Attorney's Office

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office is the county agency responsible for prosecuting criminal cases within its legal authority, supporting crime victims, providing civil legal services to county government, and maintaining certain records connected with its work. This article explains what the office handles, how criminal matters move through the agency, where victims can obtain assistance, how to request records, what information to prepare before contacting the office, and how to avoid sending requests to the wrong county agency.

County Attorney's Office Role

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office official website, commonly referred to as MCAO, is the primary online source for information about the agency's prosecution work, victim services, public records procedures, forms, public notices, and other programs.

MCAO is a public prosecutorial agency serving Maricopa County. According to the office's official description of MCAO, it handles all felony prosecutions in the county and misdemeanor filings in the county's justice court system. The County Attorney is also responsible for misdemeanors occurring in unincorporated areas and serves as legal counsel for the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and county departments.

These responsibilities mean the office performs several different government functions. Its prosecutors handle criminal matters, its victim advocates assist crime victims, investigators support litigation and case-management needs, and its civil attorneys provide legal services to county government. The office has more than 1,000 full-time employees, including attorneys, investigators, paralegals, victim advocates, and support staff.

The County Attorney is an elected county official whose legal authority is established by the Arizona Constitution and Arizona Revised Statutes. As of 2026, Rachel Mitchell serves as Maricopa County Attorney. For residents trying to determine which agency handles a particular problem, the more useful distinction is usually the type of matter involved rather than the title of the elected official.

Criminal Cases and Prosecution

MCAO prosecutes felony cases arising in Maricopa County as well as misdemeanor matters within the areas of authority described by the office. It does not perform every function associated with a criminal case. Law enforcement agencies investigate and receive crime reports, courts maintain court proceedings and filings, and other government agencies may maintain criminal-history or detention records.

The office's criminal prosecution information explains that different MCAO divisions handle different types and stages of cases. Most cases are handled by attorneys in the Trial Division, while more serious offenses can be assigned to specialized crime bureaus within the Major Offenders Division, Organized Crime Division, and Special Victims Division.

Cases involving people under age 18 who are accused of delinquent or incorrigible acts are handled by the Juvenile Crimes Division. MCAO describes delinquent acts as misdemeanor or felony offenses. Incorrigible acts include status offenses such as truancy or curfew violations.

The Path to Prosecution

Although individual criminal cases differ, MCAO identifies a general path followed by many of the cases it prosecutes. A matter generally begins within the Pretrial Division, which oversees intake, charging, and preliminary hearings. After that stage, the case may be assigned to a prosecutor in a geographic bureau within the Trial Division or to an appropriate specialized crime bureau.

Specialized assignments can involve the Major Offenders, Organized Crime, or Special Victims divisions. Probation violations and certain post-conviction motions are handled by the Probation Violation Bureau. Rule 32 Motions for Post-Conviction Relief are excluded from that description.

This division of responsibilities matters when someone contacts MCAO about a criminal case. A person should not assume that every prosecutor, division, or front-office employee has the same role or maintains every type of document. Providing identifying case information can help staff determine which matter the inquiry concerns.

Reporting a Crime

A person who needs to report a crime should not treat the County Attorney's Office as a substitute for the law enforcement agency that receives and investigates crime reports. MCAO's victim information directs people who need to report a crime to the nearest local law enforcement agency.

After law enforcement investigation and submission of a criminal matter, prosecutors perform their own functions within the prosecution process. This distinction can prevent a common mistake: sending an initial crime report or investigative request to an office whose role is primarily prosecution rather than initial law enforcement response.

Crime Victim Services

The County Attorney's Office provides services intended to protect and implement crime victims' rights. The MCAO Victim Services information covers notification, restitution, compensation, court advocacy, forms, and other assistance connected with the criminal justice process.

Victim notification allows qualifying crime victims, upon request, to receive notice of certain proceedings involving the defendant. Because notification is tied to proceedings and victim rights, victims should provide accurate identifying information when communicating with the agency about a case.

Victim restitution concerns financial losses caused by a defendant's conduct. When applicable, the court may order a defendant to reimburse the victim as part of the sentence. Restitution should not be confused with victim compensation. They are separate processes described by MCAO.

Restitution and Compensation

Restitution is connected to losses for which a defendant may be ordered to reimburse a victim. MCAO provides a Victim Restitution Request Form among its official forms. People seeking restitution-related assistance should be prepared to provide information supporting the financial loss associated with the criminal conduct.

Victim compensation is different. Crime victims may be eligible for funds administered through Arizona's Crime Victim Compensation Program for qualifying out-of-pocket crime-related expenses. MCAO provides a compensation application and eligibility information through its official materials.

The agency's brochures, forms, and information page includes the Crime Victim Compensation application, victim compensation eligibility information, a Victim Restitution Request Form, victim-rights materials, and other forms used for specific MCAO programs.

Using the form that matches the intended service can reduce confusion. A restitution request, compensation application, public-records request, and general contact message serve different purposes and should not be treated as interchangeable submissions.

Public Records From MCAO

The County Attorney's Office maintains records related to many felony and misdemeanor criminal matters within Maricopa County. Residents seeking those materials can use the procedures on the MCAO public records request page.

A request may be submitted through the office's online public-records process. The office also accepts requests by email, fax, telephone, mail, written drop-off, and a computer kiosk at the 225 West Madison Street building. Written drop-off and kiosk use are available during office hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with the office closed on most major holidays.

Information That Helps a Search

The processing time for a request depends on factors including the number of pending requests, where the records are located, the amount of material involved, the nature of the requested material, and the amount of redaction required. Requests are processed in the order received.

MCAO specifically advises requesters to provide a detailed description of the records they want. Useful identifying information can include:

Name or names associated with the requested records.
Date of birth when relevant to identifying the subject.
Case number associated with the matter.
Report number connected with the requested records.
Specific materials sought when requesting records from a large case.
Full and complete email addresses when requesting emails to or from entities outside MCAO.

Homicide and capital-case requests may take significantly longer because those files can contain large volumes of material. MCAO states that such records may be completed and distributed on a rolling disclosure basis. Identifying particular materials rather than broadly requesting an entire large file can help the office locate the requested records more efficiently.

Public Records Fees

Charges depend partly on whether the request is for a commercial or noncommercial purpose. For noncommercial requests, MCAO states that printed materials cost $0.25 per page, CD-ROMs cost $1, and thumb drives cost $8. There is no charge for Maricopa County electronic file transfer, identified by the office as "Dropbox," and no charge for requesters who make an appointment to inspect materials at the office. Actual hourly scanning or copying costs can also apply.

Commercial requests are handled under a different cost structure. Charges may include a portion of MCAO's cost of obtaining the records, reasonable costs associated with time, materials, equipment, and personnel used to produce copies, and the value of the reproduction on the commercial market as determined by MCAO.

MCAO defines commercial purpose in accordance with Arizona public-records law and warns that financial penalties may apply when a requester fails to disclose a commercial purpose or permits records obtained under one classification or commercial purpose to be used improperly.

Accepted Payment Methods

Payment is required before public-record materials are released. MCAO accepts business and personal checks payable to the "Maricopa County Attorney's Office," money orders and cashier's checks payable to the office, and Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express credit cards.

Credit card payments are accepted from the United States and Canada. MCAO states that Maricopa County uses a third-party company to process card payments. That processor assesses a convenience fee, and the county does not retain any portion of the fee. The convenience-fee amount is disclosed before final authorization of the transaction.

Receiving Requested Records

When records are ready, the Custodian of Records notifies the requester. Depending on the circumstances, records may be provided electronically or on paper.

Available delivery methods described by MCAO include:

Electronic delivery through Maricopa County's file-transfer system when the requester provides a valid email address.

Fax delivery when a valid fax number is included with the request.

In-person pickup at the front reception desk between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Mail through the U.S. Postal Service without a mailing charge.

Commercial delivery services using the requester's account number.

Records That May Be Redacted

A public-records request does not mean every part of every record can be released. MCAO identifies several categories of information that are generally redacted or withheld because of Arizona law or court restrictions.

Examples include identifying and locating information for victims or witnesses, records made confidential by Arizona law, records sealed by court order, competency reports, criminal-history records, certain grand-jury transcripts, and juvenile court records that are not open to the public.

Records that visually depict a victim or minor witness are also subject to specific restrictions. MCAO states that such material will be redacted unless the requesting party establishes that the public interest in disclosure outweighs the victim's or witness's privacy rights.

The Custodian of Records does not create an index listing every redaction or withheld document. A requester therefore should not assume that a public-records response will include a separate inventory explaining each omitted item.

Choosing the Correct Records Office

One of the most useful steps before submitting a request is determining which government office actually maintains the record. MCAO handles records connected with many criminal matters it prosecutes, but it is not the repository for every court, criminal-history, vital-records, or property document in Maricopa County.

Court Filings and Minute Entries

Case filings and minute entries can be maintained through court systems rather than the County Attorney's public-records unit. MCAO specifically directs users seeking certain Superior Court and Justice Court information to publicly available court systems and suggests checking those sources before submitting a County Attorney public-records request.

This distinction is especially useful when the goal is simply to locate a court filing or minute entry rather than obtain materials maintained by the prosecutor's office. A court case number and an MCAO record request may relate to the same criminal matter but are not necessarily the same record system or process.

Trial Exhibits

After a trial in Maricopa County Superior Court ends, trial exhibits are kept by the Clerk of the Superior Court until the applicable retention period ends. Someone seeking a court exhibit should therefore distinguish court-maintained exhibits from records maintained by the County Attorney.

Other Government Records

MCAO identifies several commonly requested record types that generally belong with other government offices. These include Superior Court records, birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees, Family Court and Probate records, adoption records, criminal-history information, and recorded documents such as deeds, liens, judgments, and oaths of office.

Criminal-history information must be requested from the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Recorded documents such as deeds and liens are maintained through the Maricopa County Recorder's Office. Matters prosecuted in city and town municipal courts may need to be requested from the specific municipal jurisdiction rather than MCAO.

Sending the request to the agency that maintains the record can prevent unnecessary delays and helps distinguish prosecutor records from court, police, vital-records, criminal-history, and recorder documents.

Letters of Disposition

A Letter of Disposition may be requested from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office using the designated form and instructions. MCAO specifically states that the Custodian of Records does not prepare Letters of Disposition.

This is another situation where using the correct process matters. A person seeking a Letter of Disposition should use the designated request form rather than assuming that a general public-records request will produce the same document.

General Contact Forms

For inquiries that are not specifically public-records requests, the office provides a County Attorney's Office contact form. The form asks for a first name, last name, email address, and message.

Before sending information through that form, users should be aware of MCAO's notice that information submitted through the contact form may constitute a public record under Arizona law and may be subject to inspection or disclosure to third parties upon request for commercial or noncommercial use.

A general contact form should also not be confused with a formal public-records request, a victim-services form, or a crime report to law enforcement. Selecting the form that corresponds to the actual purpose of the communication makes it more likely that the information reaches the appropriate function within the agency.

Forms and Official Documents

MCAO maintains a central collection of forms and informational materials. Available documents include public-records request materials, a request for a Letter of Disposition, victim compensation materials, a Victim Restitution Request Form, a HIPAA patient authorization form, check-enforcement forms, RICO-related forms, and a Victim Services Division volunteer or internship application.

Users should select forms based on the specific program involved. For example, a public-records request is used to seek agency records, while a victim restitution form concerns financial loss caused by a defendant's conduct. A Letter of Disposition has its own application. Combining unrelated requests into a general message can make it harder to identify the intended process.

Agency Reports and Protocols

The office also publishes official reports and protocols describing agency activity and procedures. The MCAO annual reports and protocols page includes year-in-review materials and documents concerning subjects such as domestic violence, critical-incident response, deferred prosecution, public funding for public communications, child-abuse investigation protocols, and sexual-assault protocols.

These publications can be useful when someone is researching how the office operates at an agency or program level. They should be distinguished from documents from an individual criminal case. Agency reports and protocols are general official publications; obtaining records associated with a particular person, prosecution, or investigation may require the public-records process.

Common Request Mistakes

Many problems can be avoided by matching the request to MCAO's actual role and providing enough information to identify the matter. Common issues include confusing prosecutor records with court records, treating a contact form as a records request, asking MCAO for a criminal-history report maintained by another agency, or submitting a broad request without case identifiers.

Before sending an inquiry, it is useful to identify the purpose of the request and gather the information that directly relates to it. Depending on the service, that may include:

The full name associated with the case or records.
A date of birth when needed to identify the correct person.
The criminal or court case number, if known.
A report number, if applicable.
A precise description of the records or materials requested.
A valid email address when electronic record delivery is requested.
A valid fax number when requesting fax delivery.
Complete external email addresses when requesting MCAO email records involving outside entities.

Users should also distinguish between seeking information about an existing prosecution and attempting to report a new crime. Crime reports should be directed to the appropriate local law enforcement agency. MCAO's role begins within the prosecutorial process rather than serving as the general intake point for all reports of suspected criminal activity.

For public records, the level of detail can also affect how readily staff can identify responsive material. Large homicide or capital-case files may contain extensive records, so identifying particular documents or categories can be more useful than requesting an entire case file without further detail.

Attorney's Office Locations

Maricopa County Attorney's Office Civil Division, Appeals, Election Law, Public Records and Tax Practice Group
225 W. Madison St., Suite 3112
Phoenix, AZ 85003
602-506-1974

Attorney's Office FAQs

Where can I check current MCAO announcements?

The official Maricopa County Attorney's Office website publishes agency announcements involving indictments, sentencings, public-safety initiatives, community events, and other office activity. These announcements can be useful when looking for recent information about a prosecution or a countywide initiative, but they should not be treated as a complete record of every criminal case handled by the office.

Does the County Attorney provide child abuse reporting guidance?

Yes. MCAO publishes information about Arizona's mandatory-reporting requirements as part of its public-safety initiatives. The guidance emphasizes that certain professionals and caregivers may be legally required to report suspected child abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse. Anyone unsure whether a reporting duty applies should review the official materials and the applicable Arizona law rather than assuming that only law-enforcement or medical professionals are mandated reporters.

Can residents learn about MCAO programs before contacting the office?

Yes. The office maintains information about community-focused programs and educational activities. Its Strengthening Communities information covers programs intended to support safer neighborhoods and public awareness. MCAO's official site also publishes Citizens Academy events and educational initiatives addressing subjects such as fentanyl risks, online predators, and community safety.

Are County Attorney meetings and agency actions open to public review?

MCAO makes certain government information available through official notices and publications. Residents looking for scheduled government proceedings can check the office's public meeting notices, while those researching broader agency activity can review published reports and procedural materials. The official reports and protocols collection includes year-in-review publications and documents addressing subjects such as deferred prosecution, child-abuse investigations, sexual-assault procedures, and critical-incident response.