Navajo County Jail Criminal Court Process

A Navajo County misdemeanor starts in that area's justice court (121 West Buffalo, Holbrook, AZ 86025, 928-524-4720; in Kayenta at 1.5 miles east of Hwy. 163 and Jct. 160, at MP 394.3, Kayenta, AZ 86033, 928-697-3522; Pinetop-Lakeside: 1630 East White Mountain Blvd., Pinetop, AZ 85935, 928-368-6200; in Show Low at 550 North 9th Place, Show Low, AZ 85901, 928-532-6030; in Snowflake at 145 South Main Street, Suite D, Snowflake, AZ 85937, 928-536-4141; in Winslow at 605 East Third Street, Winslow, AZ 86047, 928-289-6840), or in a town court when town police made the stop inside town lines. Lots of people simply get a ticket and a date. A person jailed in Holbrook goes before a judge for an initial appearance within 24 hours, Under Arizona’s court rules, most people charged with misdemeanors walk out on a promise to return, and a judge adds bond or other conditions only when there is a specific reason.

Arizona has three misdemeanor classes. The most serious tier, class 1, covers offenses like a first DUI or theft of property worth less than $1,000 and is punishable by as much as six months of jail plus a fine as high as $2,500. Class 2 offenses top out at four months and $750, and class 3 offenses at 30 days and $500. State surcharges are added on top of any fine, and a first DUI brings a mandatory 10 days in jail, nine of which the judge may suspend once the person completes alcohol screening and any required classes. Most misdemeanor cases are decided by the judge alone, but DUI and certain other charges give the defendant the right to a six-person jury.

When jail is possible and there is no money for counsel, the court can be asked for a free lawyer. In the justice courts that work often goes to the Navajo County Public Defender’s Office, a small staff of about seven attorneys who also cover felony cases countywide. Cases typically end in a plea, a diversion program, or a short trial, often within a few months.

If the accused is under 18: a minor charged with a misdemeanor is ordinarily handled by the juvenile division of the Superior Court (100 East Code Talkers Drive, Holbrook, AZ 86025, 928-524-4000) rather than by a justice court. That court aims to fix behavior, and it calls the case delinquency rather than a crime. Low-level offenses such as underage drinking, tobacco possession, curfew violations or some traffic tickets may be shifted over to a justice or town court, or to a probation-run diversion program. A youth held after arrest goes to the county’s small detention center in the Holbrook government complex, which holds no more than ten young people, and must get a detention hearing before a judge within 24 hours after the petition is filed.

After any felony arrest in Navajo County, a judge sees the person within 24 hours, sets release terms and may name a lawyer. The County Attorney then has two ways to move forward. It may file a complaint and ask for a preliminary hearing, where a judge looks for probable cause, inside 10 days for a jailed person or 20 for a released one. Or it can present the case to a county grand jury, and an indictment takes the place of that hearing.

Once the case reaches the Superior Court (100 East Code Talkers Drive, Holbrook, AZ 86025, 928-524-4000) in Holbrook, the defendant is arraigned and Rule 8 of the Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure starts its clock: trial within 150 days for someone in custody and 180 days for someone released, longer in complex cases, though both sides often agree to extensions. Felonies range from class 2 (most serious, apart from first-degree murder) to class 6. A first-time, non-dangerous offender is often eligible for probation, and people convicted of simple drug possession for personal use for the first or second time must receive probation under a voter-passed law. A class 6 felony can sometimes be left “undesignated” and later reduced to a misdemeanor if probation goes well.

Prior felony convictions push sentences much higher under Arizona’s repetitive-offender statute, and truth-in-sentencing rules keep prisoners locked up for no less than 85% of what the judge imposes. Felony jury trials use eight jurors. The Public Defender handles most appointed felony work; if it has a conflict, a contract lawyer steps in.

If the accused is under 18: for most non-violent felonies, a teenager in Navajo County stays with the juvenile judge, who can choose probation, treatment, detention, or state youth prison. There are exceptions. A.R.S. 13-501(B) lets the County Attorney decide to bring adult charges against a youth who is 14 or older when the accusation involves a class 1 felony, a class 2 felony, one of several listed class 3 felonies, a crime designated dangerous, or a repeat pattern that makes the teen a chronic felony offender. Juvenile court authority normally ends at 18, though prosecutors may keep a 17-year-old there until age 19 by filing a notice.

Violent cases go through the same felony steps, but with far higher stakes. On a capital charge with strong proof, Arizona's constitution allows a no-bail hold. After a second, separate hearing, a judge may also refuse release on other serious felonies if the person is too dangerous. Plenty of these defendants stay in the Holbrook jail (100 East Code Talkers Drive, Holbrook, AZ 86025, 928-524-4316) from arrest to verdict. When death or a sentence of 30 years or more is possible, the jury grows from eight members to twelve.

• First-degree murder: the possible sentences are death, natural life with no chance of release, or life with eligibility for release after 25 years. Arizona resumed executions in 2022 after an eight-year pause.
• Second-degree murder: 10 to 25 years; a first offender's standard term is 16.
• Armed robbery: a class 2 dangerous felony that carries 7 to 21 years for a first offense, with much longer ranges for repeat offenders.
• Sexual assault: 5.25 to 14 years for a first offense, served day for day with no early release, plus sex offender registration.

Victims in Arizona hold rights under the Victims’ Bill of Rights in the state constitution, so victims may attend, speak when release or sentence is decided, refuse a defense interview, and be repaid. Serious violent cases in Navajo County commonly last a year or more, and capital cases far longer.

If the accused is under 18: Arizona removes the choice for the most serious charges. A 15-, 16- or 17-year-old accused of first- or second-degree murder, forcible sexual assault, armed robbery or any other violent felony must be prosecuted as an adult under A.R.S. 13-501(A), and the case is filed directly in the Superior Court rather than the juvenile division. The same rule covers a chronic felony offender of that age. The law rules out death as a sentence for a teen tried as an adult, and life-without-release sentences for juveniles are limited by U.S. Supreme Court rulings. Younger teens charged with these crimes usually stay in juvenile court unless the County Attorney uses its discretionary filing authority for those 14 and older.

The Superior Court sits in Holbrook, with another court building in Show Low:

• Holbrook courthouse (Superior Court): 100 East Code Talkers Drive, Holbrook, AZ 86025 · 928-524-4000
• Show Low court building: 550 North 9th Place, Show Low, AZ 85901 · 928-532-6030

The sheriff's office (137 West Arizona Street, Holbrook, AZ 86025) serves warrants countywide and confirms one at 928-524-4050. DPS provides a free statewide warrant search by name and birth date; the Public Access case lookup shows many courts. Resolve a warrant with the issuing court or a defense attorney who arranges bond before a new appearance. The Superior Court clerk (100 East Code Talkers Drive, Holbrook, AZ 86025) handles felonies at 928-524-4188. Show Low and Winslow hold courts. Surrender at the jail, 100 East Code Talkers Drive, Holbrook, AZ 86025 (jail line 928-524-4316), and pay bond.

Many reservation cases are federal and go to the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona in Flagstaff:

• First hearing at Flagstaff federal courthouse, 123 North San Francisco Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (928-774-2566).
• Background report by federal pretrial staff.
• Detention hearing if the prosecutor asks.
• Marshals custody for those held.

The nearest federal marshals are at U.S. Marshals Service, 123 North San Francisco Street, Suite 101, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, 928-213-0135.

• Navajo County Inmate Search: Holbrook jail (100 East Code Talkers Drive, Holbrook, AZ 86025, 928-524-4316) roster.
• VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/): Arizona jail and prison status.
• Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (320 First Street NW, Washington, DC 20534, 202-307-3198) (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/): federal prisons; ring 928-213-0135 (123 North San Francisco Street, Suite 101, Flagstaff, AZ 86001) for those awaiting trial.
• ADCRR Inmate Data Search (701 East Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034, 602-542-5497) (https://inmatedatasearch.azcorrections.gov/): Arizona prisons.
• ICE Online Detainee Locator System (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/): ICE detention; call 602-257-5900 (2035 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004) if needed.

Navajo County has a 287(g) warrant service agreement, letting deputies serve ICE warrants in the jail (100 East Code Talkers Drive, Holbrook, AZ 86025, 928-524-4316). On a detainer, ICE may ask the jail to hold a person up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released. A.R.S. 11-1051 forbids limits on immigration enforcement.

Immigration holds here are managed from ICE Phoenix Field Office, 2035 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004, 602-257-5900. Sites:

• Eloy Detention Center: 1705 East Hanna Road, Eloy, AZ 85131 · 520-464-3000
• Florence Service Processing Center: 3250 North Pinal Parkway, Florence, AZ 85132 · 520-868-5862
• Central Arizona Florence Correctional Center: 1155 North Pinal Parkway, Florence, AZ 85132 · 520-868-9095