Search Tucson Recent Bookings
Tucson recent bookings are processed at the Pima County Adult Detention Complex, not at a city jail. When Tucson Police make an arrest, the person goes to the county facility for booking and processing. This means all Tucson arrest records end up in the Pima County Sheriff's system. To find out if someone was recently booked after a Tucson arrest, you need to contact the county jail or search through county records. The Tucson Police Department does keep its own records of arrests and reports, but booking data and jail status come from the sheriff. This page covers how to access both city police records and county booking information for Tucson arrests.
Tucson Booking Records Quick Facts
Where Tucson Bookings Are Processed
Tucson does not run its own jail. The city relies on Pima County to hold and process all arrestees. When Tucson Police officers arrest someone, they transport that person to the Pima County Adult Detention Complex. This jail sits at 1270 W. Silverlake Road in Tucson. It handles all bookings for the city and the rest of the county.
The booking process creates an official record. Staff take a mugshot, record personal details, and log the charges. Bond gets set based on the offense. All of this data goes into the county system. If you want to check Tucson recent bookings, you need to go through the Pima County Sheriff's Office rather than Tucson Police. The city police can tell you about an arrest, but jail status and booking records come from the county.
You can call the Pima County jail at (520) 351-8111 any time of day or night. Staff will check if someone is currently in custody. They can give you basic booking information over the phone. For official copies of booking records, you will need to file a formal request with the sheriff's office.
Note: The jail also has a records message line at 520-351-8228 for detailed inquiries about records requests.
Tucson Police Records and Reports
The Tucson Police Department maintains its own records separate from county jail data. These include arrest reports, incident reports, and case files. If you need the police report from a Tucson arrest, you go through the city's records unit. The booking record and jail information come from the county, but the underlying police report stays with Tucson PD.
You can visit the Tucson Police public records page to learn how to request documents. The department accepts requests by mail, email, and in person. Processing time varies based on what you need and how complex the request is.
The image above shows the Tucson Police records portal. From this page, you can start a request for police reports, video footage, and other documents. The department lists its fees and explains what types of records are available to the public.
Tucson Police Records Fees
The Tucson Police Department charges fees for copies of public records. These fees cover the cost of finding, copying, and delivering documents. Here is what you will pay:
- Paper copies: $5 per report plus $0.25 per page after 15 pages
- Digital copies on CD or DVD: $25
- Video footage: $44 per video hour reviewed
These fees apply to Tucson Police records only. If you need booking records or jail documents, those come from the Pima County Sheriff with their own fee schedule. County jail reports cost $5 each with extra charges for pages over twenty.
Crime victims have special rights under Arizona law. A.R.S. 39-127 says victims of Part I Crimes get one free copy of police reports, audio recordings, video recordings, and transcripts. Part I Crimes include things like murder, robbery, assault, and theft. If you were the victim of one of these crimes in Tucson, ask about getting your free copy when you file your records request.
Contact Tucson Police for Records
Here is how to reach the Tucson Police Department for records and general inquiries:
Tucson Police Records Unit
270 S Stone Ave
Tucson, AZ 85701-1917
Phone: 520-791-4462
Email: tpdpublicrecords@tucsonaz.gov
For non-emergency police matters, call 520-791-4444. This line connects you to police services without tying up 911. You can report minor crimes, ask questions, and get general information. The records unit handles document requests during business hours.
If you need booking information instead of police reports, contact the Pima County jail at (520) 351-8111. That line runs 24 hours a day. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody and provide basic booking details.
Tucson Arrests and Pima County Jail
Every Tucson arrest leads to a Pima County booking. This is how the system works. The city handles policing and arrests. The county handles jails and booking records. Even though Tucson has its own police force, it does not have its own detention facility for adults.
The Pima County Sheriff runs the Adult Detention Complex where all Tucson bookings take place. This is also where you search for recent jail bookings. The sheriff's office handles inmate inquiries and releases booking records to the public. They can tell you about charges, bond amounts, and release dates.
The county jail uses GTL for video visitation. You can schedule visits through their online portal. The system also lets you search for inmates to visit. This gives you another way to check if someone was recently booked after a Tucson arrest. You need to create an account first, but the search itself is free.
Note: If someone is transferred to state prison after their case, their records move to the Arizona Department of Corrections system.
Arizona Public Records Law for Tucson Bookings
Both Tucson Police and the Pima County Sheriff must follow Arizona's public records law. A.R.S. 39-121 makes government records open to public inspection. This includes booking records and arrest reports. You do not need to give a reason for wanting to see them. The law presumes records are public unless a specific exemption applies.
Some details get removed before release. Victim information stays protected under A.R.S. 13-4434. Bank account numbers and similar financial data get redacted. Juvenile records have their own rules. But the basic facts of an adult arrest and booking are available to anyone who asks.
The agencies must respond "promptly" to records requests. Arizona law does not define an exact number of days. Courts have said it depends on what is reasonable given the circumstances. Simple requests for a single booking record should come back fairly fast. Complex requests for video or large amounts of data take longer. If you feel an agency is taking too long or wrongly denying your request, you can file a complaint or take the matter to court.
Statewide Resources for Tucson Bookings
Several state systems can help you track people who were arrested in Tucson. The Arizona Department of Corrections inmate search covers people serving time in state prison. If someone was convicted after a Tucson arrest and sent to state prison, their record will appear there. County jail records stay with the sheriff.
The Arizona VINE system lets crime victims get alerts when an inmate's status changes. This free service covers all Arizona jails and prisons. You register with your contact info and pick which inmates you want to track. VINE will call, text, or email you when that person is released, transferred, or escapes. This works for Tucson arrests booked into Pima County jail.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety runs the Central State Repository for criminal records. Under A.R.S. 41-1750, all Arizona law enforcement must report arrests to this database. However, private citizens cannot get full background checks from DPS. You can only review your own record or use approved channels for employment screening.
How Tucson Booking Records Work
The booking process starts when Tucson Police bring someone to the county jail. Deputies at the jail take over from there. They verify the person's identity, often through fingerprints. They record the charges that police cite. They take a mugshot and collect personal details like height, weight, and date of birth.
A magistrate or judge sets bail based on the charges and other factors. Some offenses have standard bail amounts. Others require a hearing. The booking record shows what bail was set and whether the person paid it. If someone bails out, the record shows when they left custody.
Booking records in Arizona become public quickly. Under A.R.S. 41-1750, agencies can share criminal justice information that is "reasonably contemporaneous" to an ongoing case. This is why recent bookings often appear online within hours. The record is public even though the case has not gone to trial yet.
Keep in mind that an arrest does not mean guilt. The booking record shows what someone was arrested for. It does not show whether they were convicted. Many people are released without charges or found not guilty at trial. The booking record is just the start of the legal process, not the end.
Tucson County for Booking Records
Tucson sits in Pima County. All city arrests are booked through the county sheriff.
Nearby Arizona Counties
These counties border Pima County or are nearby. Each runs its own jail system.