Pinal County Felony Records

Felony records in Pinal County are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court in Florence. The clerk stores all criminal case files from the county's Superior Court, which is the only court in Arizona with authority to hear felony cases. Pinal County sits between Phoenix and Tucson along Interstate 10. The area has grown fast in the past two decades. This growth means more court filings each year. Finding records here takes knowing the right office and the process they use. The sheriff also keeps arrest data and can provide clearance letters for background needs. Both sources give you different types of Pinal County criminal information.

Pinal County Clerk of Superior Court

The Pinal County Clerk of Superior Court holds all felony case files for the county. This office is the main place to get criminal court records. The clerk keeps documents from each case that went through Superior Court. These files include the original charges, motions filed by both sides, court orders, and the final judgment. When you need proof of a conviction or want to see what happened in a case, the clerk is where you go.

The office is at 971 North Jason Lopez Circle, Building A in Florence, Arizona 85132. Florence is the county seat. It sits about an hour south of Phoenix. You can call the clerk at 520-509-3555 for local calls. There is also a toll free number at 888-431-1311. The fax number is 520-866-5320. Staff can answer questions about what records they have and how to request copies of Pinal County felony case documents.

Visit the Pinal County Clerk of Superior Court website to learn about their records request process.

The clerk office handles requests by mail, in person, or through online payment options. Each method has its own steps and timeline.

Pinal County Felony Record Fees

Getting copies of felony records in Pinal County costs money. Plain copies run $0.50 per page. This is the standard rate across Arizona courts. If you need a certified copy with the court seal, the fee jumps to $35 per document plus the page cost. Certified copies prove the document is real. Courts, employers, and government agencies often want certified versions. The extra fee covers the clerk adding their seal and signature.

Research fees also apply in some cases. If you do not have a case number and need staff to search for records, Pinal County charges $35 per year searched. This covers the time spent looking through indexes and files. Shipping by mail adds $8 to your total. The clerk processes requests within 5 business days after they get your payment. You can pay online through the Pinal County Superior Court payment portal with a credit or debit card. Cash and money orders work for in person visits.

The fees matter when you plan your search. A simple one page record costs $0.50. A certified packet with research could run over $50. Know what you need before you order.

Requesting Felony Records in Pinal County

There are three ways to get felony records from the Pinal County Clerk of Superior Court. You can go in person to the Florence office. You can send a written request by mail. You can also use the state eAccess portal for some documents. Each option works better in different situations. In person visits let you see records right away. Mail takes longer but works if you live far from Florence.

For in person requests, bring the defendant's name and any case information you have. A case number makes the search go faster. Staff will pull the file and let you look at it. You pay for any copies you want to take. The office is open during regular business hours on weekdays. Call ahead to confirm hours before making the drive to Pinal County, as they may close for holidays or training days.

Mail requests need certain details. Include the full name of the person whose record you want. Add birth dates if you have them. Give the case number if you know it. State what documents you need from the felony case file. Enclose payment for the expected cost. The clerk will process your request and mail back copies within about 5 business days after payment clears.

Note: Always include a return address and phone number so staff can contact you with questions about your Pinal County felony records request.

Pinal County Sheriff Felony Records

The Pinal County Sheriff's Office keeps its own set of records. These are arrest records and incident reports. When deputies arrest someone on a felony charge, they create a report. The case then goes to the county attorney and court. But the sheriff keeps the original arrest information in their files. This is separate from what the court clerk holds. Both sources have value when you research a criminal matter.

The Sheriff Records Unit handles public requests for these documents. You can reach them at 520-866-5193 to schedule an appointment. They offer clearance letters for $5 each. A clearance letter states whether someone has been arrested by the sheriff's office. Employers and landlords sometimes ask for these. The low cost makes it an easy way to check for local arrest history in Pinal County.

The Pinal County Sheriff Records Unit page has more details on what records they can provide and how to request them.

Sheriff records show the arrest side of a case. Court records show what happened after. Together they paint a fuller picture of a felony matter in Pinal County.

Searching Pinal County Felony Cases Online

Arizona courts offer online tools for finding case information. The state runs a Public Access Case Lookup that covers most courts in Arizona. You can search by name or case number. Pinal County Superior Court cases appear in this system. The search is free. It shows basic info like charges, hearing dates, and case status. This works well for a quick check on whether someone has a felony case.

For actual documents, the Arizona eAccess portal lets you view and download court filings. The first page of any document is free to preview. Seeing all pages costs $10 per document. Monthly plans range from $80 to $10,000 for heavy users. Attorneys, media, and researchers often get subscriptions. Most people pay per document when they need something specific from a Pinal County felony case.

Online searching saves a trip to Florence. You can check case status from home at any hour. The tools do not have every old case, though. Older Pinal County felony files may not be in the online system yet. For those, you need to contact the clerk directly or visit in person.

Arizona State Felony Record Resources

Beyond county offices, state agencies hold felony information. The Arizona Department of Public Safety runs the Central State Repository. Under A.R.S. Section 41-1750, DPS collects arrest and disposition data from all criminal justice agencies. Pinal County sends data to this state database. Someone arrested for a felony in Pinal County will have records both locally and with DPS in Phoenix.

Individuals can review their own Arizona criminal record for free through DPS. You fill out a Record Review Packet and submit your fingerprints. Within about 15 days, DPS mails you a copy of your state record. This helps you check for errors before applying for jobs or housing. The DPS Criminal History Records page explains the full process. You can also use the Public Services Portal to submit requests and pay online.

Private employers cannot use DPS for background checks in Arizona. State law blocks the Central State Repository from running checks for private companies. Employers must search court records directly or use a commercial background check service that pulls from court files across Arizona.

Note: DPS records and court records overlap but are not the same. Check both for a complete picture of someone's Pinal County felony history.

Sealing Pinal County Felony Records

Arizona now allows some felony records to be sealed. The law changed at the end of 2022. A.R.S. Section 13-911 creates the rules for sealing. If you have a Pinal County felony conviction, you may be able to get it sealed after finishing your sentence and waiting the required time. Sealed records do not show up in most searches. They can help with jobs, housing, and moving forward after a conviction.

Waiting periods depend on the felony class. Class 2 and 3 felonies require 10 years after completing your sentence. Class 4, 5, and 6 felonies need 5 years. These are not short waits, but they do end. Some offenses cannot be sealed at all. Dangerous crimes, offenses against children, and violent felonies stay on your record. You file a petition with the Pinal County Superior Court where your case was heard. A judge reviews it and decides whether to grant the seal.

Sealing is different from expungement. A sealed record still exists. Law enforcement and some government agencies can still see it. But the general public and most employers cannot. For many people with old felony convictions in Pinal County, sealing offers a path toward a cleaner background check.

Pinal County Cities and Felony Records

Pinal County covers a large area with several communities. San Tan Valley is the largest population center. It is an unincorporated area, meaning there is no city government. The Pinal County Sheriff provides all law enforcement there. Residents of San Tan Valley file felony cases through the Pinal County Superior Court in Florence. The process is the same as anywhere else in the county.

Other towns in Pinal County include Casa Grande, Apache Junction, Maricopa, Coolidge, and Florence itself. Apache Junction sits partly in Maricopa County, which can cause confusion. Check addresses carefully when searching for felony records. If someone was arrested in the Maricopa County part of Apache Junction, those records would be with Maricopa County courts, not Pinal. Geography matters for record searches.

Municipal courts in Pinal County towns only handle misdemeanors and civil traffic cases. They cannot hear felony matters. All felonies go straight to Superior Court. If you need a felony record from anywhere in Pinal County, the clerk in Florence is your source. Local police may have the arrest report, but the court file sits with the county.

Nearby County Felony Records

Pinal County borders several other Arizona counties. To the west and northwest lies Maricopa County, home to Phoenix and the largest court system in the state. To the south is Pima County, where Tucson sits. East of Pinal you find Gila County and Graham County. The northern edge touches parts of Yavapai County.

People move between these areas often. Someone might live in San Tan Valley but work in Mesa or Phoenix. Arrests can happen in different counties. When searching for a complete criminal history, you may need to check multiple county courts. Each has its own clerk with its own records. The state DPS database helps by pooling arrest data, but court files stay local to where the case was heard.

If you cannot find a felony record in Pinal County, consider whether the arrest or case might have happened in a neighboring county. Check Maricopa County especially for people living near the Apache Junction or Queen Creek areas where county lines split communities.