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Surprise Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Surprise, Arizona?

Yes, arrest records are public in Surprise, Arizona. This accessibility is in accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes § 39-121, which mandates that all government records, unless specifically exempted, must be open to the public. Arrest records, as part of the public records, provide transparency and maintain the public's right to information. The City of Surprise adheres to these regulations through its Public Records Requests system, which facilitates citizen access to various municipal records, including those from law enforcement agencies.

Members of the public should be aware that while arrest records are generally accessible, certain information may be redacted to protect ongoing investigations, juvenile records, or personal identifying information pursuant to A.R.S. § 39-123 and § 39-124. The Surprise Police Department maintains these records in accordance with state retention schedules and federal regulations.

How to Look Up Surprise Arrest Records in 2025

To obtain information on arrest records in Surprise, several methods can be utilized, particularly with advancements in digital access. The City of Surprise has implemented streamlined processes for record retrieval in compliance with A.R.S. § 39-121.01(D)(1), which requires public bodies to maintain records reasonably necessary to provide an accurate accounting of their official activities.

Methods through which one can search for arrest records in Surprise include:

Visit the Surprise Police Department headquarters for in-person access to arrest records: Surprise Police Department 14250 W. Statler Plaza, Suite 103 Surprise, AZ 85374 Phone: 623-222-4000 Official Website Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Submit requests through the city's GovQA portal, the official system for public records requests in Surprise
Check with the Surprise City Court where the arrest was processed: Surprise City Court 16081 N. Civic Center Plaza Surprise, AZ 85374 Phone: 623-222-4800 Official Website Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Utilize public access terminals available in Surprise public libraries or government buildings
Request records through mail by sending a formal request to the police department or courthouse, including all relevant information such as the individual's full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest

Pursuant to A.R.S. § 39-121.03, reasonable fees may be charged for the reproduction of public records. The Fines & Restitution page on the city website provides information about applicable fees for various services.

Contents of a Surprise Arrest Record

A Surprise arrest record typically includes comprehensive information as mandated by Arizona Criminal Justice Information System (ACJIS) standards and A.R.S. § 41-1750. These records serve as official documentation of law enforcement actions and subsequent processing through the criminal justice system.

Standard information contained in Surprise arrest records includes:

Full legal name and any known aliases of the arrested individual
Date of birth and demographic information
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Detailed description of the alleged offense(s) and corresponding Arizona statute violations
Arresting officer's name, badge number, and agency affiliation
Booking information including processing location and case numbers
Booking photographs (mugshots) taken during processing
Fingerprint records collected at the time of booking
Bail/bond conditions established at initial appearance, if applicable
Custody status information
Court appearance dates and locations

The Surprise Police Department maintains these records in accordance with state retention schedules. Certain information may be redacted from public copies to protect privacy rights or ongoing investigations as permitted under A.R.S. § 39-123.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Surprise

In Surprise, the expungement of arrest records, also referred to as setting aside a conviction under A.R.S. § 13-905, is possible under certain conditions. Arizona law provides mechanisms for eligible individuals to petition for relief from the collateral consequences of criminal records.

The process for expungement in Surprise involves:

Determining eligibility based on offense type, completion of sentence, and rehabilitation factors
Filing a petition with the Surprise City Court or Maricopa County Superior Court, depending on the original jurisdiction of the case
Submitting required documentation including proof of sentence completion and rehabilitation evidence
Attending a hearing where a judge will review the petition and supporting materials
Receiving a court order if the petition is granted

Factors considered by the court include:

Nature and severity of the original offense
Compliance with all terms of the sentence
Time elapsed since completion of sentence
Evidence of rehabilitation and law-abiding behavior
Impact of the record on the petitioner's ability to obtain employment or housing

If approved, pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-905(F), the order to set aside the judgment of guilt does not:

Require the court to seal or redact any public record
Prevent the use of the conviction in any subsequent prosecution
Preclude the conviction from being used as a historical prior felony conviction
Preclude the conviction from being used to establish criminal history for background checks

Individuals seeking expungement should be aware that certain offenses, including those involving serious violent crimes, sexual offenses, or crimes against children, may be ineligible for expungement under Arizona law.

Legal Implications of Arrest Records in Surprise

Arrest records in Surprise carry significant legal implications for affected individuals. Under Arizona law, specifically A.R.S. § 13-904, a conviction may result in the loss of civil rights, including the right to vote, hold public office, serve on a jury, or possess firearms. These consequences extend beyond the completion of a sentence and can impact various aspects of an individual's life.

The Surprise City Court handles cases ranging from minor traffic violations to Class 1 misdemeanors that carry a maximum penalty of six months in jail. More serious offenses are processed through the Maricopa County Superior Court system.

Employers in Surprise and throughout Arizona may legally consider arrest and conviction records when making hiring decisions, subject to the limitations established in A.R.S. § 13-904(E), which prohibits disqualification from employment solely due to a conviction unless there is a reasonable relationship between the conviction and the employment position.

The Code Enforcement division of Surprise may also maintain records of municipal code violations, which, while not criminal in nature, may result in citations and administrative penalties. These records are maintained separately from criminal arrest records but are similarly accessible through public records requests.

Accessing Juvenile Arrest Records in Surprise

Juvenile arrest records in Surprise are subject to special confidentiality protections under Arizona law. A.R.S. § 8-208 establishes that juvenile court records are not open to public inspection, with limited exceptions for specific authorized individuals and agencies.

Access to juvenile records is restricted to:

The juvenile and their parents or legal guardians
The juvenile's attorney
Court personnel with a legitimate interest in the case
Authorized representatives of public agencies responsible for the juvenile's supervision
Victims of the juvenile's offense, with limitations on the information provided
School officials when necessary for the discharge of their official duties

The Surprise Police Department maintains juvenile records separately from adult records and implements additional security measures to ensure their confidentiality. Requests for juvenile records must be submitted with appropriate documentation establishing the requester's legal right to access such information.

Parents or guardians seeking juvenile records must provide proof of their relationship to the juvenile and legal authority to access the records. This typically includes birth certificates, court orders establishing guardianship, or other legal documentation as required by the records custodian.