Access Tempe Felony Records

Tempe felony records are stored at the Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix. When a person is charged with a felony in Tempe, the case goes to the county court system for trial and judgment. The Tempe Police Department keeps arrest records at their main station. You can search for criminal cases online through the county court portal or request records in person. Tempe Municipal Court handles only misdemeanor offenses and city code violations. For any serious crime that carries more than six months in jail, you need to contact the county. This page shows you where to go and what to expect when looking for Tempe felony records.

Where Tempe Felony Cases Are Filed

All felony cases from Tempe go to Maricopa County Superior Court. The city of Tempe does not have a felony court. This is how it works across Arizona. Superior Courts handle all crimes where the possible sentence is more than six months in jail or more than a $2,500 fine. Felonies fall into this group.

When Tempe police arrest someone for a felony, they book the person at the Maricopa County jail. The county attorney then files charges at Superior Court. From that point on, the case moves through the county system. All hearings, trials, and sentencing take place at the Superior Court buildings in Phoenix. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps the official case file. That file has the charging documents, motions from both sides, judge orders, and the final outcome. If you want the full record of a felony case from Tempe, you must contact the Maricopa County Clerk of Court.

The main Clerk of Court office is at 620 W. Jackson Street in Phoenix. Phone them at (602) 372-5375 for records questions. Hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. You can also reach them at the Southeast Court Complex in Mesa at 222 E. Javelina Ave., which may be more convenient for Tempe residents looking to pick up felony case files in person.

Note: The Tempe Municipal Court cannot help with felony records since those cases are not heard there.

Tempe Police Department Felony Arrest Records

The Tempe Police Department keeps arrest records for crimes that happen in the city. These records are separate from court case files. When officers make an arrest for a felony, they create a report. That report stays with the police department. It has details about the arrest itself, not the outcome of the case. To find out what happened in court, you need the Superior Court records.

You can request Tempe police records at the Records Unit. The office is at 120 E. 5th Street in Tempe, AZ 85281. Call (480) 350-8588 if you have questions. You can also email your request to PD_RecordsRequests@tempe.gov. The department has an online portal for submitting records requests. This JustFOIA system lets you file a request and track its status from your computer or phone.

The online portal makes it easy to request police records from Tempe. You can submit your request at any time and get updates by email.

Fees for Tempe police records are straightforward. The cost is $5 for the first 20 pages. Each page after that is $0.25. Video footage costs more. Body camera videos are charged at $46 per hour of footage that staff must review. Most simple report requests cost just the base $5 fee. Payment can be made when you pick up the records or through the online portal. The department accepts credit cards and cash.

Search Tempe Felony Cases Online

Since felonies go to the county court, you use Maricopa County search tools for Tempe cases. The Superior Court has a free Criminal Case Search portal. Enter the name of the person or the case number. The system shows what charges were filed, hearing dates, and case status. This is a good way to find out if a felony case exists and what stage it is in.

The search tool is free. It runs 24 hours a day. Results show basic case data, not full documents. You can see who the judge is, what the next court date is, and whether the case is open or closed. For actual documents like the charging paperwork or sentencing order, you need to pay. The eAccess system charges $10 per document to view or download. There is a free first-page preview so you can check if you have the right document before paying.

If you are a party to a felony case from Tempe, you may be able to use the ECR Online portal. That system gives case participants free access to their own documents. You need to create an account and verify your identity. The Clerk of Court can help if you have trouble getting set up. This is useful for defendants, victims, and attorneys who need regular access to Tempe felony case files at the county level.

Tempe Felony Record Fees

Costs for Tempe felony records depend on where you get them. Police records and court records have different fee structures. Here is what to expect when you request records in Tempe.

For police arrest records in Tempe, the base fee is $5. That covers the first 20 pages of any report. Extra pages cost $0.25 each. Most arrest reports fit well under 20 pages, so most people pay just the base amount. If you need video, plan on $46 per hour of footage. Staff has to review the video before release, and that takes time. The fee covers their labor.

For felony court records from Maricopa County, plain copies cost $0.50 per page. If you need a certified copy with an official seal, add $35 per document. The county may also charge research fees if staff must dig through old files. Postage costs extra for mail requests. The Clerk of Court accepts credit cards, debit cards, money orders, and cash. They do not take personal checks. Court record fees in Tempe felony cases match the standard county rates since all felonies go through Maricopa County Superior Court.

Municipal court records in Tempe cost $17 minimum. Each page is $0.50. But remember, the municipal court only handles misdemeanors. Felony records are not there. If someone tells you to check Tempe City Court for a felony, they are wrong. Go straight to the county.

Arizona Laws on Felony Record Access

Court records in Arizona are open to the public under Arizona Supreme Court Rule 123. This rule says that people have the right to inspect and copy court files during business hours. The courts presume records are public unless a specific rule seals them. Some details get redacted. Financial account numbers and info about minor victims are not shown. But most felony case data is available to anyone who asks.

Police records fall under the Arizona Public Records Law in Title 39 of the state statutes. This law gives the public access to government records, including police reports. Agencies must respond to requests within a reasonable time. They can charge fees to cover copy costs and staff time. Both Tempe police and Maricopa County court staff follow these rules when handling felony record requests.

If you have a felony conviction from Tempe, you may be able to seal your record. Under A.R.S. Section 13-911, Arizona allows record sealing after you complete your sentence. The waiting period depends on the felony class. For class 2 or 3 felonies, you must wait 10 years. For class 4, 5, or 6 felonies, the wait is 5 years. Some violent crimes cannot be sealed at all. Sealing limits who can see your record, but it does not erase it. Law enforcement can still access sealed records. The process starts by filing a petition with the court that handled your case.

Arizona DPS Criminal History Records

The Arizona Department of Public Safety runs the Central State Repository. This is a statewide database of criminal records. Under state law, all Arizona law enforcement agencies must report arrest and disposition data to DPS. That includes Tempe police. When someone is arrested for a felony in Tempe, that arrest goes into the state system.

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

DPS holds the state copy of criminal records. Courts hold the original case files. Both are useful for different purposes when researching Tempe felony records.

There is one limit. DPS cannot run background checks for private employers or send records out of state. Arizona law restricts how the Central State Repository can be used. If you need a background check for employment, you must use court records directly or hire a third-party service. This rule applies to everyone looking for felony records in Tempe or anywhere else in Arizona.

Nearby Arizona Cities

Tempe sits in the Phoenix metro area. Several other cities in Maricopa County border Tempe or are close by. If you need felony records from these areas, click the links below. Each city has its own police department, but all felonies go through Maricopa County Superior Court.