Maricopa County Criminal Records
Understanding Maricopa County Public Criminal Records
Are you wondering how to run a Maricopa County public criminal records search or need information on how to expunge a criminal record? This article will guide you through the process, detailing the various online resources available, what is included in a person's criminal records, and the steps to expunge a criminal record.
Since criminal records are part of the public records system in Arizona, anyone can access them online. These are accounts of a person's court convictions and encounters with law enforcement. These allow individuals to look into a person's past, let employers find out if someone is a trustworthy hire, and allow for accountability into the state's criminal justice system. All you need to begin your research for these publicly available records is a person's full name, and date of birth.
How to Run a Maricopa County Criminal Records Search
Running a Maricopa County criminal records search can be accomplished a few different ways, thanks to the availability of various online resources. Some resources can be used for official uses, such as employee background checks, and other resources are intended for unofficial research uses. Here’s how you can do it, and the various resources for official and unofficial purposes:
1). Maricopa County Sheriff's Office: The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) provides an online inmate search tool that allows you to look up individuals currently incarcerated in the county’s jail system. This tool is useful for finding information about recent arrests and ongoing legal processes. They also offer official criminal background checks with fingerprinting for those that need official records. To obtain an official background check you will need to go in person to the Sheriff's Office to complete this.
2). Arizona Department of Public Safety: The Arizona DPS offers a comprehensive criminal history records, both level one and level 2 background checks that can be used for official purposes. If you want to obtain a level 2 background check then you will need to visit a law enforcment agency and get fingerprinted. There is a fee associated with every criminal history report, and you must have the complete name and date of birth of the individual of interest.
3).Arizona Judicial Branch Public Access Case Lookup: Another option for an official comprehensive search is the Arizona Judicial Branch offers a Public Access Case Lookup. This online resource lets you search for criminal case records across the state, including Maricopa County. You can search by name, case number to access information on criminal cases, including convictions, sentencings, and incarcerations.
4). Third-Party Background Check Services: Several third-party services offer more extensive background checks for a fee. These are non-government sites that aggregate data from multiple sources to provide detailed background reports, including criminal history reports, court case records, convictions, sentencings, arrests records, warrants and public record abstracts. These services can be useful for personal research but most of these sites are not intended for official record retrieval.
How to Expunge a Criminal Record in Maricopa County
Expunging a criminal record in Maricopa County, Arizona, involves a legal process that can help clear your record. If successful, you can clear your record for the respective conviction. Not all convictions however, are eligible to be expunged. Here’s a step-by-step guide of this process:
1). Determine Your Eligibility: First, it's important to note that not all criminal records can be expunged. Eligibility often depends on the nature of the crime, the amount of time that has passed since the conviction, and if all the all courts requirements have been completed. Typically non-violent offenses and misdemeanors are more likely to be eligible for expungement. Many felonies cannot, especially those that involve violence or aggravated circumstances.
2). Obtain Copies Court Records: The very first thing to do when beginning the expungement process gather all relevant court documents related to your conviction. This includes the case number, conviction details, and proof of completed sentences or probation.
3). File a Petition: To begin the expungement process, you must file a petition with the court where the conviction occurred. The petition should include: Your Personal Information, Respective Court Case Information, and Reason for Expungement.
4). Attend a Hearing: After filing your expungement petition, the court will schedule a hearing. During the hearing, you will most likely need to provide evidence supporting your request for expungement and explain your reason for doing so. It might be a good idea to have legal representation to help you properly navigate this process.
5). Court Decision: The judge will then review your petition and any evidence you provided before making a decision. If the judge grants your the expungement, the conviction will be removed from your criminal record. This means it will not appear in most background checks, though certain government agencies may still be able to view it for security reasons.
How Do I Find Out If Someone Was Convicted of a Crime in Maricopa County?
There is a really simple way to lookup someone's criminal history. You can use a public records site and research anyone's complete criminal history with a simple name search. These resources allow users to lookup most any publicly available records all in one place. These resources also allow people to run criminal background checks and find out the truth about someone's past.