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Lake Havasu Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Lake Havasu, Arizona?

Arrest records are public in Lake Havasu, Arizona, pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes § 39-121, which establishes that "public records and other matters in the custody of any officer shall be open to inspection by any person at all times during office hours." This statute ensures transparency in governmental operations, including law enforcement activities. The Arizona Public Records Law mandates that arrest records maintained by the Lake Havasu City Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies remain accessible to the public, with certain statutory exceptions for ongoing investigations, juvenile records, and matters of public safety.

Members of the public seeking arrest records should be aware that while these documents are generally available, certain information may be redacted in accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes § 39-123 and § 39-124, which protect personal identifying information and victim details. The Lake Havasu City Police Department maintains these records in compliance with state retention schedules established by the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records division.

How to Look Up Lake Havasu Arrest Records in 2025

The Lake Havasu City Police Department provides multiple channels through which members of the public may access arrest records. Individuals seeking such information may utilize any of the following methods:

Submit a public records request in person at the Lake Havasu City Police Department located at 2360 McCulloch Blvd. N., Lake Havasu City, Arizona 86403. Counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Access the Lake Havasu City Police Department's online portal for daily arrest bulletins and recent booking information.
File a formal Request for Public Records form with the Records Division by mail, email, or in person. The form must include the requestor's contact information and specific details about the records being sought.
Visit the Lake Havasu Justice Court at 2001 College Drive, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403, to review court records related to arrests. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and can be reached at (928) 453-0705.
Contact the Lake Havasu City Municipal Court at 2001 College Drive, Suite 148, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403, for records pertaining to misdemeanor arrests and citations. The court's public counter hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, and the main telephone number is (928) 732-0024.

Pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes § 39-121.01(D)(1), agencies must promptly respond to public records requests, though complex requests may require additional processing time.

Contents of a Lake Havasu Arrest Record

Standard arrest records maintained by the Lake Havasu City Police Department contain comprehensive information about the arrest event and the individual taken into custody. These records typically include:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any known aliases or previous names
Date of birth, gender, race, and physical description
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Statutory charges filed, including Arizona Revised Statutes citation numbers
Arresting officer's name and badge number
Booking photographs (commonly known as "mugshots")
Fingerprint classification and identification numbers
Case or incident report number for cross-reference purposes
Detention facility information, including booking number and initial custody status
Preliminary court appearance details, including date, time, and judicial officer
Bond or bail amount, if applicable

In accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-4434, certain information may be redacted to protect victims' rights. Additionally, pursuant to federal regulations including 28 CFR § 20.33, criminal history record information may have restricted access depending on the requestor's status and purpose.

Legal Framework for Public Access to Arrest Records

The accessibility of arrest records in Lake Havasu operates within a structured legal framework established by both state and federal statutes. Arizona's Public Records Law, codified in Arizona Revised Statutes § 39-121 through § 39-128, provides the foundation for public access to governmental records, including those pertaining to arrests.

The following legal provisions govern access to arrest records in Lake Havasu:

Arizona Revised Statutes § 39-121.01 requires all officers and public bodies to maintain records reasonably necessary to provide an accurate accounting of their official activities.
Arizona Revised Statutes § 39-121.03 permits agencies to charge reasonable fees for reproduction of public records, with the Lake Havasu City Police Department currently assessing a fee of $5.00 for the first 10 pages and $0.25 for each additional page.
The Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552) may apply to certain federal arrest records that might be maintained by local agencies through joint task forces or cooperative agreements.
Criminal Justice Information Systems regulations (28 CFR Part 20) establish guidelines for the dissemination of criminal history record information.
Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-905 through § 13-912 outline the process for setting aside convictions, which affects the public accessibility of related arrest records.

The Lake Havasu City Police Department Records Division, located at 2360 McCulloch Blvd. N., Lake Havasu City, Arizona 86403, serves as the custodian of arrest records and processes all public records requests in accordance with these statutes.

Limitations on Access to Arrest Records

While arrest records in Lake Havasu are generally accessible to the public, certain statutory exceptions and judicial orders may restrict access to specific information. The following limitations apply to arrest record access:

Records pertaining to ongoing investigations may be temporarily withheld pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes § 39-121.03(B) if release would impede law enforcement proceedings.
Juvenile arrest records are confidential under Arizona Revised Statutes § 8-208 and require a court order for release, except in limited circumstances involving violent offenses as defined in § 13-901.03.
Records sealed by court order following successful completion of a diversion program (Arizona Revised Statutes § 11-362) are not available for public inspection.
Information identifying victims of sexual offenses is redacted in accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-4434.
Medical and mental health information contained within arrest records is protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-2292.
Records pertaining to arrests that resulted in a finding of factual innocence (Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-4051) may be sealed and unavailable for public inspection.

The Lake Havasu City Police Department, in consultation with the City Attorney's Office located at 2330 McCulloch Blvd. N., Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403, determines which information may be lawfully withheld or redacted from public records requests.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Lake Havasu

Arizona law provides mechanisms through which individuals may petition for the setting aside of convictions and sealing of arrest records under specific circumstances. Effective January 1, 2023, Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-911 established a process for sealing criminal records, which represents a significant change from the previous "set aside" provisions.

Eligibility criteria for record sealing in Lake Havasu include:

Completion of all terms of probation or sentence, including payment of all fines, fees, and restitution
Expiration of applicable waiting periods: 2 years for misdemeanors and 5 years for most felonies, with longer periods for serious offenses
No pending criminal charges at the time of application
No convictions for certain disqualifying offenses enumerated in Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-911(K)

The sealing process requires filing a petition with the court that handled the original case. For misdemeanors, this is typically the Lake Havasu City Municipal Court at 2001 College Drive, Suite 148, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403. For felonies, petitions must be filed with the Mohave County Superior Court at 2001 College Drive, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403.

Upon successful sealing of records, pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-911(E), the person's arrest, conviction, and sentence are deemed not to have occurred, and the person may respond accordingly to inquiries from entities other than law enforcement agencies.