Pima County Criminal Records Search

Pima County criminal records can be accessed through the Sheriff's Department and Superior Court Clerk in Tucson. This is Arizona's second most populous county with over one million residents. The county seat is Tucson. Criminal cases here include everything from minor offenses to serious felonies processed through the Pima County court system. Many records are available online through county portals and the statewide court access system.

Pima County Sheriff Criminal Records

The Pima County Sheriff's Department keeps arrest records, incident reports, and booking information for the county. Their records unit is located at 1650 E. Benson Hwy, Suite C in Tucson. Hours are 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM on weekdays. You can request records in person, by mail, or by email at PublicRecordsRequests@sheriff.pima.gov.

Fees for Pima County criminal records from the sheriff are reasonable. Reports up to 20 pages cost $5. If the report is longer, each additional page is $0.25. Photo CDs and 911 audio recordings cost $10 each. Video footage is $46 per hour for review and redaction. Commercial requests add $50 to the base fee.

The Pima County Sheriff incident report request page explains what you need to submit. You should include the date, location, and names of people involved. Having a case number speeds up the search. Without it, staff must search by name which takes more time.

The sheriff's website walks you through the request process step by step. Most requests are processed within a few weeks depending on complexity.

Superior Court Criminal Case Records

The Clerk of the Superior Court maintains all felony case files for Pima County. The main courthouse is at 110 West Congress Street in downtown Tucson. You can reach them by phone at (520) 724-3200. The office handles record requests during regular business hours.

Online searching is available through multiple systems. The Arizona Courts Public Access portal includes Pima County cases. This is free to search. You can look up cases by name or case number. Results show charges, filing dates, and current status. It covers most criminal cases in the Pima County Superior Court system.

The clerk's office also provides in person access to case files. You can review documents at the courthouse. Copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $30 plus the page fee. There is also a $7 handling fee for mail requests.

For justice court cases, Pima County has a separate case search portal. Justice courts handle misdemeanors and preliminary hearings for felonies. This search tool covers cases from justice court precincts throughout the county.

The justice court search is useful for lower level criminal cases that do not go to Superior Court. Many traffic and minor criminal matters are resolved at this level.

Getting Criminal Records in Pima County

The process for obtaining Pima County criminal records depends on what type of record you need. Sheriff records cover arrests and incidents in unincorporated areas. Court records cover all criminal cases that go through the judicial system. City police departments like Tucson PD keep their own records for incidents within city limits.

For a complete picture, you may need to check multiple sources. Start with the court system if you want case outcomes and legal documents. Go to the sheriff or police for incident reports and arrest details. Both types of records are public in Arizona unless sealed by court order.

Background checks on yourself are straightforward. You can request your own records from any agency. There is no special process. Crime victims get one free copy of a police report under Arizona law. Everyone else pays the standard fees for Pima County criminal record copies.

If you cannot find what you need online, visit the courthouse or sheriff's office in person. Staff can help you navigate the system. Bring as much information as you have about the case or incident to make the search easier.

Cities in Pima County

Pima County includes Tucson and several smaller communities. The City of Tucson has its own police department and municipal court. For crimes that occurred in Tucson city limits, contact Tucson Police for incident reports and Tucson City Court for case records.

Smaller towns in Pima County may use the Sheriff's Department for law enforcement. Their cases go through county courts rather than municipal courts. The Superior Court handles all felonies regardless of where in the county the crime occurred.

Note: Tucson is the only city in Pima County with a population over 50,000.

Nearby Arizona Counties

If your criminal records search extends beyond Pima County, consider these neighboring counties.