Santa Cruz County Felony Records

Santa Cruz County felony records are held at the Superior Court Clerk of Court office in Nogales. This is one of the smallest counties in Arizona by population. The clerk keeps all felony case files from the Superior Court. You can search for criminal case data through the state court system online or go to the office in person. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff also holds arrest records and booking data at their main office. Residents of Nogales, Rio Rico, and other parts of the county use these offices when they need felony record information. Most records from cases in this county are open to the public.

Santa Cruz County Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Superior Court is the main keeper of felony case files in Santa Cruz County. All court documents get filed with this office. This includes charging papers, motions, court orders, plea deals, and sentencing records. The clerk office is at 2160 North Congress Drive in Nogales. You can reach them by phone at 520-375-7700 for general questions about records. The office is open Monday through Friday during normal business hours.

When you need copies of felony case documents, you can visit in person or send a mail request. Bring the case number if you have it. That makes the search faster. The staff can look up cases by name, but having the case number saves time. You can also send requests by email to publicrecords@santacruzcountyaz.gov if you prefer not to visit the office. Include as much detail as you can about the case you are looking for. The clerk will tell you what documents are on file and what fees apply.

Copy fees are set by state law. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies run about $35 per document plus the page fee. Research fees may apply if staff must dig into older case files that are not in the current system. The Santa Cruz County Clerk of Court accepts cash, money orders, and credit or debit cards for payment. Personal checks may not be accepted, so call ahead to confirm what payment methods they take.

Search Santa Cruz County Felony Cases Online

Arizona offers a statewide online search tool that covers Santa Cruz County felony cases. The Arizona Public Access Case Lookup lets you search by name or case number. You can find cases from Santa Cruz County Superior Court through this system. The results show basic case info like the charges, hearing dates, and current case status. This is a free tool. You do not need an account to use it.

This search portal covers 177 courts across Arizona, including Santa Cruz County.

The online search shows case summaries but not the full documents. If you need to see the actual filings, motions, or court orders, you have two options. You can use the Arizona eAccess portal to view documents online for a fee. The first page is free to preview. Full access costs $10 per document. Or you can contact the Santa Cruz County Clerk of Court directly to get copies by mail or in person. Many people start with the free search and then decide if they need the full documents.

Note: Online records may take a few days to update after court hearings.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff Felony Records

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office holds arrest records, booking data, and incident reports. These are not the same as court case files. When someone gets arrested for a felony in Santa Cruz County, the sheriff creates an arrest record. This record shows the charges at arrest, the booking date, and basic info about the person. The sheriff does not hold court records or case outcomes. Those stay with the clerk.

The sheriff's office is at 2170 N. Congress Drive in Nogales. Call them at (520) 761-7869 for questions about arrest records. You can request copies of arrest reports and incident reports through a public records request. Be specific about what you need. Give the full name of the person, the date of the arrest if you know it, and any other details that can help staff find the right records. The sheriff may charge a fee for copies based on the number of pages.

You can visit the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office website to learn more about their services and how to contact their records unit.

The sheriff handles arrests and jail operations. Court records for those same cases are kept by the Superior Court Clerk.

Santa Cruz County shares a border with Mexico. This affects the type of cases the sheriff handles. Many felony arrests in this county involve border crimes like drug smuggling or illegal entry. The sheriff works with federal agencies on these cases. Even so, the arrest records are still public records in Arizona. You can request them like any other arrest report. Federal charges go to federal court, not the county Superior Court.

Arizona Laws on Felony Records in Santa Cruz County

Arizona Supreme Court Rule 123 controls public access to court records. This rule says court records are presumed open. Anyone can inspect them during business hours. Some details get blacked out. Financial account numbers and info about minor victims are not shown on public copies. But most felony case data is available to the public. This rule applies to Santa Cruz County just like every other county in Arizona.

The Arizona Public Records Law under Title 39 covers records held by the sheriff and other agencies outside the courts. If you want arrest records or incident reports from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff, you use this law. A.R.S. Section 41-1750 sets up the Central State Repository at DPS for statewide criminal history. However, DPS cannot run background checks for private employers. You must use court records or a private service for that purpose.

Santa Cruz County residents who have felony convictions may be able to seal their records. A.R.S. Section 13-911 allows sealing after you complete your sentence and wait the required time. Class 2 or 3 felonies require a 10-year wait. Class 4, 5, or 6 felonies require 5 years. Some serious crimes cannot be sealed at all. You file a petition with the Santa Cruz County Superior Court to start the process.

Santa Cruz County Felony Record Fees

The Clerk of Court charges $0.50 per page for plain copies of felony case documents. If you need a certified copy with an official seal, that costs $35 per document plus the page fee. Research fees may apply if you need staff to search archived records. These old files take more time to pull. Postage and handling add to the cost if you request records by mail.

The sheriff's office has its own fee schedule for arrest records and reports. Fees vary based on what you ask for. Most basic reports cost a few dollars. Longer reports or multiple copies cost more. Contact the sheriff directly to get exact pricing for your request. All agencies in Santa Cruz County accept credit and debit cards. Some also take money orders or cashier's checks. Personal checks may not be allowed.

Online document access through eAccess costs $10 per document to view or download. The first page preview is free. If you need many documents, a subscription may be cheaper than paying per document. Monthly plans range from $80 for light users to $10,000 for heavy users. Most residents just pay per document when they need access to Santa Cruz County felony case files.

Santa Cruz County Justice Courts

Justice Courts in Santa Cruz County handle misdemeanor cases, not felonies. If you are looking for felony records, you need the Superior Court. Justice Courts deal with minor crimes where the max jail time is six months. They also hear small claims, civil traffic, and eviction cases. Santa Cruz County has two Justice Court precincts.

However, Justice Courts can still be helpful in some situations. Sometimes a case starts as a misdemeanor and gets charged up to a felony later. Other times a felony gets dropped down to a misdemeanor through a plea deal. In those cases, you might find related records in Justice Court. Check both court levels if you are not sure where a case ended up. The Justice Courts have their own clerks who handle record requests.

The main Justice Court serves the Nogales area. Contact them at the county courthouse complex if you need misdemeanor records or want to check if a case was handled at that level before moving to Superior Court.

Felony Records in Santa Cruz County Communities

Santa Cruz County includes the city of Nogales, the town of Patagonia, and the communities of Rio Rico and Tubac. None of these places have their own felony courts. All felony cases go through the Santa Cruz County Superior Court in Nogales. Municipal courts only handle city ordinance violations and some misdemeanors. For serious crimes, everything runs through the county system.

Nogales is the county seat and the largest city. About 20,000 people live there. The courthouse and main county offices are all in Nogales. Rio Rico is an unincorporated area with no city government. Law enforcement there comes from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff. Patagonia and Tubac are small communities with limited local services. If you need felony records from any part of Santa Cruz County, you contact the Superior Court Clerk in Nogales or the county sheriff.

The Nogales Police Department handles arrests within city limits. Those arrest records stay with the police department. But if the case is a felony, the court file goes to the Superior Court Clerk. You may need to contact both offices depending on what type of record you need from Santa Cruz County.

Nearby Arizona Counties

Santa Cruz County borders two other counties in Arizona. If you need felony records from a neighboring area, visit the county pages below. Cases are filed in the county where the crime took place. If someone was arrested in Pima County, that is where the case file will be.

Pima County is to the north. It includes Tucson and has a much larger population. Cochise County is to the east. It includes Sierra Vista and Bisbee. Both counties have their own Superior Court clerks who keep felony case files.