Tucson Felony Records Search

Tucson felony records come from two main places. The Tucson Police Department keeps arrest reports and incident files from cases within city limits. The Pima County Superior Court holds all felony case files since that is where serious criminal charges go to trial. If you need a police report from a Tucson arrest, you contact the police records unit. If you need court documents from a felony case, you go through the county clerk. This guide shows you how to get both types of records, what fees to expect, and where to send your request in Tucson.

Tucson Police Department Felony Records

The Tucson Police Department handles arrest reports and incident files from crimes that happen within city limits. When someone gets arrested for a felony in Tucson, police write up an arrest report. That report stays with the department. It is separate from the court file that gets created later. You can request these records through the Records and Communications Division. The office is at 270 S. Stone Ave., Tucson, AZ 85701-1917. Call them at (520) 791-4462 if you have questions. You can also email tpdpublicrecords@tucsonaz.gov for basic requests.

The records unit processes public records requests under Arizona law. Most police reports are public once a case is closed. Open investigations may have limits on what they can release. If the case went to court and ended, you should be able to get the arrest report without issue. The staff can tell you if any parts of a record are restricted.

You can visit the Tucson Police Records page to learn about their services and request options.

This page explains how to request police reports and other records from Tucson Police.

Tucson Police Records Fees

Tucson Police charges fees for copies of reports and other records. The base fee is $5 for paper copies. That covers the first 15 pages. Pages beyond 15 cost $0.25 each. If you want records sent by email instead of paper, the fee is still $5. Some people prefer email since it is faster and you get a digital file.

CD and DVD copies cost more. A CD or DVD runs $25. This option works well if you need large files or multiple reports at once. Video recordings have their own fee structure. Body camera footage and other video costs $44 per hour of review time. Staff has to watch the video to redact certain things before release. That takes time, which is why video costs so much.

Arrest history reports are a separate item. These show a person's arrest record with Tucson Police. The fee is $5 for three copies of the arrest history.

The Tucson Police arrest history page has more details on this service.

Use this page to request your own arrest history or learn about the process.

Note: Fees can change, so call ahead to confirm current rates before you send payment.

Pima County Superior Court Felony Cases

All felony cases in Tucson go through the Pima County Superior Court. This is true even though Tucson Police made the arrest. Police handle the initial report. The county prosecutor files charges. The Superior Court conducts hearings and trials. So if you need court documents from a Tucson felony case, you work with the Pima County Clerk of Court, not the police department.

The courthouse is at 110 West Congress Street in downtown Tucson. The Clerk of Court keeps all case files. You can get copies of charging documents, motions, court orders, and the final judgment from a felony case. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies with the official court seal cost $30 per document plus the page fee. Mail requests add $8 for postage and handling.

The clerk takes 3 to 5 business days to process mail requests. In person visits may be faster depending on what you need and how busy they are. You can call the Legal Records Unit at (520) 724-3240 or email COCLegalRecordsWeb@sc.pima.gov with questions. Their office is in Room 241 of the courthouse.

Arizona Supreme Court Rule 123 says court records are presumed open to the public. You can view files during business hours. Some information gets redacted from copies, like Social Security numbers and financial account numbers. But the core case information stays visible.

Search Tucson Felony Cases Online

Arizona has statewide tools for searching court records online. The Arizona Public Access Case Lookup covers 177 courts across the state. You can search by name or case number. Results show basic case info like charges, hearing dates, and case status. This includes Pima County Superior Court cases from Tucson.

For actual documents, Arizona has the eAccess portal. This system lets you view court filings. The first page of any document is free to preview. Full documents cost $10 each to download. Monthly subscriptions run $80 to $10,000 based on usage. Most people just pay per document when they need one.

The Pima County Justice Court also has a case search tool. Justice Courts handle misdemeanors and preliminary hearings for felonies. The first court appearance for a felony often happens at Justice Court before the case moves to Superior Court. So Justice Court records may have early information about a felony case.

Arizona Criminal History Records

The Arizona Department of Public Safety runs a statewide criminal history database called the Central State Repository. Under A.R.S. Section 41-1750, all Arizona law enforcement agencies must report arrests and case outcomes to DPS. So if someone was arrested in Tucson, that data should be in the state database. This includes felony arrests from Tucson Police.

You can review your own Arizona record for free. DPS has a Record Review Packet you fill out and submit with your fingerprints. They mail you a copy of what is in your file within 15 days. This is useful if you want to check your record before a background check. The DPS Records Request page has forms and instructions.

There is an important limit. Arizona law does not let DPS run background checks for private employers or out of state requests. Private citizens cannot use DPS to check another person's record. You have to use court records directly for that. The Pima County Clerk of Court is your source for felony case files if you are checking on someone else.

Pima County Sheriff Records in Tucson

Some areas of Tucson fall under Pima County Sheriff jurisdiction rather than Tucson Police. The county sheriff handles unincorporated areas and some neighborhoods that contract with the county for law enforcement. If an arrest happened in a sheriff area, you request records from the Sheriff's Department instead of Tucson Police.

The sheriff's Records Maintenance unit is at 1650 E. Benson Highway, Suite C in Tucson. Phone is (520) 351-4650. You can email requests to PublicRecordsRequest@sheriff.pima.gov. Their fees differ from Tucson Police. Reports up to 20 pages cost $5 minimum. Pages beyond 20 cost $0.25 each. Flash drives are $15. Video runs $46 per hour of review time.

If you are not sure which agency handled an arrest, start with the court records. The case file will show which law enforcement agency was involved. Then you know where to request the arrest report.

Sealing Tucson Felony Records

Arizona allows some felony records to be sealed. This became available on December 31, 2022. A.R.S. Section 13-911 sets the rules. You can petition the court to seal your case records if you finished your entire sentence, paid all fines, and completed any required programs or treatment. Then you wait a period of time based on the felony class.

The waiting periods are as follows:

• Class 2 or 3 felony: 10 years after completing sentence
• Class 4, 5, or 6 felony: 5 years after completing sentence

Some crimes cannot be sealed. Dangerous offenses, crimes against children, serious violent felonies, and sex trafficking convictions are not eligible. You file your petition with the Pima County Superior Court that handled your case. A judge reviews it and decides whether to seal the records. Sealed records are not destroyed. They just become hidden from most public searches.

If you need help with the sealing process, the Pima County Superior Court self service center can point you to resources. They cannot give legal advice, but they can help you find the right forms.

Tucson Legal Help Resources

Finding felony records can be part of a larger legal matter. If you need help with a criminal case or record issues in Tucson, several organizations offer assistance. Southern Arizona Legal Aid provides free legal help to low income residents. They cover civil matters and can sometimes refer you to criminal defense resources.

The Pima County Public Defender handles criminal defense for those who qualify financially. If you are facing charges and cannot afford a lawyer, the court will appoint one for you. The State Bar of Arizona has a lawyer referral service if you can afford to pay for help but need to find the right attorney. Call them at (602) 340-7423 to get matched with a lawyer who handles felony cases in Tucson.

The Pima County Law Library is another resource. It is open to the public. Staff cannot give legal advice but they can help you find forms and research materials. The library is in the courthouse at 110 West Congress Street.

Nearby Arizona Cities

Tucson is the largest city in southern Arizona. Other major cities in the state are located in the Phoenix metro area to the north. If someone has felony cases in multiple Arizona cities, you need to check each court separately. Cases filed in Pima County stay in Pima County records even if the person moves.

Major Arizona cities with felony records pages include Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, and Gilbert. All of these are in Maricopa County. The statewide court search at apps.azcourts.gov can help you find cases across multiple Arizona counties from one search. But for certified copies or complete files, you still contact each county clerk directly.

Pima County is the main county for Tucson area felony records. Neighboring counties include Pinal County to the north, Santa Cruz County to the south, and Cochise County to the east.