Key Resources for Arizona Inmate Search
Online inmate records can change quickly after transfers, court actions, or policy updates, so always confirm important details directly on official Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry portals before acting on any information.
Finding inmate information in Arizona requires knowing whether the person is in the state prison system or a local jail, and using the right official tool for each. This page is an independent guide to help you use state resources alongside Arizona Public Records without replacing official instructions from Arizona agencies.
Before you search, gather the person’s full name, date of birth, and, if possible, their Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry (ADCRR) or inmate number. Statewide tools focus on people in ADCRR custody, while recent bookings and very short stays are often handled only at the county level, so you may need both state and county sources.
Inmate Search in Arizona: Statewide Starting Points and Coverage
People trying to locate someone in Arizona corrections need to know whether the person is in state prison custody through the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry (ADCRR) or still held in a county jail. Statewide inmate and offender lookups focus on the ADCRR prison system, not every arrest or local detention across the state.
The statewide tools typically list people who have been sentenced to prison or otherwise moved into ADCRR custody. Someone booked into a county jail, held on a local warrant, or just beginning the intake process may not appear, or may still show at a prior location until internal updates are processed and posted online.
- Use the statewide inmate search primarily for people serving state prison sentences in ADCRR-operated or contracted prisons.
- Use county jail resources for recent arrests, short local sentences, local holds, or cases that have not resulted in a transfer to state prison.
- Remember that online records are not real-time; transfers, releases, and status changes can take time to appear in public search tools.
Checking State Custody Through the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry Inmate Data Search Portal
To check state prison custody, start with the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry Inmate Data Search. If you know the person’s ADCRR number (often called the inmate or DOC number), use that alone for the most reliable match, then access the inmate database and run the number search before trying a name-based search.
When you locate a record, review the basic identifiers to confirm you have the right person, then look at any custody status and facility information shown. ADCRR explains that release dates and release types displayed in this system are not formally audited and may change, so they should not be treated as guaranteed release information. For details of the underlying charges, you generally need to review the case file with the clerk of the court that handled sentencing, and you may also want to consult Arizona Court Records for court-specific search guidance.
The facility line in the search results may name one of many ADCRR complexes or contracted prisons, such as Eyman, Perryville, Lewis, Douglas, Tucson, Safford, Yuma, Phoenix, Phoenix West, Kingman, Red Rock Correctional Center, La Palma, Florence West, Safford, Winslow, or the Central Arizona Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility. These names help you understand whether the person is in a state-run or private facility, but day-to-day contact rules and visitation procedures still come from ADCRR policy. For more background on each location, you can review the current prison complexes listed by ADCRR.
ADCRR also makes clear that people in custody are not allowed to possess printouts of Inmate Data Search results. Sending downloaded search pages into a prison can be treated as contraband under Arizona law, so it is safer to share information in your own words rather than mailing copies of the website into a facility.
How Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry Prisons and County Jails Share Custody
Arizona’s prison system, run by the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry, is separate from the county jail systems operated by sheriffs. A person usually moves from a county jail to ADCRR only after sentencing or classification into state prison custody, so the best search tool depends on where they are in that process.
ADCRR’s Phoenix complex functions as a reception center where many new male inmates first arrive from the counties before being assigned to longer-term facilities. If Inmate Data Search shows someone at such an intake or reception location, they may still be in the middle of that classification process. If there is no state prison record at all, the person may still be in a county jail, may have been released, or may be held by another jurisdiction, and county-level resources are more appropriate in those situations.
When to Switch to County Jail Searches in Arizona
County-level jail information is usually best when you are dealing with a very recent arrest, a short local sentence, a warrant or hold that has not led to a prison sentence, or a case that is still pending in a trial court. Those situations are normally managed by the sheriff or local detention agency, and some counties provide online rosters while others require direct contact.
Statewide inmate tools concentrate on people already in long-term Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry custody. County sheriffs manage local booking logs, daily jail rosters, and most pretrial holds, so you will need to choose the specific county below to reach the jail or detention center that currently has the record.
| County | Inmate Search |
|---|---|
| Maricopa County | Search |
Visiting and Supporting an Incarcerated Individual: Official Guidance Overview
Visitation, phone contact, and video visits in Arizona state prisons follow statewide rules set by the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry. Potential visitors and those who want to receive calls must complete an electronic application, provide information for a criminal background check, and, in most cases, pay a one-time background fee through one of the authorized payment vendors named by ADCRR.
ADCRR’s visitation pages explain who must apply, which family members are exempt from fees, what identification is required, and how long processing can take. Before making any trip, you can apply for visitation or phone approval and confirm complex-specific visiting hours, schedules, and any temporary restrictions.
Money deposits and electronic services are handled through outside companies under contract with ADCRR, including JPay, Keefe, and GTL, as described in the department’s electronic payments and visitation fee materials. The department no longer accepts personal checks for inmate deposits at prison complexes, so you should follow the official electronic payment instructions and verify any transfer through ADCRR’s listed vendors rather than unsolicited third-party sites.
Mail and photos are also governed by statewide policy. Arizona is transitioning most personal correspondence, greeting cards, and photos to a digital mail system in which items are sent to a processing center, scanned, and delivered to an inmate’s tablet or a kiosk. For the most current mailing addresses and exceptions for legal mail, packages, publications, and government checks, you can see the mail instructions on the ADCRR site before sending anything.
Coverage Gaps and Notices: Verifying Custody Information
- Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry: 701 E. Jefferson St. Phoenix, AZ 85034 (View on Google Maps)
- Phone: (602) 542-5497
Statewide inmate lookups are powerful tools but do not replace direct confirmation with Arizona correctional authorities. Records may omit sealed or restricted cases, may not show people held only in county jails or in other jurisdictions, and may lag behind transfers, releases, or court actions that have already occurred.
This site is an independent reference guide and cannot provide legal advice, interpret individual sentences, or guarantee that online records are correct. For urgent questions about someone’s safety, release planning, or supervision conditions, contact the appropriate ADCRR office or county agency directly and rely on their written policies and official notices.
Why can't I find someone in Arizona's Inmate Data Search even though I know they were arrested?
They may still be in a county jail, have been released before entering state prison, be held in another jurisdiction, or be listed under a different name or spelling. Check the relevant county jail resources and confirm identifiers such as date of birth and ADCRR number.
Is the release date shown in the Arizona Inmate Data Search final?
No. ADCRR states that release dates and release types displayed in the system are subject to change and are not guaranteed. Time credits, disciplinary actions, court orders, or parole decisions can affect the actual release, so always confirm timing directly with the supervising agency.