Search Arizona Jail Mugshots
Arizona jail mugshots are booking photos taken when someone gets arrested and processed into custody. County sheriff offices and the Arizona Department of Corrections maintain these records across the state. You can search for Arizona mugshots through county jail websites, the state prison inmate database, and third-party lookup tools. A 2024 federal court ruling has changed how some Arizona counties share booking photos online, so access varies by location. This guide shows you where to find jail mugshots in Arizona and what to expect from each source.
Arizona Jail Mugshots Quick Facts
Arizona State Prison Inmate Mugshots
The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry runs the state prison system. They keep mugshot photos for all inmates serving time in state facilities. You can search their database free of charge.
The ADCRR Inmate Data Search lets you look up current and former state prisoners. Type in a last name or ADC number to start. The system shows the inmate's mugshot, full name, admission date, and projected release date. You can also see physical details like height, weight, eye color, and hair color. This search covers active inmates, those on parole, and people who left the system. It does not include county jail bookings, only state prison records in Arizona.
The ADCRR website at corrections.az.gov provides more details about their inmate search system and what information is available to the public.
The search results display booking photos along with custody classification and case status. Release dates shown have not been verified by the department and may change based on parole decisions or other factors.
There is one major rule to know. Under A.R.S. § 31-221, sending inmate search data to someone in prison is illegal. The department warns that this counts as contraband. Anyone who sends downloaded mugshots or inmate info to a prisoner can face a Class 5 felony charge with up to two and a half years in state prison.
How to Request Arizona Prison Records
The ADCRR handles public records requests for prison mugshots and other inmate documents. You can contact their office to get copies of booking photos, case files, and other records not available through the online search. The department has set fees for different types of requests.
Paper records cost 50 cents per page. Electronic records cost 10 cents per page. There is also a processing fee of $25 per hour for staff time spent on your request. You can pay by credit card through their online payment portal. Call the Public Access line at (602) 542-5886 if you have questions about what records are available.
The ADCRR central office is at 1601 West Jefferson in Phoenix. You can reach them by phone at (602) 542-5497. For questions about a family member or friend in custody, email IFFLiaison@azcorrections.gov or call (602) 364-3945. A toll-free line is also available at 1-866-333-2039.
Note: The ADCRR no longer provides visitation lists or tablet contact information through public records requests.
Arizona DPS Criminal History Records
The Arizona Department of Public Safety maintains the Central State Repository for all criminal records in the state. Under A.R.S. § 41-1750, this office serves as the main hub for Arizona criminal history data. Their system holds a massive amount of information.
The DPS biometrics database contains 12.9 million mugshot images. Over 3 million active criminal history records are on file. The system also tracks more than 70,000 active warrants across Arizona. Law enforcement agencies feed booking data into this central system from all 15 counties. This creates a statewide resource that goes beyond what any single county offers.
There is a catch for regular people. Arizona state law does not let the DPS run criminal history checks for private citizens or private employers. The Central State Repository cannot process requests for employment screening, immigration purposes, visa applications, or foreign adoptions. Only government agencies and certain licensed entities can access the full database.
If you need your own criminal record, you can submit a Record Review Packet. The DPS will mail a response within 15 days of getting your completed packet. For more details, visit the DPS criminal history page or call (602) 223-2222 during business hours.
DPS Records Request Process
You can request certain records from the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Their office is at 2222 W. Encanto Blvd. in Phoenix. The main phone number is (602) 223-2000. Hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
The DPS has a fee schedule for record copies. Paper copies cost $9.00 for the first nine pages, then 10 cents for each extra page. A DVD with up to 4.7 GB of data costs $15.00. A 16 GB flash drive costs $20.00. Video requests run $21.33 for the first half hour and the same amount for each additional half hour.
Staff ask that you wait at least 30 business days before calling to check on your request. The Criminal History Records Unit can be reached at (602) 223-2222 if you have questions. More information is at the DPS records request page.
Arizona County Jail Mugshots
County jails handle most arrests in Arizona. Each of the 15 counties runs its own detention facility. The county sheriff operates the jail and manages booking records, including mugshots. Access to these photos varies widely from county to county.
Some counties offer online inmate search tools. You type in a name and see current inmates along with their booking photos. Maricopa County, the largest in Arizona, has an online inmate search through the sheriff's office website. Yavapai County also offers a searchable inmate database. Yuma County provides an inmate inquiry portal as well. Apache County uses a third-party system called CitizenRIMS for their inmate lookup.
Other counties require you to call the jail or visit in person. Coconino County tells people to call (928) 226-5200 and select option 1 for inmate information. Santa Cruz County asks that you phone (520) 761-7875 to check if someone is in custody. These counties do not post mugshots online for public viewing.
The cost to get jail mugshots also differs by county. La Paz County charges $5 for a redacted booking sheet and $10 for jail records employment checks. Gila County has an $8 processing fee with a 10 to 14 day wait time. Pima County charges $5 per report plus 25 cents for each page over 20.
Court Ruling Affects Arizona Mugshot Access
A 2024 federal court decision has changed how Arizona counties handle mugshots. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Houston v. Maricopa County (Case No. 23-15542) that posting booking photos online may violate certain rights. Several Arizona counties stopped publishing mugshots after this ruling came down in September 2024.
Cochise County made a public statement about the change. Their sheriff's office said they would no longer post mugshots or inmate lists on their website after legal review of the court decision. You can still request records through their public records portal. Booking sheets cost $3 each. Victims of crime can get one free copy.
Mohave County also turned off their online inmate search tool. Their website now states the search has been disabled to ensure compliance with newly established legal requirements. They still offer a PDF inmate list at their sheriff jail page, but the interactive search with mugshots is gone.
Pima County, the second largest in Arizona, announced in September 2024 that they would cease releasing booking photos in any format. This affects both online access and in-person requests at the Pima County Sheriff's Department.
Note: Check with each county sheriff's office for current policies, as practices continue to change after this ruling.
Arizona Public Records Laws
Arizona has strong public records laws. Under A.R.S. § 39-121, public records in the custody of any officer shall be open to inspection by any person at all times during office hours. This is the basic right that lets you request jail mugshots and booking records in Arizona.
The law at A.R.S. § 39-121.01 spells out definitions and says any person may request to examine or get copies of public records during regular office hours. This covers mugshots held by county jails and state agencies. You do not need to explain why you want the records.
There is a rule about commercial use. Under A.R.S. § 39-121.03, if you get public records for a commercial purpose without saying so, you can be liable for three times the normal fee. This matters for websites that collect and republish mugshots for profit. If you plan to use jail mugshots for business reasons, tell the agency when you make your request.
The Houston ruling has created some tension with these open records laws. Counties are trying to balance public access rights against privacy concerns raised by the court. Each county is making its own call on how to handle this, which is why policies differ so much across Arizona right now.
Arizona Victim Notification System
VINELink is a free service that notifies crime victims when an offender's custody status changes. All 15 Arizona county jails and the state prison system use this tool. You can sign up to get alerts by phone, email, or text message.
The system updates every 15 minutes for county jails and twice daily for state prisons. It runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year long. You can register for alerts at vinelink.com or call the toll-free number at 1-866-277-7477.
VINELink does not show mugshots to the public. It is meant for victim safety, not general record searches. But it can tell you if someone is currently in custody at a county jail or state prison in Arizona. This makes it useful when you cannot find someone through other search methods.
Third-Party Jail Systems in Arizona
Arizona counties use several third-party companies to manage jail operations. These companies often run the inmate search portals, phone systems, and money deposit tools. Knowing which system a county uses can help you find the right website.
Common systems include:
- CitizenRIMS for Apache County inmate search
- Securus Technologies for phone and video visits in Cochise, Graham, Pinal, and Yavapai counties
- ViaPath for Maricopa County video visitation at $0.25 per minute
- GTL (Getting Out) for Gila County visits with one free hour per week
- HomeWAV for Greenlee County on-site and off-site visits
- JailATM for Navajo County inmate account deposits
- TouchPay for Pinal County money transfers
These companies do not typically offer public mugshot searches. Their tools focus on communication and funds. But if you are trying to contact an inmate or send money, these are the systems you will use in most Arizona counties.
Browse Arizona Jail Mugshots by County
Each county sheriff in Arizona runs the local jail and keeps booking records. Pick a county below to find mugshot search tools, contact details, and records request info for that area.
Jail Mugshots in Major Arizona Cities
Most Arizona cities do not run their own jails. People arrested by city police go to the county jail for booking. Pick a city below to learn where to find mugshots for arrests in that area.