Arizona Cities for Arrest Records
City police departments in Arizona handle arrests within their municipal boundaries. When someone is arrested by city police, they are usually booked at the county jail. This means both the city police department and the county sheriff may have records related to the arrest. The police department keeps the incident report and case file, while the sheriff maintains the booking record and jail data.
How City Arrest Records Work in Arizona
Arizona cities with their own police departments maintain separate records from the county sheriff. If you need the police report or incident documentation, you request it from the city police records unit. If you need booking information or jail records, you go to the county sheriff. Some requests require contacting both agencies to get the complete picture of an arrest in Arizona.
Most Arizona city police departments charge around $5 for report copies. Fees for video footage or body camera recordings are higher, often charged by the hour. Many cities use online portals like GovQA or JustFOIA to process records requests. You can submit requests online, track their status, and pay fees electronically through these systems.
Maricopa County Cities
Maricopa County is home to Phoenix and 11 other major cities that meet the population threshold. These cities are served by the Maricopa County Sheriff for county jail bookings while maintaining their own police departments for local law enforcement.
Other Arizona Cities
Five major Arizona cities are located outside Maricopa County. Each is served by a different county sheriff for jail bookings while operating its own municipal police force.
Search by County Instead
If you are looking for booking records or jail information, the county sheriff's office may be more helpful. County sheriff offices maintain inmate rosters and booking logs for everyone brought to the county jail, including those arrested by city police.