Maricopa County Jail: Inmate Search, Bond, Visitation & Release Information
If someone was arrested in Phoenix or elsewhere in Maricopa County, start here. Find the official inmate lookup, determine where the person is being held, check charges and bond, locate court information, learn how visitation and phone calls work, send money, mail correspondence, and understand the release process.
Maricopa County operates several jail facilities. People may first pass through the Intake, Transfer and Release facility and may later be housed at Fourth Avenue, Estrella, Towers, Watkins, Lower Buckeye, or another current MCSO housing location. Confirm the person's current jail assignment before visiting, sending mail, or adding money.
How to Find Someone in the Maricopa County Jail
Start with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office inmate-information system rather than a paid background-check or mugshot website.
MCSO Inmate Information
Use the Sheriff's inmate-information system to search for a current Maricopa County jail booking.
If you know the booking number, use it. Otherwise, search using the person's identifying information.
Open Official Inmate Search →Jail Information Line
If the arrest occurred recently or you cannot determine where the person is being housed, call MCSO's jail-information line.
602-876-0322
Have the person's full legal name and date of birth available if possible.
The booking number is useful when dealing with jail staff, deposits, correspondence, court information, visitation, and release questions. Make sure you are using the person's current booking rather than an older arrest record.
Maricopa County Jail Locations
MCSO operates multiple detention facilities in Phoenix. A person can be moved between facilities, so always verify the current housing assignment.
| Facility | Address | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Fourth Avenue Jail |
201 S. 4th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85003 |
Major downtown detention facility. The Bond and Fine Room is located here. |
| Intake, Transfer and Release (ITR) |
2670 S. 28th Drive Phoenix, AZ 85009 |
Handles intake, transfers, self-surrenders, transportation, and releases. |
| Watkins Jail |
2680 S. 28th Drive Phoenix, AZ 85009 |
Jail housing facility located next to the ITR campus. |
| Estrella Jail |
2939 W. Durango Road Phoenix, AZ 85009 |
MCSO detention housing facility. |
| Towers Jail |
3127 W. Gibson Lane Phoenix, AZ 85009 |
MCSO lists Towers as a male medium-security facility with substantial pretrial housing. |
| Lower Buckeye Jail |
3250 W. Lower Buckeye Road Phoenix, AZ 85009 |
Large detention complex that also supports specialized medical and mental-health services. |
Call 602-876-0322 to confirm the person's current housing location before driving to a facility.
After Someone Is Arrested in Maricopa County
The first several hours can involve transportation, intake, identification, court review, release conditions, and housing.
- Arrest and transportation A law-enforcement agency transports the person for jail intake and processing.
- Booking and identification Personal information, fingerprints, booking records, charges, property, and other intake information are processed.
- Initial appearance The court addresses matters such as release conditions, bond, future court proceedings, and appointment of counsel when applicable.
- Release or jail housing If release is not immediately authorized or completed, the person may be assigned to one of MCSO's jail housing facilities.
- Criminal court proceedings The case then continues through the appropriate Arizona court.
Bond and Release in Maricopa County
The court sets release conditions at the defendant's initial appearance. If a financial bond is ordered, the person remains in custody until the bond is properly posted and release processing is completed.
Criminal bonds are not legitimately requested through a phone call, text message, email, social-media message, Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, wire transfer, or similar electronic payment. Criminal bonds are posted in person with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
Fourth Avenue Jail — Bond and Fine Room
201 S. 4th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85003
The Bond and Fine Room is located at the northwest corner of the Fourth Avenue Jail building.
Official Criminal Bond Instructions →- Confirm the current booking. Make sure you have the correct defendant and current booking number.
- Review every charge and case. One person may have multiple cases, warrants, or holds. Paying one bond does not necessarily guarantee release.
- Confirm the court's release conditions. The court may order release without financial bond, secured bond, cash conditions, or other release restrictions.
- Post an authorized bond in person. Follow the current instructions from the Sheriff's Office and Superior Court before traveling to Fourth Avenue Jail.
- Allow time for release processing. Maricopa County Superior Court warns that release processing after a bond is paid can take up to 24 hours.
Another case, warrant, hold, court order, or agency may prevent immediate release. Call MCSO jail information at 602-876-0322 if the custody status is unclear.
Charges, Court Dates, and Criminal Case Information
Jail information tells you about custody. Court records tell you what is happening in the criminal case.
Superior Court Case Information
Search Maricopa County Superior Court criminal cases by name, date of birth, or case number.
Search Criminal Cases →Find Upcoming Hearings
The Superior Court provides an online court calendar for scheduled proceedings.
View Court Calendar →Minute Entries
The Clerk of Superior Court provides online access to many criminal court minute entries.
Search Minute Entries →If you cannot find what you need online, the Maricopa County Superior Court Criminal Department information number is 602-506-8575.
Clerk information and records assistance: 602-372-5375.
Maricopa County Jail Visitation
Maricopa County uses video-based visitation for friends and family. Visitation availability can depend on the inmate's housing assignment, classification, jail operations, and current restrictions.
Video Visitation From Home
MCSO uses ViaPath's GettingOut platform for inmate communication services, including remote video visitation.
Create and validate your account before expecting to use video visitation services.
GettingOut / ViaPath →Confirm Current Availability
Visitation procedures can change by facility and housing unit. Confirm the inmate's current jail assignment before making plans.
Jail Information: 602-876-0322
Maricopa County relies heavily on video visitation. Attorney, professional, medical, and other authorized visits follow different procedures from ordinary friends-and-family visitation.
Phone Calls, Tablets, and Messages
You generally cannot call directly into a Maricopa County jail and ask to speak with an inmate. Communication services are provided through the jail's inmate communication system.
GettingOut / ViaPath
Maricopa County uses ViaPath's GettingOut system for inmate communication services.
Available services may include telephone calls, tablet-based communication, messaging, photos, and video visitation.
Open GettingOut →GettingOut Support
For account and service assistance:
1-866-516-0115
Always confirm that the inmate remains in Maricopa County custody before adding funds to a communication account.
Sending Money to a Maricopa County Jail Inmate
MCSO provides inmate-account deposit options for family and friends. Confirm the inmate's booking information before sending money.
Telephone Deposits
TouchPay customer/deposit assistance:
1-866-355-9593
Jail Kiosks
Deposit kiosks may also be available at designated MCSO facilities. Fees and accepted payment methods can apply.
Money for inmate-account purchases and funds used for some GettingOut communications may involve different accounts. Make sure you are funding the service you actually intend to use.
Sending Mail to a Maricopa County Jail Inmate
Before mailing anything, confirm that the person remains in MCSO custody and make sure you have the inmate's full booking name and current booking number.
Verify the Current MCSO Mailing Format
MCSO's inmate correspondence procedures require identifying information so that mail can be connected to the correct current booking.
Do not rely on an old jail address from a search result, previous incarceration, or third-party directory.
View Current MCSO Mail Instructions →Have This Information Ready
• Inmate's full booking name
• Current booking number
• Current jail status
• Your full return address
Legal Mail
Attorney and qualifying legal correspondence follows different procedures from ordinary friends-and-family mail.
Attorneys should use current MCSO legal-mail and professional-access instructions.
Jail mail restrictions can change and prohibited materials may be rejected or returned. Use the Sheriff's current instructions before mailing anything other than ordinary correspondence.
Medical and Mental Health Care
Medical and behavioral-health services for people incarcerated in Maricopa County are provided through the county's correctional-health system.
Non-Emergency Health Information
Family members who need to provide important health information may contact the Correctional Health Services Clinical Liaison.
602-506-5240
Have the inmate's legal name, booking number, date of birth, and current jail location available if known.
Urgent After-Hours Concern
For an urgent inmate health or safety concern when the clinical liaison is unavailable, contact MCSO jail information:
602-876-0322
Clearly explain that you are reporting an urgent health or safety concern.
Medical staff may be able to receive information from family members without being permitted to disclose protected medical information back to them.
Release From the Maricopa County Jail
Intake, Transfer and Release — commonly called ITR — is central to Maricopa County's release process.
Intake, Transfer and Release
2670 S. 28th Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85009
ITR handles jail intake, transportation, transfers, self-surrenders, and MCSO releases.
Release Can Take Time
A court order or paid bond does not mean the person immediately exits the facility.
Maricopa County Superior Court states that after a bond is paid, release processing may take up to 24 hours.
Other holds, warrants, cases, or agencies can cause additional delay.
Call 602-876-0322 if you need to verify current custody or release information. Do not rely solely on an estimated release time.
Transferred to Arizona State Prison?
County jail and state prison are separate systems. Once a person is transferred to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry, the MCSO jail search is no longer the right place to track the person's custody.
Arizona Department of Corrections
If the person has been sentenced and transferred to state custody, use the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry inmate-data search.
Arizona Department of Corrections →Maricopa County Jail FAQ
How do I find out if someone was arrested in Phoenix?
What is the Maricopa County jail information number?
Is Fourth Avenue Jail the only Maricopa County jail?
Where do I pay a criminal bond?
Can I pay a Maricopa County bond through Zelle or Venmo?
How long does release take after bond is posted?
Where are Maricopa County inmates released?
How do I find a criminal court date?
How do I send money to a Maricopa County inmate?
Can I call an inmate directly?
How does visitation work?
Who do I call about an inmate's medical condition?
What if the person has already been transferred to state prison?
Maricopa County Contacts
Use the office that controls the information you are trying to find.
Phoenix, AZ 85003