Jail
Maricopa County AZ Jail services are operated by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and include inmate booking, housing, release processing, inmate searches, remote visitation, inmate accounts, telephone access, mail, property releases, bonds, medical coordination, and court-ordered self-surrender. This article explains how the county jail system is organized, what each major facility handles, how families can locate and communicate with an inmate, what to expect during intake and release, and which rules commonly affect jail-related transactions.
Maricopa County Jail System
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office operates the county detention system through its Custody Bureau. Detention deputies are responsible for maintaining safety and security in the county’s detention facilities and providing daily necessities for people awaiting court proceedings as well as inmates who remain in county custody after sentencing.
MCSO is also the primary booking facility for Maricopa County. Its Intake Division assists numerous law enforcement agencies with the process of booking people into county custody. The official Custody Bureau information page explains this countywide role.
People looking for a jail should first determine whether they need the inmate’s current housing facility or the Intake, Transfer and Release facility. Those are not always the same place. A newly arrested person may be processed through intake and later assigned to another jail according to classification and operational needs. Likewise, release processing is centralized rather than handled independently at every housing facility.
The Sheriff’s Office provides an official Maricopa County jail facilities page identifying the major detention locations and describing the inmate populations and functions associated with each one.
Fourth Avenue Jail
Fourth Avenue Jail is the most secure facility in the county jail system. It has approximately 2,064 beds and includes housing for male inmates in several security classifications, including maximum and medium general population, closed custody, and certain sentenced working inmates.
The facility contains a Special Management Unit designed for the highest security classifications. Its basement level includes inmate programs, chaplain services, inmate legal services, and a main medical clinic. Smaller medical clinics are located on additional levels, and medical services include dental, X-ray, pharmacy, and psychiatric functions.
Housing pods include classrooms, video visitation booths, attorney rooms, dayrooms, and recreation yards. These features allow many activities to occur within or near the inmate’s housing area and reduce unnecessary movement through the facility.
Towers Jail
Towers Jail houses male medium-security general population inmates and has approximately 720 beds. According to MCSO, a majority of inmates housed there are unsentenced pretrial detainees.
The facility consists of six separate housing units. Each unit contains four pods, and each pod can house up to 30 inmates. Towers Jail is the oldest jail still operating within the Sheriff’s Office detention system and has the lowest population capacity among the MCSO jail facilities described on the agency’s jail page.
Watkins Jail
Watkins Jail has approximately 1,600 beds and houses male medium- and minimum-security general population inmates. Opened in 2020, it operates using a direct-supervision approach in which detention staff maintain a strong presence within housing units rather than relying exclusively on physical separation between staff and inmates.
MCSO describes this approach as part of strategic inmate management. Communication, accountability, supervision, and behavioral expectations are used to maintain security and encourage compliance with jail rules. Watkins Jail also offers inmate programming intended to encourage positive behavior and support better choices after release.
Estrella Jail
Estrella Jail is the principal facility described by MCSO for female inmates. Its approximately 1,503-person capacity covers multiple classifications of sentenced and unsentenced female inmates, including minimum, medium, and maximum general population and several restrictive or closed-custody classifications.
The jail contains five tower housing units and ten dormitories. Many sentenced female inmates participate in work assignments connected with jail operations and skill building. Programs at the facility are coordinated with other county functions, including Correctional Health Services and county human services.
Lower Buckeye Jail
Lower Buckeye Jail is the largest detention facility identified in the MCSO system, with approximately 2,427 beds. It is predominantly a male facility, although females may be housed in its Mental Health Unit and Infirmary.
The facility accommodates several inmate classifications, including unsentenced male general population inmates, restrictive housing classifications, sentenced working inmates, remanded juvenile inmates, and disciplinary restrictive housing inmates.
Lower Buckeye includes dormitory-style and cell-based housing, recreation areas, classrooms, chapels, medical clinics, a 60-bed medical infirmary, and a 255-bed Mental Health Unit. It also houses the working inmate population used across MCSO jail operations. Assigned work can include functions such as laundry and food service.
Another reason families encounter the Lower Buckeye name is inmate mail. MCSO operates its central inmate mailroom there, so correspondence is directed to Lower Buckeye even when the inmate is physically housed at another county jail.
Booking and Intake Processing
The Intake, Transfer and Release facility, commonly referred to by MCSO as ITR, is the central point for major booking and release functions. It replaced the former central intake operation that had been located at Fourth Avenue Jail.
Police-custody bookings are processed through ITR. Questions about the circumstances of the original arrest, however, should be directed to the law enforcement agency that made the arrest rather than assuming the Sheriff’s Office has responsibility for the underlying arrest information.
ITR also handles people who have been ordered by a court to surrender themselves to serve a jail sentence. The facility contains courtrooms, coordinates inmate movement through the jail system, and processes releases from MCSO custody.
Temporary 512 Facility
An attached 512-bed facility provides temporary housing for people moving through the intake process. The population is considered unclassified because the facility serves as short-term holding rather than a standard long-term housing assignment.
MCSO describes the normal stay as 72 hours or less, although an inmate may remain for up to five days. The facility acts as a buffer between intake and the other jails, helping reduce unnecessary movement while classification, processing, medical needs, and other intake matters are addressed.
Each housing unit includes a medical examination room, allowing many medical services to take place without moving an inmate to another part of the jail system.
Finding an Inmate
The official MCSO inmate information system provides two ways to search for a person in county custody. A booking number can be entered directly, or a search can be performed using the inmate’s last name, first name, and date of birth.
Booking Number Search
A booking number is the most direct identifier in the MCSO inmate system. It should not be confused with a criminal court case number, citation number, or another identifier associated with a case. When the correct booking number is available, it can also be useful for jail mail, inmate account deposits, and other custody-related matters.
Name and Birth Date Search
If the booking number is unknown, the search system requires a last name, first name, and date of birth. MCSO specifies that the date of birth be entered in YYYYMMDD format.
The Sheriff’s Office warns that online inmate information should not be relied upon for legal action and does not represent that the information is always current, accurate, or complete. MCSO also notes that people may provide false identification information and that true identity can only be confirmed through fingerprint comparison.
For routine family use, the search is still valuable for checking custody information and obtaining the booking number needed for other jail processes. When a search does not produce the expected result, rechecking spelling, birth date, and the type of identifier being entered can prevent confusion.
Release From County Custody
All inmates leaving MCSO custody are processed through the Intake, Transfer and Release facility. The person is not simply released from whichever housing unit appears in the inmate search.
After release, inmates are directed to the designated public parking area for pickup. MCSO states that unauthorized vehicles are not permitted to park or drive by the main ITR lobby area. Inmates have access to a collect telephone call to notify someone of a pending release.
A family member looking for updated custody information should use the official inmate information system rather than assuming a housing location or anticipated release time has remained unchanged.
Bonds and Release Timing
Bonds and fines accepted by the Sheriff’s Office are handled through the Bond and Fine room at Fourth Avenue Jail. Families should distinguish bond payment from release processing: paying an accepted bond does not mean the inmate will immediately walk out of the jail.
MCSO states that after a bond is paid, release processing may take up to 24 hours. An immigration hold or another law-enforcement hold can also prevent release even after the bond has been paid.
If the booking number is unknown before a bond transaction, MCSO can use the person’s full name and date of birth to identify the inmate. The Sheriff’s Office states that accepted bond payments are not refunded.
For Sheriff’s Office bond and fine transactions, accepted payment methods include U.S. currency, a cashier’s check subject to verification, a U.S. Postal Money Order, a Western Union Money Order, and specified credit cards. Credit-card transactions have a processing fee and must total less than $10,000 including that fee. Transactions over $10,000 require another accepted payment method and require a Social Security number under the procedure described by MCSO. The Sheriff’s Office accepts only the exact bond or fine amount.
Remote Inmate Visitation
Nonlegal visits are currently conducted through remote video visitation. Onsite video visitation for the general public is suspended, so families should not travel to a jail expecting a standard in-person social visit.
The official inmate visitation page states that visitors must have a validated account before receiving a remote video visit. Remote visits using the on-demand system are initiated by the incarcerated person; friends and family outside the facility cannot independently schedule that type of visit.
MCSO’s family information states that remote visits can occur between 7:00 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. daily and that each remote session is 30 minutes. Fees apply to at-home video visitation.
Professional Video Visits
Different procedures apply to attorneys and certain other professionals whose inmate communications should not be recorded or charged. The Sheriff’s Office directs qualifying professional visitors to an MCSO Visitation Center at Fourth Avenue Jail or Lower Buckeye Jail and requires appropriate professional credentials and government-issued identification.
Inmate Account Deposits
Money can be deposited into an inmate account through methods described on the official inmate account deposit page. Cash kiosks are located at the jail facilities, and deposits may be made using the inmate’s name or booking number.
The jail kiosks accept cash, Visa, and MasterCard. MCSO states that funds are available for inmate use after verification, usually within one hour, and that service fees apply.
The Sheriff’s Office does not accept U.S. currency or checks delivered directly to MCSO for placement on an inmate’s books. This is separate from the payment rules for bonds and fines, where MCSO identifies specific accepted payment forms. Confusing an inmate-account deposit with a bond transaction can result in using the wrong procedure.
Property and Money Releases
An inmate requesting a release of booked personal property must release all booked-in personal property except clothing. The inmate can choose the recipient, including a family member, attorney, public defender, probation officer, or caseworker.
The inmate provides the location where the property will be picked up. The person receiving the property must present a current, valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or motor vehicle identification card. MCSO does not accept informal store identification cards or similar non-government photo IDs for this purpose.
Before transfer to the Arizona Department of Corrections, an inmate may complete a release form authorizing booked property to be given to a specified person or someone who comes to claim it. MCSO states that property remaining unclaimed for 30 days after transfer to the Department of Corrections is sent for destruction.
Money-release rules use a different timeline. An inmate may release all funds in the inmate account without approval during the first 72 hours after booking. After 72 hours in custody, a money release requires approval from the Jail Commander or the commander’s designee.
Mail Sent to Inmates
The Sheriff’s Office centralizes incoming inmate mail at Lower Buckeye Jail. Mail is addressed there regardless of the jail where the inmate is physically housed. MCSO’s information for inmate families provides the current mail restrictions.
Regular incoming mail, other than legal mail, must be sent as a standard postcard. The postcard should contain the inmate’s full name and booking number and must meet the jail’s size, ink, and content requirements.
Minimum postcard size is 3.5 by 4.25 inches.
Maximum postcard size is 4.25 by 6 inches.
Writing must be in blue or black ink.
Labels, stickers, plastic wrapping, stains, perfume, lipstick, and similar additions are prohibited.
Material depicting nudity, weapons, criminal activity, or gang references is prohibited.
Books and Publications
Books and subscription publications must be purchased directly through a publisher. Books must be softback paper editions. Hardcover, leather-covered, spiral-bound, and similar prohibited formats are not accepted, and books must arrive with a shipping manifest or invoice.
An inmate may possess no more than three books, five magazines, and one newspaper at one time. Publications considered a safety or security threat or pornographic in nature are prohibited.
Photograph Rules
Up to five photographs may be mailed at one time. They must be sent in an envelope clearly marked “PHOTOGRAPHS,” and the envelope cannot contain other items. Each photograph may be no larger than 4 by 6 inches.
The inmate’s name and booking number must be written on the back of each photograph, with nothing else written on the photograph. Images involving nudity, weapons, criminal activity, or gang references are prohibited.
Telephone Calls From Jail
The MCSO inmate telephone system information makes a basic limitation clear: inmates can make outgoing calls, but they cannot receive incoming telephone calls.
Telephones are generally available from approximately 7:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., although times can differ by facility and access may be restricted for security or disciplinary reasons. Some housing units provide telephone access around the clock.
The maximum length of an inmate call is 20 minutes. Personal outgoing calls are recorded and monitored. Three-way and conference calls are prohibited, and a call may be disconnected when the telephone system detects an attempted three-way connection.
Legal outgoing calls receive different confidentiality treatment when the telephone number is recognized by the jail system as belonging to qualifying legal counsel. Attorneys should follow the Sheriff’s Office procedures for legal telephone numbers rather than treating a personal inmate call as confidential by default.
Medication and Health Information
A person who is arrested while taking prescribed medication should tell medical staff during initial booking about the medications and dosages being taken. MCSO specifically identifies medications such as insulin, diabetes medication, and blood-pressure medication as examples of information that needs to be disclosed.
For people already booked into custody, medication brought from home or purchased outside the jail is not accepted for inmate consumption. Jail medical staff use the information supplied during booking so required medication can be ordered through the medical pharmacy and dispensed through the jail’s healthcare process.
Families or other appropriate contacts who need to share non-emergency health information can use the county-operated Correctional Health Services Clinical Liaison form. The form requests information about the person submitting the concern and the patient, including identifying information such as the patient’s name and criminal case number. Messages submitted during regular business hours are forwarded to clinical staff where the patient is housed for follow-up.
Court-Ordered Self-Surrender
A self-surrender is different from an ordinary arrest and booking. It applies when a person who is not already in custody has been ordered by a court to report to the Sheriff’s Office to serve a jail sentence. MCSO directs all self-surrenders to the Intake, Transfer and Release facility.
The official self-surrender instructions direct defendants to review the court order and report on the exact date and time stated in that order.
Required Surrender Documents
A person initially reporting for self-surrender must bring the required court and identification documents. MCSO lists the following items:
The Confinement Order issued by the court.
A government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, passport, or state ID.
Required prescription medication in the original pharmacy container bearing the person’s name.
Necessary medical devices, subject to the self-surrender rules.
The Confinement Order should not be confused with court minute entries. MCSO specifically states that these documents are not the same. A person who arrives without the required confinement order or identification may be refused entry and required to return to court for an amended confinement order with a later reporting date or time.
Work Release Health Form
People serving a Work Release sentence have additional medical documentation requirements. The Health Care Provider’s Certification Form must be completed less than 45 days before incarceration. MCSO also states that a required TB test takes a minimum of two days to complete.
An incomplete form or failure to bring the required form can result in the person being denied acceptance into the jail for the Work Release process.
Self-Surrender Property Limits
MCSO limits what a person may bring when initially reporting to serve flat time or a Work Release sentence. Authorized items include one layer of weather-appropriate clothing, clear prescription glasses, one government-issued ID, one car or house key, court paperwork, and required approved medication in original packaging.
Cell phones and smart watches are prohibited. The Sheriff’s Office states that if an item is not included in the authorized list, it is unauthorized.
Work Release participants also remain subject to inmate rules concerning alcohol and drugs. A person sentenced to Work Release who reports with alcohol or drugs in the system can be accepted into jail but placed into full custody for the duration of the sentence, with the sentencing court notified.
Sexual Abuse Protections
MCSO operates its detention facilities under the Prison Rape Elimination Act requirements and states that sexual abuse by employees, contractors, vendors, volunteers, or inmates is prohibited. The agency applies a zero-tolerance policy to sexual assault and sexual harassment in county custody.
The official MCSO PREA information page explains the policy framework and provides agency policy and inmate information materials. PREA protections apply to adult and juvenile confinement facilities and cover misconduct involving staff as well as inmate-to-inmate sexual assault.
Jail Offices and Facilities
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters
550 W. Jackson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003
602-876-1000
Fourth Avenue Jail
201 South 4th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85003
602-876-0322
Towers Jail
3127 West Gibson Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85009
602-876-0322
Watkins Jail
2680 South 28th Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85009
602-876-0322
Estrella Jail
2939 West Durango Street
Phoenix, AZ 85009
602-876-0322
Lower Buckeye Jail
3250 West Lower Buckeye Road
Phoenix, AZ 85009
602-876-0322
Intake, Transfer and Release
2670 South 28th Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85009
602-876-0322
512 Facility
2670 South 28th Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85009
602-876-0322
Transportation HUB
2670 South 28th Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85009
602-876-0322
Maricopa County Correctional Health
234 N Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-876-7100
Jail FAQs
Can an inmate get married while in custody?
Yes, but a jail marriage requires advance planning. According to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the jail commander must be contacted at least 60 days before the planned marriage date. Because approval and facility procedures may affect the process, families should not assume that obtaining a marriage license alone is enough to arrange a ceremony inside the jail. The Sheriff’s Office lists this requirement in its official information for inmate families.
Can prescription eyeglasses be brought to an inmate?
An inmate who was booked without prescription eyeglasses must submit an Inmate Request Form seeking permission from the Jail Commander or medical staff before glasses can be brought from home. MCSO states that only plastic-frame glasses are allowed, and tinted lenses are prohibited unless medically approved. Broken frames or lenses will not be accepted. Reading glasses may also be available through the jail canteen under separate procedures.
What happens to children when a parent is arrested?
The arresting officer will first attempt to locate a natural parent or relative who can care for the child. If no suitable relative is located, the Arizona Department of Child Safety may become involved. This process depends on the circumstances of the arrest and the availability of an appropriate caregiver, so families looking for a child should distinguish between the arresting agency’s responsibilities and jail custody procedures.
Do inmates have access to tablets?
Maricopa County jail inmates may have access to wireless tablets with services such as messaging, photo sharing, educational material, vocational training, multimedia content, telephone features, and video visits. MCSO explains the available functions on its official inmate tablet information page. Some tablet services require funds in the inmate’s account, and access remains subject to jail rules and service availability.
Where can families check officially reported inmate deaths?
The Sheriff’s Office maintains a dedicated inmate deaths page organized by year. Families seeking official jail-related death information should use that government page rather than relying on unofficial databases or social media reports.