Maricopa County Background Check Services

Maricopa County background check records are available through the county sheriff's office in Phoenix. As Arizona's largest county with over 4.5 million residents, Maricopa processes thousands of record requests each year. You can get fingerprinting, criminal history reports, arrest records, and clearance letters from the sheriff's office. The county also maintains court records through the Clerk of Superior Court for those needing case information or certified documents.

Maricopa County Sheriff Background Records

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is the fourth-largest sheriff's office in the country. It handles all criminal records for unincorporated areas of the county. The Criminal Records Section provides public fingerprinting on a walk-in basis. No appointment is needed for ink-rolled prints.

The MCSO keeps several types of records. These include criminal history, arrest records, incident reports, and traffic accident reports. Booking records and mugshots are also available. The office maintains warrant information and sex offender registry data for the county. Court records are handled separately by the Clerk of Superior Court.

You can request Maricopa County sheriff reports online through their public records portal.

The online portal lets you submit requests without visiting the office. You will need to provide identifying information about the records you want.

For in-person requests, visit the main office at 550 West Jackson Street in Phoenix. The Criminal Records Section is at 111 S. 3rd Avenue, 3rd Floor. First-time visitors to Criminal Records should arrive by 3:00 PM. Hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

The sheriff's office does not provide Live Scan to the public. Only ink-rolled fingerprints are available. If you need electronic fingerprinting for a state clearance card, you must use Fieldprint or another approved vendor instead.

How to Get Maricopa County Background Records

You have several options for getting background check records in Maricopa County. Each method has different steps and processing times.

Online is the fastest way to start. Go to the MCSO report request page to submit your request. You can also use BuyCrash.com for accident reports. The online system works around the clock. You will receive an invoice by mail. Payment must be made before records are released.

In-person visits work well for fingerprinting or when you need records the same day. Bring a valid ID. Go to 550 W. Jackson Street for general requests. For criminal records, head to 111 S. 3rd Avenue, 3rd Floor. Staff can help you find what you need and make copies right there.

Mail requests go to 550 W. Jackson St., Phoenix, AZ 85003. Include your contact information and details about what records you want. The office will mail an invoice. Pay it and they will send your copies.

Phone inquiries can be made to (602) 876-1000 for general questions. Call (602) 876-1078 for the reports line. For fingerprinting, dial (602) 876-3960 or (602) 876-3229.

Maricopa County Background Check Fees

Fees for background check services in Maricopa County depend on what you need. The sheriff's office accepts cash, money orders, cashier's checks, and business checks. Personal checks and credit cards are not accepted at the office. Online payments through BuyCrash take cards.

Video recordings cost $25.00 per video-hour. Online accident reports through BuyCrash are $5.00 each. Crime victims get their first incident report free under Arizona law. This is per A.R.S. 39-127. Ask staff about the victim waiver when you request records.

Court records from the Clerk of Superior Court have separate fees. Copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $35.00. You can search court cases online through ECR Online at the clerk's website.

Note: Fees change from time to time. Call ahead to confirm current pricing before visiting.

Maricopa County Online Record Search

Maricopa County offers several online tools to search for records. These free resources let you find information from home.

The Superior Court public access docket search lets you look up court cases in Maricopa County.

This tool shows case filings, hearing dates, and case status for civil and criminal matters in the county court system.

The warrant lookup tool shows active warrants. You can search by name. The mugshot lookup displays booking photos for recent arrests. The sex offender registry maps registered offenders in Maricopa County.

For court case searches, use ECR Online through the Clerk of Superior Court. This system provides access to case documents, filings, and court calendars. Some documents may require a fee to view or download.

The 24-hour inmate hotline at (602) 876-0322 provides jail information by phone. You can check if someone is in custody, find booking information, and learn about bail.

Other Maricopa County Record Sources

Besides the sheriff's office, other agencies in Maricopa County hold records that may help with background checks.

The Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court handles all court records. Their main office is at 601 W. Jackson Street in Phoenix. Phone: (602) 372-5375. They keep civil and criminal case files, judgments, and court orders. Copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $35.00.

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office maintains prosecution records. Contact them at 225 West Madison Street, 3rd Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Phone: (602) 506-1974. Email: mcaocor@mcao.maricopa.gov. They handle questions about pending cases and can provide information about criminal prosecutions in the county.

For statewide background checks, contact the Arizona Department of Public Safety. You can apply for a Fingerprint Clearance Card through the DPS Public Services Portal. This card covers background checks at the state and federal level.

Cities in Maricopa County

Maricopa County contains most of Arizona's largest cities. Each city police department may offer its own background check services. For records about incidents within city limits, contact that city's police department. The sheriff handles unincorporated areas.

Major cities with their own police departments include:

Nearby Arizona Counties

If you need records from neighboring counties, these offices may have what you are looking for: