Arizona is drowning in crime. The violent crime rate in Arizona jumped by 8.6% between 2019 and 2020.
The high rates are prompting the police to make as many arrests as possible. This means that thousands of innocent people may have prisoner mugshots of themselves. If you're facing an arrest or prison sentence, you should know where your prisoner mugshot will go.
What documents contain your mugshot? What else do they describe? Where can you find public records information?
Answer these questions and you can figure out a path forward after your arrest. Here is your quick guide.
Arizona Criminal Records
Criminal records are documents that describe people who were convicted of crimes in the state of Arizona. The records provide details of their arrests, indictments, convictions, and other important information.
A criminal record always includes at least one prisoner mugshot. It also includes the person's fingerprints and a physical description of them, including any identifying marks.
The record gives the person's full name and all of their known aliases and nicknames. It states how old they are and what their sex and race are.
The record details the subject's past and current criminal offenses, arrest warrants, and indictments. It mentions if they were convicted of crimes and includes any inmate records.
The Arizona Public Records Law requires all Arizona criminal records to be public records. This means that anyone can search for them at any time. You may need the subject's name and last known location to access their records.
Arrest Records
Arrest records describe the arrests and detentions of people accused of committing crimes. These documents do not suggest that someone is guilty of criminal activity. They only indicate that the police arrested someone, brought them in for questioning, or detained them.
Arrest records may not have photographs of the accused subjects. But they do have the name, date of birth, and identifying information of the subject. The record describes the circumstances of the arrest and the accused offense.
Police reports are different than arrest records. Police reports describe law enforcement actions and reports from the public about crimes. They may not contain any identifying details about someone accused of committing a crime.
Arrest records are in the public domain, but they usually come at a cost. To obtain one, you need to contain your local law enforcement officials.
Arrest Warrants
Courts issue arrest warrants to authorize police officers to arrest a person. Police officers must show probable cause, indicating that the person likely committed a crime. But an arrest warrant does not imply that someone is guilty or was convicted of a crime.
An arrest warrant describes the arrestee's full name and their alleged offense. It also describes where and when someone may be arrested.
The document mentions the warrant's expiration date and the judge who authorized the warrant. But the warrant does not contain a photograph of the arrestee.
Not all arrests produce arrest warrants. An officer may arrest someone if they pose a threat to other people or if the officer witnessed them commit a crime. These arrests may lead to police records that you can obtain through your local police department.
Arrest warrants are accessible to the public, but they can be hard to obtain. You may need to go to your county government to find one.
Inmate Records
Inmate records describe incarcerated people in prisons and jails. Some people may be awaiting trial while others may have been convicted already.
Inmate records contain prison mugshots as well as information about an inmate's physical appearance. You can learn about an inmate's height in inches, weight, hair color, and eye color.
The record describes where an inmate is currently residing and what their eligible release date is. It also mentions all crimes they have been convicted of and any disciplinary infractions they committed in jail.
Members of the public can find inmate records through the Arizona government's website. Inmate records are a good way for loved ones to find information about an inmate, especially if they have been moved between prisons.
Probation and Juvenile Records
Probation records describe a convict who is serving a sentence outside of prison. The document details what their sentence is and who their probation officer is. The Adult Probation Service Division provides probation records, and they may or may not contain photographs of the subject.
Juvenile records describe the criminal activities of people under the age of 18. They are similar to arrest records, but these records are not available to the public. The subjects or their parents can release the records, and they may not contain full details about their arrests, including photographs.
Sex Offender Registry Information
The Arizona Sex Offender Registry logs registered sex offenders in Arizona. It only contains information about convicted people, not arrestees. The registry is open to the public, and anyone can access it.
An entry includes a photograph of the subject, their full legal name, and their address. It mentions their convictions and what their likelihood is to re-offend. Level 3 offenders must notify their neighbors about their offenses, and they face penalties if they fail to talk to their neighbors.
Where Your Prisoner Mugshot Is
A prisoner mugshot can be in many documents. Criminal records, inmate records, and sex offender registry entries will have a mugshot. Other documents may have mugshots, though juvenile records do not.
Even if a document does not have your mugshot, it may describe your physical appearance in detail. It may also describe the charges you were accused or convicted of and where your physical location is.
The best way to determine what information about yourself is out there is to use an inmate locator. JailExchange helps people find their incarcerated loved ones. Find an inmate today.
