Arizona Background Check Records

Arizona background check records are public documents kept by the Arizona Department of Public Safety and local sheriff offices across the state. The DPS Central State Repository holds all criminal history records under A.R.S. 41-1750. You can search these records through the DPS Public Services Portal or by contacting your local county sheriff. Arizona uses a fingerprint-based system for most background screening. The Fingerprint Clearance Card serves as the main credential for roles in education, healthcare, and security fields. Each of the 15 Arizona counties provides background check services through their sheriff's offices, while major cities offer fingerprinting and local record checks through their police departments.

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Arizona DPS Background Check System

The Arizona Department of Public Safety runs the state background check system. DPS has two main parts that handle these checks. The Fingerprinting Division issues clearance cards. The Central State Repository stores all Arizona criminal history records. Both work with the FBI to run state and federal checks on every applicant.

You can start your background check application through the DPS Public Services Portal. This is the main way to apply for a Fingerprint Clearance Card. The portal lets you create an account, fill out your application, pay fees by credit card, and track your status. After you finish the online part, you get a reference number to schedule fingerprinting through a third-party vendor like Fieldprint.

The DPS Public Services Portal shows the online application system for Arizona background checks.

Arizona DPS Public Services Portal for background check applications

This portal serves as the starting point for most people who need a background check in Arizona. You can also use it to check the status of an existing card or link cards to your account.

DPS does not take fingerprints at their office. You must use Fieldprint, a local law enforcement agency, or a private service. The main DPS office is at 2222 W. Encanto Blvd in Phoenix. Staff there can help with application questions during business hours. You can call the Clearance Card Section at (602) 223-2279 or email clearancecard@azdps.gov with questions.

Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card

A Fingerprint Clearance Card is the main credential for background screening in Arizona. This card proves you passed both a state and federal criminal background check. Once issued, it stays valid for six years. DPS monitors your record during that time through a system called "rap back" that alerts those who request records to any new offenses.

Many roles in Arizona require this card. Teachers and school staff need one. Childcare workers must have one. Healthcare workers who treat patients need a card. Security guards and private investigators get them too. Foster parents and adoptive parents go through this same check. Anyone who works with children or vulnerable adults in Arizona typically needs a Fingerprint Clearance Card.

The main DPS fingerprint clearance page provides detailed information about the card process and requirements.

Arizona DPS fingerprint clearance card information page

This page lists contact numbers, explains the application steps, and answers common questions about the clearance card process.

Arizona uses two types of clearance cards. The Regular Fingerprint Clearance Card covers most screening needs. It has a list of crimes that will block you from getting one, found in A.R.S. 41-1758.03. The Level I card has a longer list of blocking offenses under A.R.S. 41-1758.07 and is needed for roles with higher security needs.

The Arizona legislature defines the precluding offenses for Regular Fingerprint Clearance Cards in state statute.

Arizona statute A.R.S. 41-1758.03 for fingerprint clearance cards

This statute lists offenses that will prevent card issuance. Some blocks are permanent while others expire after a set number of years.

Background Check Fees in Arizona

DPS charges $67 for a standard Fingerprint Clearance Card application. Volunteers pay $65. If you lose your card, a replacement costs just $5. You will also pay a separate fee to the fingerprinting vendor. Fieldprint charges around $20 to $25 to capture your prints electronically. Credit cards work for online payments but add a small processing fee.

Paper applications are still an option if you prefer not to use the online system. Payment for paper forms must be by cashier's check, money order, or business check. Make it out to Arizona DPS. Personal checks are not accepted. All fees paid to DPS are non-refundable per state law.

County sheriff offices have their own fee schedules. Most charge between $3 and $10 for fingerprinting. Some offer clearance letters or local criminal history reports for a small fee. Police departments in cities like Phoenix, Tucson, and Mesa have their own pricing too. Fees range from free to about $30 depending on the service and location.

Note: Fees can change, so check with the specific agency before visiting.

How to Get Arizona Background Check Records

There are several ways to get background check records in Arizona. Your choice depends on what type of record you need and how fast you need it.

For a Fingerprint Clearance Card, start at the DPS Public Services Portal online. Create an account and fill out the application. Pay your fee and get a reference number. Then schedule fingerprinting with an approved vendor. The whole process takes a few weeks if everything goes smoothly. Cards arrive by mail. You can also check status online at any time.

The DPS Central State Repository maintains all Arizona criminal history records for background checks.

Arizona DPS Central State Repository for criminal history records

This repository is the official source for statewide criminal records. Local agencies pull data from this system when processing requests.

For local criminal history, contact your county sheriff or city police department. Many offer clearance letters or arrest history reports. Phoenix PD charges $8.50 for a letter of clearance if you have no local arrests. Tucson PD provides arrest history letters for $5. Mesa charges $10 for a background check letter. Each agency has its own form and process, so call ahead or check their website.

If your clearance card is denied, you have options. The Arizona Board of Fingerprinting handles appeals and good cause exceptions. This board can grant a card even if you have a precluding offense, depending on the circumstances. The application fee is $40.

The Arizona Board of Fingerprinting handles appeals when a clearance card is denied or suspended.

Arizona Board of Fingerprinting website for appeals and exceptions

This independent board reviews cases where someone has a criminal history but may still qualify for positions in regulated fields.

Arizona County Sheriff Background Checks

All 15 Arizona counties provide background check services through their sheriff offices. These local agencies handle fingerprinting, criminal history searches within their jurisdiction, and clearance letters for visa or immigration purposes. Each county sets its own hours, fees, and procedures.

Maricopa County is the largest with over 4.5 million residents. The sheriff's office there processes fingerprints on a walk-in basis but does not offer Live Scan to the public. Reports can be requested online through their portal. Pima County in southern Arizona serves about a million people around Tucson. They offer VISA clearance letters and have volunteers who provide free fingerprinting at some locations.

Smaller counties have more limited hours. Apache County in the northeast operates Monday through Thursday only. Greenlee County, the smallest by population, has about 9,500 residents. Their sheriff office handles records requests but refers fingerprinting to the main county facilities. La Paz County along the Colorado River is Arizona's newest county and works closely with tribal police on their reservation lands.

Most counties charge between $3 and $10 for fingerprinting. Reports typically cost $5 to $10. Some offer free copies to crime victims. Cash is the most common payment method at sheriff offices, though some accept cards or money orders. Call the records division before visiting to confirm their current hours and requirements.

City Police Department Background Services

Arizona has 17 cities with populations over 50,000. Each has a police department that may offer some form of background check service. The services vary widely. Some provide fingerprinting. Others only issue clearance letters. A few have stopped offering public fingerprinting altogether.

Phoenix is the largest city with about 1.6 million people. The Phoenix PD Public Records Unit issues clearance letters based on local records only. They no longer provide fingerprint services. You must use a private third-party provider instead. Tucson PD still offers fingerprinting by appointment. They also provide arrest history and clearance letters.

Mesa PD does not do fingerprinting but will issue a background check letter for $10. Gilbert PD stopped public fingerprinting. So did Scottsdale since 2011. Glendale has paused their fingerprinting services. For cities without police fingerprinting, residents use UPS Stores, private companies, or go to their county sheriff office instead.

Surprise, Flagstaff, and Casa Grande still offer fingerprinting through their police departments. Yuma PD provides free fingerprinting on Wednesdays. Goodyear only fingerprints on Tuesdays and requires proof of city residence. Peoria offers the service on Wednesdays.

Note: City services change often. Call ahead to confirm what is available before making a trip.

Arizona Background Check Laws

Arizona law sets the rules for background checks. The main statutes cover who needs a check, what records are searched, and how the process works.

A.R.S. 41-1758 defines the terms used in the fingerprint clearance card system. It explains what counts as criminal history record information. This includes arrests, charges, and case outcomes. The law defines both regular and Level I cards.

A.R.S. 41-1758.01 gives DPS the power to run the Fingerprinting Division. This law sets up the agency's duties for processing applications and maintaining the database. It also covers how DPS works with the FBI on federal checks.

The regular clearance card rules are in A.R.S. 41-1758.03. This statute lists all the crimes that block card issuance. Some are permanent bars. Others only block you for a certain number of years after the offense. The law also covers when someone can apply for a good cause exception.

Level I cards have stricter rules under A.R.S. 41-1758.07. These apply to positions with higher risk or more contact with vulnerable people. The list of precluding offenses is longer, and some crimes that would allow a regular card will block a Level I.

Education personnel go through a special process called Identity Verified Prints under A.R.S. 15-106. This adds an extra layer of verification for anyone who will work in Arizona schools.