Search Mesa Felony Records

Mesa felony records are spread across two main agencies that handle different parts of the criminal justice process. The Mesa Police Department keeps arrest records, incident reports, and booking data at their records office on South Hibbert Street. All felony court cases, however, go through Maricopa County Superior Court since cities in Arizona do not have the power to try serious crimes. Mesa is the third largest city in the state, sitting just east of Phoenix in the heart of the Valley. If you need to find a felony case from Mesa, you will likely need to check both the police department for arrest info and the county court for case outcomes and sentencing details.

Mesa Police Department Records Unit

The Mesa Police Department runs a records unit that handles public requests for arrest data, incident reports, and other police documents. This is where you go when you need proof of an arrest that happened in Mesa. The unit does not have court files since those belong to the county. But they do keep the initial arrest paperwork, officer reports, and booking photos from local cases.

You can visit the Mesa Police Records Unit in person at 59 S. Hibbert Street in Mesa, AZ 85210. The office hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. They are closed on Fridays, weekends, and city holidays. If you cannot make it during those times, call ahead at 480-644-2310 to ask about other options. Staff can tell you what you need to bring and how long your request might take to process. The phone line is also good for checking if records you asked for are ready to pick up.

Mesa has an online portal for records requests. The GovQA Portal lets you submit requests from your computer or phone. You fill out a form, describe what you need, and submit it. The system tracks your request and sends updates by email. This is often faster than going in person, especially for simple requests like a copy of a police report. The portal works around the clock, so you can submit at any time even though the office is only open four days a week.

Fees are reasonable. The cost is $5 for the first 50 pages of any report. Each additional page after that is $0.20. Most arrest reports fit within 50 pages, so $5 covers the typical request. If you need video footage like body camera files or dash cam recordings, expect to pay $46 per hour of footage. Staff must review the video before release, which is where that hourly charge comes from. There is also a $10 fee for MAARS reports, which are the automated accident response system records.

Felony Cases Go to Maricopa County Court

Mesa does not have a court that handles felonies. All serious criminal cases from the city go to Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix. This is the same for every city in the county. When Mesa police arrest someone for a felony, the booking happens at the county jail. The Maricopa County Attorney then reviews the case and files charges at Superior Court. From that point, the case moves through the county system for all hearings, motions, and trial.

The Superior Court Clerk keeps the official case file. That file has everything from the initial charging documents to the final judgment. If you want the full record of a Mesa felony case, you need to contact the Clerk of Court. Their main office is at 620 W. Jackson Street in Phoenix. You can also use the Southeast Court Complex at 222 E. Javelina Avenue in Mesa. This location is much closer for Mesa residents and handles the same records requests. Call 602-372-5375 for questions about case files or document copies.

The online search tool is free. Go to the Criminal Case Search page on the Maricopa County Superior Court website. Enter the person's name or case number. The results show charges, case status, hearing dates, and the assigned judge. This gives you a quick way to find out if a felony case exists and what stage it is in. For actual documents, you pay through the eAccess system at $10 per document.

The eAccess portal lets you view and download court documents from felony cases. It charges $10 per document but shows a free first-page preview so you can confirm you have the right file before paying.

Mesa Municipal Court and Misdemeanors

The Mesa Municipal Court handles misdemeanor cases and city code violations. It does not hear felonies. Misdemeanors are crimes where the max sentence is six months in jail or less. Common examples include petty theft, simple assault, disorderly conduct, and first-offense DUI. These cases stay at the city level and never go to Superior Court.

Sometimes a case starts as a felony and ends up as a misdemeanor. This happens through plea deals or when the prosecutor decides to reduce charges. If that occurs, the final record might be at the Mesa Municipal Court instead of the county court. So if you are not finding a case at the Superior Court level, it may have been reduced. Check with Mesa Municipal Court at 480-644-2255 to see if they have records on the case you are looking for.

The court is at 225 E. Main Street in Mesa. Hours are 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Thursday. They can tell you about cases heard there, but they cannot help with felony matters. For anything related to a serious crime with more than six months of possible jail time, you must go to Maricopa County.

How to Get Mesa Felony Records

Getting felony records from Mesa takes a few steps. The process depends on what type of record you need. Police records and court records come from different places. Here is how to get each one.

For arrest records from Mesa Police, start with the online portal at mesaazpd.govqa.us. Create an account if you do not have one. Fill out the request form with the date of the incident, the name of the person involved, and the type of record you want. Submit and wait for an email with the cost. Pay the fee, then download your records or pick them up in person. The typical wait is a few business days for simple requests. Body camera footage takes longer because staff has to review it before release.

For court records from a felony case, use the Maricopa County system. Start with the free case search to find the case number. Write that number down. Then contact the Clerk of Court to request copies. You can do this online through eAccess or in person at the courthouse. The Southeast Court Complex in Mesa is the closest option. Fees are $0.50 per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost $35 plus the page fee. They accept credit cards, debit cards, money orders, and cash. No personal checks.

If you need a complete picture, check both agencies. The police have the arrest report. The court has the case file with charges, pleas, and sentencing. Together, these two sources give you the full story on a Mesa felony case.

Arizona Felony Record Laws

Arizona law sets the rules for how felony records work. The state uses a class system for felonies. Class 1 is the most serious and includes first-degree murder. Class 6 is the least serious and covers things like minor drug possession. Each class has its own sentencing range. This matters not just for punishment but also for record sealing later on.

Court records in Arizona are public under Arizona Supreme Court Rule 123. This rule says that the public can inspect and copy court files during normal business hours. Some information gets redacted, like financial account numbers and details about minor victims. But the basic facts of a felony case are available to anyone who asks. This includes the charges filed, the plea entered, the verdict, and the sentence given.

Police records fall under the Arizona Public Records Law in Title 39. This law gives people the right to access government documents, including police reports. Agencies must respond to requests within a reasonable time. They can charge fees for copies and staff time. Both Mesa Police and the Maricopa County courts follow these state rules when they handle requests for felony records.

The Arizona Courts public access system provides case information from courts across the state. You can search by name, case number, or other criteria to find felony case records.

Sealing Mesa Felony Records

Arizona allows some felony records to be sealed. This option came with the passage of A.R.S. Section 13-911 in 2022. Before that, Arizona had no way to seal adult criminal convictions. Now, people who finish their sentence can petition the court to seal their record after waiting the required time period.

The wait depends on the class of felony. For Class 2 or Class 3 felonies, you must wait 10 years after completing your sentence. That includes any prison time, probation, parole, fines, and restitution. For Class 4, Class 5, or Class 6 felonies, the waiting period is 5 years. Once you meet these requirements, you file a petition with the court that handled your case. For Mesa felonies, that means Maricopa County Superior Court.

Not all felonies can be sealed. Certain crimes are excluded from the sealing law. Dangerous crimes against children fall into this category. So do sex offenses, violent felonies, and human trafficking. If your conviction is on the exclusion list, you cannot seal that record no matter how long you wait. Talk to an attorney if you are not sure whether your Mesa felony qualifies for sealing.

Sealing does not erase the record. It limits who can see it. Most employers and landlords will not see a sealed record on a background check. But law enforcement can still access sealed files. So can some licensing boards. Sealing is useful for moving forward with your life, but it does not make the record disappear completely.

Arizona DPS Criminal History

The Arizona Department of Public Safety runs the Central State Repository. This is the statewide database of criminal records. Under A.R.S. Section 41-1750, all law enforcement agencies in Arizona must report arrests and case outcomes to DPS. That includes Mesa Police. When someone is arrested for a felony in Mesa, that data goes into the state system.

You can check your own record through DPS for free. The process involves submitting a Record Review Packet with your fingerprints. DPS will send back a copy of what they have on file within about 15 days. The main office is at 2222 W. Encanto Blvd. in Phoenix. Call 602-223-2222 if you have questions. This is a good option if you want to see what shows up before applying for a job or professional license.

There is a catch. DPS cannot run background checks for private employers. Arizona law restricts how the Central State Repository can be used. If a company wants to check someone's criminal history, they must use court records or a third-party background check service. DPS only releases records to authorized government agencies and to individuals checking their own file. This rule applies across the state, including for Mesa felony records.

Nearby Arizona Cities

Mesa sits in the East Valley of the Phoenix metro area. Several other large cities are nearby, all within Maricopa County. If you need felony records from these areas, click the links below. Each city has its own police department for arrest records. All felonies go through Maricopa County Superior Court for prosecution and case files.

All of these cities fall under Maricopa County jurisdiction for felony cases. The county court system handles serious crimes from the entire region.

Maricopa County Felony Resources

For full details on the county court system that handles Mesa felonies, visit the Maricopa County felony records page. That page covers the Superior Court Criminal Department, the Clerk of Court fees and hours, and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office records unit. You will also find more info on online search tools and how to request certified court documents.

The county page has information on the Justice Courts as well. These courts sit between the municipal level and the Superior Court. They handle some misdemeanor cases that do not go to city courts. If you are searching for a case and cannot find it at the Mesa Municipal Court or the Superior Court, check the Justice Court for that district. The Southeast Justice Center on Javelina Avenue handles cases from Mesa and the surrounding area.