Santa Cruz County Inmate Records

Santa Cruz County inmate records are handled by the Sheriff's Office in Nogales, Arizona. The county jail holds people arrested in this border region or brought in on warrants. You can request information about current inmates by contacting the detention facility. This page explains how to find Santa Cruz County jail inmates, what records you can get, and how visitation works. We cover the video only visit policy and provide contact information for the jail.

Find Santa Cruz County Jail Inmates

Santa Cruz County does not have an online inmate search tool like some larger Arizona counties. To find out if someone is in the jail, you need to call the detention facility directly. Staff can tell you if a person is in custody and provide basic booking information.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff jail information page has contact details and general information about the facility. It explains visitation rules, mail policies, and how to reach the jail. The page does not include a searchable roster.

Call the detention facility at 520-761-7875 to ask about inmates. Have the person's full name ready. A date of birth helps if it is a common name. Staff will confirm if they are in custody and what the charges are. They can also tell you the bond amount. This phone method is slower than an online search but it gets you accurate current information.

Santa Cruz County Detention Facility

The jail is at 2170 N. Congress Drive in Nogales. This modern facility opened in 2011. It can hold up to 372 inmates at a time. The building replaced an older, smaller jail that could not meet the county's needs.

Nogales sits right on the Mexican border. This location means the jail sometimes holds people for federal immigration matters as well as state and local charges. The mix of inmates varies. Some are awaiting trial. Others serve short sentences. People held for federal agencies may have different rules than state inmates.

Contact the Sheriff's main office at 520-761-7869 for general questions. The detention line is 520-761-7875. Use the jail number for inmate specific questions. The Sheriff's number is better for record requests or complaints. Both offices are in Nogales. Hours follow standard government schedules, closed on weekends and holidays for administrative matters.

Note: The jail books arrests from across Santa Cruz County, including the cities of Nogales, Patagonia, and Tubac.

Santa Cruz County Jail Visitation

In person visits are not available at the Santa Cruz County jail. All visitation happens by video. This is the only way to see an inmate face to face while they are in custody here.

Video visits must be scheduled at least one day in advance. You cannot just show up and visit. Book your time slot online or by phone. Public visitation hours are on Saturdays and Sundays only. Weekday visits may be available for attorneys or other approved visitors, but family and friends should plan for the weekend.

The video system lets you see and talk to the inmate on a screen. You can visit from home if you have a computer with a camera and microphone. Some people prefer to use the video terminals at the jail. Either way, you need to schedule ahead. Last minute requests do not work. Plan at least 24 hours before you want to visit.

Fees may apply for remote video visits. On site visits at the jail might be free or cheaper. Check with the facility for current pricing. Rules about what you can wear, who can visit, and how long visits last are set by the jail. Ask when you schedule.

Request Santa Cruz County Jail Records

You can request copies of booking records and other jail documents from Santa Cruz County. The county has a formal public records request process.

Visit the Santa Cruz County public records request page to submit your request. You can ask for jail booking sheets, incident reports, and other documents held by the Sheriff's Office.

Arizona's public records law at A.R.S. 39-121 requires government agencies to provide access to public records. You do not need to give a reason for your request. Some records are exempt from disclosure, like medical files or ongoing investigation details. But basic booking information is generally available.

Fees apply for copies. The county charges per page for paper records. Digital copies may have different fees. Staff will tell you the cost before they process your request. Pay by the method they specify. Cash, check, or money order are common options. Some agencies take credit cards now too.

Arizona Criminal Records Access

The county jail roster is just one piece of the puzzle. Criminal history records from the state level show arrests and court outcomes across Arizona. The Department of Public Safety maintains the Central State Repository under A.R.S. 41-1750.

Private citizens cannot get someone else's full criminal history in Arizona. The DPS only releases those records to employers with legal authority, licensing boards, and law enforcement. You can request your own record through the DPS Public Services Portal. That costs $20 to $22 and requires fingerprints.

Court records are different. They are public. The Arizona Courts public access portal lets you search case information. Look up Santa Cruz County cases by defendant name or case number. You can see charges, hearing dates, and how cases ended. This helps when you want to know more than just who is in jail today.

Arizona State Prison Search

Santa Cruz County jail holds people awaiting trial or serving short sentences. Anyone sentenced to more than a year goes to state prison. The Arizona Department of Corrections handles those inmates.

Search state prisoners at the ADCRR inmate data search website. Enter a name and see if someone is in the state system. Results show their current prison, conviction details, and estimated release date. Under A.R.S. 31-221, the department keeps a master file on each inmate. Release dates are estimates that can change based on good time credits or disciplinary issues.

Do not send information from the state inmate database to someone in prison. That is a felony. The website warns users about this. The data is for public use, not for forwarding to inmates.

Custody Alerts for Santa Cruz County

VINELink provides free custody status alerts. You can register to get a call, text, or email when an inmate is released or transferred. This saves you from calling the jail every day to check.

Go to vinelink.com to sign up. Pick Arizona and search for the inmate by name. Once you find them, set your notification preferences. The system runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can also call 1-866-277-7477 to register by phone. Crime victims especially benefit from this service. It gives you warning before an offender gets out.

Note: VINE alerts work for Santa Cruz County and most other Arizona jails, not just state prisons.

Nearby Arizona Counties

Santa Cruz County is in southern Arizona along the Mexican border. If you cannot find someone in the Santa Cruz County jail, check these neighboring county facilities.