Arizona 72 Hour Booking Records
Arizona 72 hour booking records show who was booked into county jails in the past three days. These booking logs are public records under Arizona law. Each of the 15 counties in Arizona keeps its own jail roster and arrest data. You can search for 72 hour booking info online through county sheriff websites, by phone, or in person at the jail. Some counties post full inmate lists on the web. Others only give booking details over the phone due to a recent court ruling. This page shows you how to find Arizona 72 hour booking records from any county in the state.
Arizona 72 Hour Booking Quick Facts
What Are Arizona 72 Hour Booking Records
A 72 hour booking record is a log of people booked into jail in the last three days. When police arrest someone in Arizona, they take that person to the county jail for booking. The jail staff records the person's name, date of birth, charges, and other info. This creates a booking record. Arizona law treats these records as public under A.R.S. 41-1750, which says that booking agency records are open to the public.
The term "72 hour booking" comes from the time frame. Most people want to know about recent arrests. Did a friend get picked up last night? Is a family member in jail right now? The 72 hour window covers the most recent booking activity. Some jails call this the "current inmate roster" or "recent bookings" instead of 72 hour booking records. The info is the same.
County sheriff offices run the jails in Arizona. Each county keeps its own booking records. Maricopa County handles Phoenix and most of the state's population. Pima County covers Tucson. The other 13 counties are smaller but still keep the same type of records. You must check the right county to find someone's 72 hour booking info in Arizona.
How to Search 72 Hour Booking Records in Arizona
You can search Arizona 72 hour booking records in several ways. Online is fastest when the county offers it. Phone calls work when online search is down. In-person visits are an option if you need help or want to see someone in custody.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety serves as the central repository for criminal records in the state. DPS handles state-level records but does not maintain county jail booking logs. For 72 hour booking data, you need to go to the county level. DPS can help with criminal history checks and background info after you identify which county has the records you need.
The DPS Public Records Unit processes requests from 8 AM to 5 PM on weekdays. You can reach them at (602) 223-2000 and select option 2. Mail requests go to PO Box 6638, Mail Drop 3240, Phoenix, AZ 85005.
Several Arizona counties have active online inmate search tools. Pima County lets you search inmates by name. Yavapai County has a searchable database. Yuma County runs a Tyler Technologies system for inmate lookup. Apache County uses CitizenRIMS. La Paz County posts current inmates online too. These tools let you search Arizona 72 hour booking info from home at no cost.
Arizona 72 Hour Booking vs State Prison Records
County jails and state prisons are not the same. Jails hold people before trial and those with short sentences. Prisons hold people convicted of felonies who got longer terms. The 72 hour booking records you want are at county jails, not state prisons.
The Arizona Department of Corrections runs the state prison system. They have an inmate data search on their site. This tool shows people in state custody, not county jail. If someone was just arrested, they will not show up here yet. Use this only after a person has been convicted and sent to state prison.
The DOC search shows name, ID number, current location, and projected release date. Note that release dates are subject to change and have not been audited by the department. The DOC central office is at 1601 West Jefferson in Phoenix. Call (602) 542-5497 for questions about state inmates.
For DOC public records requests, contact their Public Access line at (602) 542-5886. Fees are 50 cents per page for paper and 10 cents per page for electronic copies. They also charge $25 per hour for processing time after the first hour.
Note: The DOC stopped approving requests for inmate visitation lists as of November 2023.
Arizona 72 Hour Booking Access Changes
A 2024 court ruling changed how some Arizona counties share booking records. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Houston v. Maricopa County (Case No. 23-15542) that posting mugshots online without review can violate constitutional rights. Several counties turned off their online mugshot and inmate search tools after this ruling.
Maricopa County no longer posts mugshots on their site. Their mugshot lookup page now says "UNAVAILABLE." Pinal County took their mugshot search offline. Mohave County disabled their inmate search entirely and now only shares info through press releases. Cochise County removed their mugshot and inmate list from the website. Coconino County never had an online search and requires you to call for inmate info.
This does not mean the records are secret. You can still get Arizona 72 hour booking info by calling the jail directly. The booking records are still public. The change is just in how they are shared. Counties are being more careful about what they post online. Phone inquiries and in-person requests still work fine.
Note: Check with your specific county to see what search options they offer right now.
Arizona Victim Notification for Booking Records
Arizona VINE is a victim notification system that tracks custody status. If you need to know when someone gets out of jail, VINE can alert you. The system has been active in Arizona for over 27 years. It updates about every 15 minutes for jails and twice daily for prisons.
VINE is a free service funded by the state. You can register for alerts by phone, email, or text. When the custody status of your registered offender changes, VINE notifies you within 15 minutes. This is useful if you are a crime victim and need to know when someone posts bail or gets released. Call the VINE toll-free line at 1-866-277-7477 or 1-877-846-3435 to register.
Arizona Laws on 72 Hour Booking Records
Arizona has strong public records laws. A.R.S. 39-121 says that public records held by any officer shall be open to inspection by any person at all reasonable times. This includes jail booking records. You do not need to explain why you want the records. You do not need to be a party to a case.
The booking agency statute is A.R.S. 41-1750. This law defines a booking agency as the county sheriff or municipal law enforcement agency. Section S(2) of this statute says that original records of entry like police blotters are exempt from certain restrictions. Booking logs fall under this category as chronological records of entry.
Under A.R.S. 39-121.01, any person may request to examine or be furnished copies of public records during regular office hours. If you are denied access to Arizona 72 hour booking records, A.R.S. 39-121.02 lets you appeal the denial through a special action in superior court. Crime victims also have rights under A.R.S. 39-127, which entitles them to one free copy of an incident or police report.
Arizona 72 hour booking records typically include:
- Full name of the person booked
- Date of birth and physical description
- Date and time of booking
- Charges filed against them
- Bail or bond amount if set
- Arresting agency information
- Current housing location in the jail
Arizona Court Records and Booking Data
Booking records come from jails. Court records come from courts. Both relate to arrests but serve different purposes. After someone is booked, they will have a court date. The court creates its own records of hearings, charges filed, pleas, and outcomes. The Arizona Courts website is the main portal for state court information.
Court records can show what happened after the 72 hour booking. Was the person released on bail? Did the charges get dropped? What was the final outcome? These details are in court records, not booking logs. For complete information on an arrest, you may need both the 72 hour booking record from the jail and the case file from the court.
Fees for Arizona 72 Hour Booking Records
Most online searches for Arizona 72 hour booking info are free. You can check the inmate roster on county websites at no charge. Calling the jail is also free. Fees apply when you want copies of records or detailed reports.
DPS charges $9 for the first 9 pages of paper copies and 10 cents per page after that. Email copies cost $9 with a 5 MB limit. A DVD costs $15 and a flash drive costs $20. Video requests run $21.33 per half hour. County fees vary. Some charge nothing for basic booking sheets. Others charge $3 to $10 per report. Yuma County provides arrest records and booking photos free of charge. Gila County charges $8 for the first 20 pages. Victims often get one free copy under state law.
Note: Fees change, so confirm current costs before you submit a request.
Browse Arizona 72 Hour Booking by County
Each Arizona county has its own jail and booking system. Select a county below to find local contact info, search tools, and fees for 72 hour booking records in that area.
72 Hour Booking in Arizona Cities
City police make arrests but county jails handle booking. Find out which county jail serves your city and how to search their 72 hour booking records.