Search Scottsdale Background Check Records

Scottsdale background check services help residents and organizations access criminal history information from local police records. The city sits in Maricopa County and has a population near 240,000. Scottsdale Police Department handles all local record requests. You can get a Record of Search to find out if someone has arrests or criminal cases on file with the city. This is a local check only. It does not include state or federal records. For a full background check, you would also need to contact Arizona DPS and possibly the FBI.

Scottsdale Police Background Check Services

The Scottsdale Police Department provides background check services at its main headquarters. The office is at 8401 E. Indian School Road in Scottsdale. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The department is closed on Fridays. Call (480) 312-1999 for questions about records.

You can visit the Scottsdale Police Department website to learn more about their services.

The website has details about records, community programs, and how to contact staff for help with your request.

Scottsdale PD offers a service called Record of Search. This is a local criminal history check. It shows arrests and cases that happened within Scottsdale city limits. The check only covers Scottsdale records. It does not pull data from other cities, the county sheriff, or state databases. If you need a more complete background check, you will have to contact those agencies too.

The Record of Search costs $10.00 per person. You must request it in person at the police station. There is no online option for this service. Bring a valid ID when you visit. Staff will process your request while you wait in most cases. Busy times may cause short delays.

Scottsdale Fingerprinting Services

Scottsdale Police Department stopped offering fingerprinting services to the public on January 1, 2011. This change happened over a decade ago. Many people still call asking about fingerprints. The answer is the same: Scottsdale PD does not do them.

If you need fingerprints for a license, clearance card, or other purpose, you must use another provider. Options include private fingerprint vendors, UPS stores with fingerprint services, or other city police departments that still offer prints. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office provides ink-rolled fingerprinting on a walk-in basis at their Phoenix location.

For the Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card, use the Arizona DPS Public Services Portal. Apply online and then schedule fingerprinting through Fieldprint or another approved vendor. This is the path most agencies require for positions involving children, healthcare, or security work.

How to Get Scottsdale Background Records

Getting background check records in Scottsdale takes an in-person visit. The police department does not offer mail or online requests for the Record of Search service. Here is what you need to do.

Go to the Scottsdale Police Department at 8401 E. Indian School Road. The building is easy to find. Parking is available on site. Walk into the lobby and tell staff you need a Record of Search. They will give you forms to fill out.

The Scottsdale Police records request page explains what the department can provide.

This page lists the types of records available and how to submit requests for police reports, accident reports, and other documents.

Bring your ID. You will need to show proof of who you are. If you are checking on another person, you may need their written consent depending on the record type. The fee is $10.00 per person searched. Pay at the counter. They accept standard payment forms. Call ahead to confirm which payment types are current.

For other police reports like incident reports or accident records, the department has an online portal. Visit the Scottsdale eServices portal to submit those requests from home.

The portal handles police reports and some public record requests. It does not handle the Record of Search service.

What Scottsdale Background Check Shows

The Record of Search from Scottsdale Police shows limited information. It covers only what happened within the city. The report will list arrests made by Scottsdale officers. It may show pending cases or past convictions tied to Scottsdale incidents.

The search does not include records from other places. Mesa, Phoenix, Tempe, and other nearby cities have their own records. The Maricopa County Sheriff has separate files too. Arizona DPS holds statewide criminal history. The FBI has federal records. A full background check requires contacting multiple agencies.

Many people need more than a local check. Many positions require an Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card. That card covers state and federal records. It uses fingerprints instead of just a name search. Name searches can miss records if someone used a different name or had a typo in the system.

Note: Local checks are fast and cheap but not complete. Consider what level of screening fits your needs before deciding which services to use.

Scottsdale Background Checks Through Maricopa County

Scottsdale is part of Maricopa County. The county sheriff handles records for areas outside city limits. If an incident happened in unincorporated Maricopa County near Scottsdale, the sheriff would have those records, not Scottsdale PD.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is at 550 West Jackson Street in Phoenix. They offer fingerprinting services. They also have warrant lookups, mugshot searches, and incident reports. For court cases in Scottsdale, contact the Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court. They hold all court records for the county.

Many background checks combine local and county records. A person may have been arrested by Scottsdale PD but prosecuted in county court. Check both sources to get a fuller picture. The sheriff's office processes requests in person, by mail, and online depending on the record type.

Arizona State Background Check Options

For a statewide background check, contact Arizona Department of Public Safety. DPS runs the Central State Repository under A.R.S. 41-1750. This database holds criminal records from across Arizona.

The Fingerprint Clearance Card is the most common state background check. It costs $67 for a standard application. Volunteers pay $65. You apply through the DPS Public Services Portal. After applying, schedule fingerprinting with Fieldprint or an approved location. DPS checks your prints against state and FBI databases.

Cards are valid for six years. DPS monitors cardholders during that time. If you get arrested, they will know. This "rap back" feature keeps the background check current without needing a new application each year.

Some purposes only need a local check. Others require state clearance. A few positions need federal checks too. Healthcare, education, and security positions typically require the Fingerprint Clearance Card at minimum. Check with your licensing board or requesting agency to know what they need.

Scottsdale Background Check Legal Rules

Arizona law governs who can access criminal records and how they can be used. Public records are available under state open records laws. However, some information is restricted. Juvenile records are sealed in most cases. Some case records are confidential by court order.

Those requesting records must follow fair access rules. Arizona does not ban asking about criminal history on applications. Federal guidelines apply in many contexts. Using criminal records to discriminate based on race or national origin is illegal. Requesting parties should consider the nature of the offense, how long ago it happened, and whether it relates to the purpose of the check.

Background check results from Scottsdale PD are snapshots in time. They show what the database had on the day you asked. Cases can be added, dismissed, or expunged. A clear record today could change tomorrow. An old record might get removed through legal processes.

If you find errors in your Scottsdale background check, contact the police department. They can investigate and correct mistakes. Errors happen. Names get mixed up. Cases get filed under wrong identities. You have the right to dispute inaccurate information.

Nearby Cities for Background Checks

Scottsdale borders several other cities with their own police departments. If you need records from these areas, contact them directly. Each city keeps its own local files.

Paradise Valley is a small town near Scottsdale. It has fewer than 50,000 residents. Contact their police department for records from that area. Paradise Valley PD handles its own local checks separately from Scottsdale.

Scottsdale Police Records Contact

For background check services in Scottsdale, use the contact information below:

Address: 8401 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Phone: (480) 312-1999

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Website: scottsdaleaz.gov/police

Online Portal: eservices.scottsdaleaz.gov/pdrecordsrequest

The Record of Search for background checks is only available in person. Online services cover police reports and other documents but not criminal history searches.