Maricopa County Inmate Population
Maricopa County inmate population records are available through the Sheriff's Office website. The county runs the fourth largest jail system in the nation with five detention facilities in the Phoenix area. You can search for current inmates online at any time. The database shows booking information, charges, and bond amounts for people in custody. This page explains how to search Maricopa County inmate records and what information you can find.
Maricopa County Jail Quick Facts
Maricopa County Inmate Search Online
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office runs an online inmate search tool. You can find it at www.mcso.org/InmateInfo. The search is free and open to anyone. You do not need to create an account or log in. Just type a name and click search.
To search the Maricopa County inmate database, you can use a booking number or a name with date of birth. The name search needs at least a last name to work. Adding a first name and birth date helps narrow the results when you search for common names. The system uses OffenderWatch software and includes booking data from many police departments in the Phoenix metro area.
The MCSO inmate search portal shows details about people currently in custody at any of the five Maricopa County jails.
Search results show the inmate name, booking number, and current charges. You can see the bond amount if one has been set. The system also shows which facility holds the person. This helps if you want to visit or send mail to someone in custody.
Maricopa County Jail Facilities
The Maricopa County Sheriff runs five jail facilities. Each one serves a different purpose. The main intake facility handles all new bookings in the county. Other jails hold inmates based on their security level and case status.
Lower Buckeye Jail is the largest facility. It is located at 3250 W. Lower Buckeye Road in Phoenix. This jail handles male inmates and has multiple housing units. The address for sending mail to any Maricopa County inmate is this location. Write the inmate name and booking number on all mail you send.
Fourth Avenue Jail sits at 201 S. 4th Avenue in Phoenix. It is close to the courts and holds inmates with upcoming court dates. Estrella Jail houses female inmates. The Towers Jail and Durango Jail complete the five facility system. Together these jails can hold thousands of people awaiting trial or serving short sentences.
Note: All bookings in Maricopa County go through the intake process at Fourth Avenue Jail before transfer to other facilities.
Maricopa County Jail Contact Info
You can reach the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office at (602) 876-1000. This is the main number for general questions. The office is at 550 W. Jackson Street in Phoenix, AZ 85003. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM for in-person visits.
For specific inmate information, call the SIMS Hotline at (602) 876-0322. SIMS stands for Sheriff's Inmate Management System. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody and give you basic booking info over the phone. The hotline runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is helpful when you need info outside of normal business hours.
The jail uses several third party services. ViaPath runs the video visitation system through their GettingOut service. Remote video visits cost $0.25 per minute. TouchPay handles money deposits to inmate accounts. GTL provides phone services for inmates to make calls.
Maricopa County Inmate Records Request
You can request copies of jail records from the Maricopa County Sheriff. The MCSO public records page explains the process. Send requests in writing or visit in person at 550 W. Jackson St. in Phoenix. Staff need at least 30 business days to process most requests.
Payment for records must be cash, money order, cashier's check, or business check. The Sheriff's Office does not accept credit or debit cards for public records fees. Bring exact payment when you visit in person. Crime victims can get one free copy of a police report under A.R.S. 39-127.
For accident reports, use the MCSO report request page. Online accident reports cost $5.00 each. These reports take about 7 business days. Serious accident reports may take 6 months or longer to complete.
Visiting Inmates in Maricopa County
Maricopa County jails use video visitation instead of in-person visits. All visits happen through the ViaPath GettingOut system. You can visit on site at a jail facility or from home using a computer or phone. Remote visits cost $0.25 per minute.
To set up visits, go to www.mcso.org/services/ild for details. You must create an account with GettingOut first. The system checks your identity before you can schedule visits. Once approved, you can book time slots to talk with an inmate through video.
On site visits use kiosks at the jail. You still connect through video, but you sit in the jail lobby. This option works for people who do not have internet at home. Schedule your visit in advance since time slots fill up. Each visit has a set time limit.
Maricopa County vs State Prison Records
County jail and state prison are different systems. Maricopa County jails hold people waiting for trial and those with sentences under one year. State prison holds people serving felony sentences over one year. The records are kept in separate databases.
If someone was in Maricopa County Jail but got a long sentence, they moved to state prison. You need to search the ADCRR database to find them. Go to inmatedatasearch.azcorrections.gov for state prison inmates. The county jail search will not show people who transferred to state custody.
People often move between the two systems. Someone might start in county jail, go to state prison, and come back to county jail for a new case. Check both databases if you cannot find the person you are looking for.
Cities in Maricopa County
Maricopa County includes Phoenix and many other cities. When city police make an arrest, the person goes to a Maricopa County jail. The Sheriff processes all bookings for the county. City police departments keep their own arrest records, but the jail roster is county wide.
Major cities in Maricopa County include:
Each city has its own police department with records staff. Contact the city police to get arrest reports and incident records. Contact the county jail for booking and custody information.
Nearby Arizona Counties
Maricopa County borders several other Arizona counties. If you cannot find someone in the Maricopa jail, they may be in a neighboring county. Check these nearby county jails: