR Victim Services page has more details on what help is available.
Arizona also uses the VINE system for victim notification. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. It works across the state. You can sign up at www.vinelink.com or call 1-800-247-9763. The service is free and runs 24 hours a day, all year long. VINE sends alerts by phone, email, or text when an offender's status changes.
Arizona Inmate Information Contacts
ADCRR has several contact points for different needs. The central office is at 1601 West Jefferson in Phoenix, AZ 85007. The main phone number is (602) 542-5497. Use this for general questions about the Arizona prison system.
For specific needs, use these contacts:
- Public Records: (602) 542-5886 or PublicAccess@azadc.gov
- Victim Services: (602) 542-1853 or (866) 787-7233 toll free
- Inmate Family and Friends: (602) 364-3945 or (866) 333-2039 toll free
- Arizona VINE: 1-800-247-9763
The Inmate Family and Friends line helps people who have a loved one in state prison. Staff can answer questions about visitation, phone calls, sending money, and mail rules. Email them at IFFLiaison@azcorrections.gov for help.
Browse Arizona Inmate Records by County
Each county in Arizona has its own jail and booking records. Pick a county below to find local inmate search tools and contact information for that area.
Arizona Inmate Records in Major Cities
City police make arrests, but county jails hold the inmates. Pick a city below to learn about local booking records and which county jail serves that area.