Arizona Jail Roster Lookup
Arizona jail rosters show who is in custody at county detention centers across the state. Each of the 15 Arizona counties runs its own jail through the Sheriff's Office. You can search most of these jail rosters online at no cost. Some counties post full inmate lists on their websites. Others let you search by name or booking number. The state also runs VINE, a free tool that tracks inmates and sends alerts when their status changes. This page covers how to find Arizona jail roster data, which counties have online access, and what to do when a roster is not on the web.
Arizona Jail Roster Quick Facts
Where to Find Arizona Jail Rosters
County Sheriff offices run all jails in Arizona. Each county has its own detention center. The Sheriff is in charge of booking, housing, and releasing inmates. This means jail roster data comes from 15 different sources across the state. There is no single statewide jail database in Arizona.
Most Arizona counties post jail rosters on their Sheriff's Office website. You can view a list of current inmates or search by name. The data includes the person's name, booking date, charges, and bond amount. Some sites show mugshots while others do not. A few counties have removed online rosters due to recent court rulings about privacy. In those cases you must call the jail to ask about a specific person. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office runs the largest jail system in Arizona and serves the Phoenix metro area. Their official website has tools to look up inmates by name or booking number.
The screenshot below shows the main page for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office where you can access jail roster information.
Note: City police do not run jails in Arizona. All arrests go to the county jail.
How to Search Arizona Jail Rosters Online
Searching an Arizona jail roster is simple. Go to the county Sheriff's website. Find the jail or detention section. Look for a link that says inmate search, jail roster, or who's in jail. Most sites let you search by last name. Some require both first and last name. A few counties ask for a date of birth as well.
Enter the name and click search. Results show inmates that match your search. You will see the full name, booking number, charges, bond amount, and housing location. Some counties update their rosters in real time. Others update every few hours. If you do not find someone right away, try again later. New bookings can take time to appear in the system. The Arizona Department of Corrections provides information about searching for inmates in state custody on their inmate data search page.
This image shows the ADCRR inmate search information page which explains how state prison searches work.
Here are the basic steps for most Arizona jail roster searches:
- Go to the county Sheriff website
- Click on Jail, Detention, or Inmate Search
- Enter the person's last name
- Add first name if required
- Click Search or Submit
- Review the results list
The actual state prison inmate database is at inmatedatasearch.azcorrections.gov. This only shows people in state prison, not county jails. The screenshot below shows the search interface.
State Prison vs County Jail in Arizona
People often confuse jail rosters with prison records. They are not the same. County jails hold people waiting for trial. They also hold those with short sentences, usually under one year. State prisons hold people with longer sentences after conviction. The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry runs state prisons. County Sheriffs run jails.
If you search a county jail roster and find nothing, the person may be in state prison instead. Use the ADCRR Inmate Data Search to check state prison records. You can search by name or inmate number. The state database goes back to 1985 and includes active inmates, those on parole, and released offenders. Keep in mind that sending prison record information to an inmate is a felony under ARS 13-2505. The department website warns that such materials are treated as contraband.
For records requests from state prisons, the ADCRR has a public records page where you can submit formal requests. The image below shows this page.
Note: State prison searches do not show people in county jails. Check both if unsure.
Arizona VINE Victim Notification
VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. It is a free service that tracks inmates across Arizona. You can register to get alerts when an inmate's status changes. This includes transfers, releases, and escapes. VINE works for both jail and prison inmates in Arizona.
To use Arizona VINE, go to VINELink.com and select Arizona. Search for the person by name or ID number. Once you find them, register for notifications. You can get alerts by phone, email, or text. The service runs around the clock every day of the year. You can also call the Arizona VINE hotline at 1-800-247-9763 to check on an inmate by phone. Arizona recently expanded VINE through the Arizona CVNS program, which starts notifications at the initial incident call and continues through the entire case.
The VINELink portal is shown in the screenshot below where you can register for inmate alerts.
More details about how Arizona uses VINE are on the Arizona VINE information page. This page explains the expanded notification options available to victims.
Arizona Court Records and Case Lookup
Jail rosters show current inmates. Court records show case details. If you need to know what charges were filed or the case outcome, use the Arizona court system. The Arizona Judicial Branch oversees all courts in the state.
The main portal for court records is the Public Access Case Lookup page. This covers 153 of 180 courts in Arizona. You can search by name or case number. The system shows basic case information including charges, hearing dates, and outcomes. For Superior Court cases, the eAccess portal has records from July 2010 forward. This does not include Justice Courts or Municipal Courts. Each county may have its own system for those lower courts.
Below is the Arizona Courts main website homepage.
The Public Access Case Lookup tool appears in this screenshot.
For more detailed Superior Court records, use the eAccess portal shown below.
Arizona Jail Roster Laws
Arizona has public records laws that cover jail rosters. Under ARS 39-121, public records must be open for inspection during office hours. This includes jail records held by Sheriff offices. Anyone can ask to see these records. You do not need to give a reason.
ARS 39-121.01 defines what counts as a public record and who must provide them. It covers all state, county, and city agencies. ARS 39-121.02 explains what to do if access is denied. You can appeal through a special action in Superior Court. The court may award attorney fees if you win.
Sheriff duties regarding jails come from ARS 11-441. This law says the Sheriff must take charge of and keep the county jail and all prisoners. ARS 31-121 requires the Sheriff to receive all persons committed to jail and provide food, clothing, and bedding. The Sheriff can charge inmates up to $2.00 per day for food costs.
Recent court cases have changed how some counties share jail data. The Houston v. Maricopa County ruling from the Ninth Circuit found that posting mugshots and personal details may violate due process rights. Several Arizona counties paused or removed their online jail rosters in response. Pinal, Mohave, and Cochise counties have all made changes. If you cannot find an online roster, call the jail directly for inmate information.
Browse Arizona Jail Rosters by County
Each Arizona county runs its own jail through the Sheriff's Office. Pick a county below to find local jail roster links, contact numbers, and search tools.
Arizona Jail Rosters in Major Cities
City police make arrests but do not run jails in Arizona. All bookings go to the county jail. Pick a city below to learn which county handles jail rosters for that area.