Surprise Felony Records

Surprise felony records are held by Maricopa County Superior Court and the Surprise Police Department. When someone in Surprise faces a felony charge, the case goes to the county court system for prosecution and trial. The Surprise Police Department handles arrests and keeps its own records of local incidents. If you need to look up a felony case involving a Surprise resident, the county court is your main source for case files and documents. The police department can provide arrest reports and booking data for crimes that happened within city limits. This page shows you how to access both types of records.

Surprise Felony Cases at Maricopa County Court

All felony cases from Surprise go to Maricopa County Superior Court. The city does not have its own felony court. Surprise sits in the northwest part of Maricopa County, and county law applies to all serious crimes here. When Surprise Police arrest someone on a felony charge, the case moves to the county prosecutor. The Maricopa County Attorney then decides whether to file formal charges.

The county has a regional court center right in Surprise. The Northwest Regional Court Center is at 14264 W. Tierra Buena Lane in Surprise, AZ 85374. This makes it easier for local residents to handle court business without driving to Phoenix. The center offers many services that you would find at the main courthouse downtown. You can file documents, pay fees, and pick up copies of records at this location.

For Surprise felony case searches, use the Maricopa County Criminal Case Search tool online. It lets you look up cases by name or case number at no cost. The search results show basic case info like charges, hearing dates, and case status. This is a good first step when you need to find out about a felony case.

Note: The Surprise court center handles some criminal matters but not all felony trials.

Surprise Police Department Felony Records

The Surprise Police Department keeps arrest records and incident reports for crimes in the city. These are different from court records. Police records show what happened at the time of arrest. Court records show how the case moved through the legal system. For a full picture of a felony case in Surprise, you may need both.

The Surprise Police main station is at 14250 W. Statler Plaza in Surprise, AZ 85374. The phone number is 623-222-4000. You can also reach them by email at police@surpriseaz.com. Office hours run Monday through Friday during normal business times. Walk-in requests are welcome, but calling ahead can save you time.

The department has a public records request page on the city website. You can use this page to learn how to submit a request for police reports and other documents.

This page shows the steps you need to take. Follow the instructions to get arrest reports or incident files from Surprise Police. Fees depend on the type of record you need. A clearance letter costs $10. Fingerprint services cost $15.

The police also have forms for various records requests. You can find these on the Records, Forms and Reports page of the Surprise city website.

Download the forms you need from this page. Fill them out and bring them to the police station or send them by mail. The staff can tell you what fees apply to your request.

Getting Surprise Felony Court Records

The Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court keeps all felony case files. This includes charging documents, motions, plea deals, and sentencing orders. Any document filed in a Surprise felony case lives at the clerk's office. The main office is in Phoenix, but you can also visit the Northwest Regional Court Center in Surprise for many services.

Copy fees are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $35 per document plus the page charge. The clerk accepts money orders, debit cards, credit cards, and cash. Personal checks are not allowed. If you need staff to search old records, a research fee may apply. Plan ahead if your request involves older cases.

The Clerk of Court records page explains all the ways to get copies. You can request records in person, by mail, or online through the court portal. The online option works well if you know the exact case number. For more detailed document access, the eAccess portal lets you view and download court papers for $10 per document.

Note: The first page of any document on eAccess is free to preview.

Arizona Laws on Surprise Felony Records

Court records in Arizona are governed by Arizona Supreme Court Rule 123. This rule says court records are open to the public. You can view them during regular office hours. Some info gets blacked out, like bank account numbers and details about minor victims. But most felony case data is available to anyone who asks.

Police records fall under a different law. Title 39 of the Arizona Revised Statutes covers public records from government agencies outside the courts. This includes Surprise Police Department records. The law gives you the right to inspect and copy these records. Fees vary by agency, but most follow state guidelines.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety runs the Central State Repository under A.R.S. Section 41-1750. This database holds criminal history data from across Arizona. However, DPS cannot run background checks for private employers. If you need a background check for a job, you will need to use court records directly or hire a screening service.

Sealing Surprise Felony Records

Arizona allows some felony records to be sealed. This option started on December 31, 2022. A.R.S. Section 13-911 sets the rules for who can seal their record. You must finish your sentence and wait a set period of time. The wait depends on the class of felony you were convicted of.

For class 2 or 3 felonies, you wait 10 years after completing your sentence. For class 4, 5, or 6 felonies, the wait is 5 years. Some crimes cannot be sealed at all. These include dangerous offenses, crimes against children, sex trafficking, and other serious violent felonies. Check the statute to see if your case qualifies.

To seal a Surprise felony record, file a petition with Maricopa County Superior Court. A judge will review your case and decide whether to grant the sealing. If approved, the record stays on file but is hidden from most searches. Law enforcement and some government agencies can still see sealed records, but the general public cannot.

Felony Records in Nearby Arizona Cities

Surprise borders several other cities in the Phoenix metro area. All of these cities are also in Maricopa County, so felony cases go to the same county court system. If you need felony records from a nearby city, the process works the same way. Check out the city pages below for local police contacts and resources.

Maricopa County Felony Resources

For a complete guide to felony records in Maricopa County, visit our county page. It covers the Superior Court, Sheriff's Office, and all the ways to search for criminal case data in the county. The county page also has links to all the cities in Maricopa County that have felony records information.