Search Arrest, Mugshot & Inmate Records by Name
Search by name and state for arrest, booking, mugshot, inmate, jail roster, prison, criminal and court-record search categories.
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Find a Maricopa County Inmate and Check Current Booking Status
If someone was arrested in Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler or another part of Maricopa County, start with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Inmate Information system. It is the main county-jail lookup for people being held in the MCSO detention system.
Information reviewed October 15, 2026. Custody location, bond, court dates, vendors and release status can change during the day.
How to Search the Maricopa County Jail Roster
- Open the official MCSO Inmate Information page.
- If you know the inmate’s current booking number, use the booking-number search. This is usually the most precise option.
- If the booking number is unknown, use the person’s first name, last name and date of birth.
- When the form asks for DOB in numeric format, enter it as YYYYMMDD. For example, February 7, 1990 becomes 19900207.
- Open the matching record and compare the date of birth, booking date, arrest information and other identifiers before assuming it is the correct person.
- Record the current booking number and facility shown in the result.
- Use the related court search if you need the formal case, hearing information or later case outcome.
What the Inmate Record Can Help You Confirm
| Information | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Booking number | Identifies the current jail booking and is useful for many inmate services. |
| Booking/arrest information | Helps distinguish the current custody event from an older arrest. |
| Housing facility | Tells you which MCSO facility currently holds the inmate. |
| Charges | Shows allegations associated with the booking. It is not proof of guilt. |
| Bond information | Shows whether a bond is listed and may help you determine the next release step. |
| Court/case information | Helps connect the jail record with the related criminal court matter. |
| Release information | May indicate release processing or another custody change when displayed. |
If the Inmate Does Not Appear
A failed search does not automatically mean the person was never arrested. Use this order before giving up:
- Very recent arrest: intake, identification, medical screening and booking may still be underway.
- Check the name: retry the legal surname, former surname, hyphenated name, suffix or another known spelling.
- Verify DOB: an incorrect birth date can prevent a name search from matching.
- Call MCSO: use 602-876-0322 when the arrest is recent or online information is unclear.
- Check the court: the criminal case can sometimes be located even when the person is no longer on the live county-jail list.
- Check Arizona prison custody: if the person was sentenced and transferred, use the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry search.
- Check federal custody: use the Bureau of Prisons locator when the person has moved into the federal system.
For the statewide distinction between county jail and Arizona prison custody, see our Arizona jail inmate search guide.
Maricopa County Jail Locations
An inmate can move between facilities after booking, so use the current housing location in the live MCSO record rather than assuming the original booking location is still correct.
| Facility | Address | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
| Fourth Avenue Jail | 201 S. 4th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85003 | Downtown detention facility; Bond and Fine Room is located here. |
| Intake, Transfer and Release (ITR) | 2670 S. 28th Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85009 | Handles booking, transfers, self-surrender processing and all MCSO releases. |
| 512 Facility | 2670 S. 28th Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85009 | Short-term facility attached to the ITR operation. |
| Watkins Jail | 2680 S. 28th Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85009 | MCSO housing facility near ITR. |
| Estrella Jail | 2939 W. Durango Road, Phoenix, AZ 85009 | MCSO detention housing. |
| Towers Jail | 3127 W. Gibson Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85009 | MCSO detention housing. |
| Lower Buckeye Jail | 3250 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Phoenix, AZ 85009 | Large jail campus and central route for routine incoming inmate mail. |
MCSO’s general jail-information number is 602-876-0322. The Sheriff’s Office headquarters is at 550 W. Jackson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003.
Booking, Transfer and Release: What Families Should Know
The Intake, Transfer and Release facility (ITR) at 2670 S. 28th Drive is the central processing point for bookings and releases. The Maricopa County Superior Court states that ITR processes all releases from the county jail system.
If you are picking someone up after release, confirm that release processing is actually complete before driving to the facility. A court release order or paid bond does not always mean the person will walk out immediately because jail processing and other holds can affect timing.
The court lists ITR as open 24 hours and says free paved, well-lit parking is available at the facility.
Bond and Bail: Use the Correct Payment Process
For a criminal case in Maricopa County, the court sets release conditions. When a bond is required, the current county instructions say it must be posted in person with MCSO at:
201 S. 4th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Northwest corner of the building
The Maricopa County Superior Court warns that legitimate criminal bond payments are not requested by phone, text, email, social media, Zelle, Venmo, Cash App or wire transfer.
After a bond is properly posted, the Superior Court says release processing may take up to 24 hours. Another legal hold can also affect release.
How to Check the Criminal Court Case
The jail record tells you about custody. The court record is better for filed charges, court activity and case status.
- Open the Maricopa County criminal case search.
- Search by last name and first name, by initials and date of birth, or by case number.
- Compare the defendant and case details with the MCSO booking.
- Check available hearing and case information.
- If you need an official or certified court record, use the appropriate Clerk or court records process rather than relying on a jail-search screenshot.
Video Visits and Communication
MCSO uses correctional communication systems for inmate calls, video visits, tablets and messaging. Because providers, rates and onsite availability can change, first confirm the inmate’s current booking and then use the service linked from MCSO.
How to Put Money on an Inmate Account
MCSO currently identifies TouchPay for inmate-account deposits. Fees can apply.
- Find the inmate first and confirm the current booking number.
- Open the official MCSO inmate-account deposit instructions.
- Select the TouchPay method offered there: online, telephone, approved retail option or available jail kiosk.
- Verify the inmate name and identifier before submitting payment.
- Review the service fee before confirming the transaction.
- Keep the receipt or transaction confirmation.
MCSO’s indexed deposit instructions list TouchPay’s telephone deposit number as 1-866-355-9593.
How to Send Mail
MCSO family guidance routes regular inmate correspondence through the central mail operation at Lower Buckeye Jail. Before mailing, make sure the inmate remains in MCSO custody and use the current booking number.
Inmate’s Full Booking Name + Booking Number
Lower Buckeye Jail
3250 W. Lower Buckeye Road
Phoenix, AZ 85009
Current MCSO family guidance has used standard postcards for ordinary non-legal correspondence, while legal mail, photographs and publisher-sent books/publications have separate rules. Photo mail has also required the inmate’s name and booking number. Because jail-mail restrictions can change, check the live family-information page immediately before sending anything.
Medical Concern for an Inmate
Maricopa County Correctional Health Services provides a Clinical Liaison for non-emergency health information or concerns from attorneys and the public.
Monday-Friday during regular business hours, excluding county holidays.
Medical records are different from sending a health concern. Patient health information generally requires the appropriate authorization process.
County Jail vs. Arizona State Prison
| Situation | Where to search |
|---|---|
| Recently arrested or held in Maricopa County jail | MCSO Inmate Information |
| Transferred after sentencing to Arizona state custody | Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry |
| Federal inmate | Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator |
| Need the Maricopa criminal case | Maricopa County Superior Court criminal case search |
Mugshots and Booking Photos
MCSO maintains a public mugshot-lookup entry point, but public-photo availability can be affected by current policy, law and the status of a particular record. If your real goal is to determine whether someone is in jail, use the Inmate Information search rather than relying on a photo page.
A mugshot, arrest or listed charge is not evidence that the person was convicted. Use the criminal court case when the final legal outcome matters.
Useful Related Jail Search Guides
If you are searching beyond Maricopa County, use our Arizona Jail Inmate Search, Clark County/CCDC Jail Inmate Search, and Orange County Jail Inmate Search guides for other custody systems.
Official Sources Used for This Guide
This guide is based primarily on the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County, Maricopa County Correctional Health Services and Arizona Department of Corrections resources. Live custody, bond, court and service information should always be confirmed in the official system before taking action.
Maricopa County Jail Inmate Search FAQs
1. How do I search for an inmate in Maricopa County Jail?
Use the official MCSO Inmate Information page. Search with the current booking number when available, or use the person’s first name, last name and date of birth.
2. What is the Maricopa County jail inmate information phone number?
The main MCSO jail-information number is 602-876-0322.
3. Why is a recently arrested person not showing in the MCSO search?
The booking may still be processing, the name or date of birth may be entered differently, the person may already have been released or transferred, or another agency may currently hold the person.
4. Where are Maricopa County inmates released?
The Intake, Transfer and Release facility at 2670 S. 28th Drive in Phoenix processes releases from the Maricopa County jail system.
5. Where do I post bond for a Maricopa County inmate?
Current Superior Court guidance directs criminal bond payments to the Fourth Avenue Jail Bond and Fine Room at 201 S. 4th Avenue in Phoenix. Bonds are posted in person with MCSO.
6. How long does release take after bond is paid?
The Maricopa County Superior Court states that release processing may take up to 24 hours after bond is paid, and another legal hold can affect release.
7. How do I find an inmate’s court date?
After identifying the correct inmate, use the Maricopa County Superior Court criminal case search. It allows searches by name, initials and date of birth, or case number.
8. How do I send money to a Maricopa County jail inmate?
MCSO currently directs inmate-account deposits through TouchPay. Verify the inmate’s current booking number first and use the deposit methods linked from the official MCSO inmate-account page.
9. Where do I send mail to a Maricopa County inmate?
General inmate correspondence is routed through Lower Buckeye Jail at 3250 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Phoenix, AZ 85009. Include the inmate’s full booking name and current booking number and verify the current mail rules before sending.
10. Does appearing in the Maricopa County jail roster mean the person is guilty?
No. A jail booking or listed criminal charge shows custody or an accusation and does not establish guilt or a conviction. Check the court record for the formal case outcome.
Responsible-use notice: Jail data can change quickly and can contain information supplied during the booking process. Verify multiple identifiers before assuming a record belongs to a particular person. Do not use arrest or custody data to harass, threaten, discriminate against or unlawfully identify anyone.