Apache County Criminal Records Search
Apache County spans 11,127 square miles. That makes it the third big one by area in Arizona. The Clerk of the Court keeps all criminal court records for Superior Court cases. Files go back to 1995. Older ones sit at the courthouse in St. Johns. You can search for case info online through the Arizona Public Access portal. It costs nothing. Or go to the courthouse in person. Staff let you look at records during regular hours. The choice is yours when you need to find criminal court records in Apache County.
Apache County Quick Facts
Apache County Clerk Office
The Clerk of the Court office sits at 70 West 3rd South Street in St. Johns AZ 85936. Mail stuff to PO Box 365 St. Johns AZ 85936. The phone rings at 928-337-7550 for general info. Fax is 928-337-2771. Hours run from eight in the morning to five in the afternoon on weekdays. No fax filings get accepted. Not for any case type. That rule stands firm in Apache County. Superior Court cases from 1995 forward live online through the state portal. You can get to them from home or work or wherever you have internet access. Older records stay at the courthouse in boxes and file rooms. Call ahead if you need to see files from storage. Staff will pull them before you show up. This cuts down on wait time and makes sure the records are ready when you walk through the door at the courthouse in Apache County.
Staff will help you find case files. They explain copy rules. They take payment too. Searching records at the courthouse costs nothing. Zero. You pay only when you want copies to take with you. Bring exact case numbers if you have them. This speeds things up quite a bit when staff searches for your records in Apache County.
Getting Criminal Case Records
Online searches through the Arizona Public Access portal cost nothing. The system runs day and night. Search by party name or case number. You find criminal cases that way. The portal shows basic case info but leaves out actual court documents. If you want document copies, you must contact the Clerk's office directly. In-person visits to the courthouse let you search records at no charge. Head to 70 West 3rd South Street during office hours. Public access to records is free for looking. Staff can make copies while you wait if the files are easy to find. Payment kicks in only if you need copies to take with you. Many folks just want to look at case details and take notes, which costs them nothing in Apache County.
Mail requests should include the names of parties involved in the case. Add date of birth if you know it. Social security number helps if you have it. Case number speeds things up when you can provide it. Or give the time period when the case was filed so staff can narrow down the search. Include a check or money order for estimated fees based on what you discussed with staff. Make payment to Apache County Clerk of the Court. Send everything to PO Box 365 St. Johns AZ 85936. Processing time changes based on how much digging around is required to locate your records and how busy the office is that week in Apache County.
Phone payments work when you call 928-337-7550. But that line handles payments only. Records requests do not go through by phone. You must submit in person, by mail, or through the website contact form. Email inquiries can be sent through the contact form on the website. Put in all identifying information about the case. Staff send back fee estimates and instructions for payment. Turnaround time depends on office workload in Apache County.
Apache County Record Fees
Essential case info is free. Case numbers cost nothing. Party names are free too. Filing dates come at no charge. Copies of documents run 50 cents per page. Certification adds 30 dollars per document on top of the copy fee. Mailing fees hit seven dollars when records go out by mail. These fees beat some other Arizona counties for certification work. Payment methods include cash, checks, and money orders at the counter. Make checks payable to Apache County Clerk of the Court. Credit and debit cards might work for in-person payments but you should call ahead to confirm what they accept right now in Apache County.
Justice Courts and Misdemeanors
Apache County runs four Justice Court precincts across its territory. St. Johns Precinct picks up the phone at 928-337-7558. Chinle Precinct answers at 928-674-5922. Northstar Precinct takes care of the Sanders area. Puerco Precinct sits at 928-688-2954. Each Justice Court deals with misdemeanor cases. They handle traffic violations too. Small claims go through them for their geographic area. The precincts split up the county so people do not have to drive as far to get to court.
Misdemeanor criminal cases go to Justice Courts. Traffic violations end up there too. Not at Superior Court. Contact the specific Justice Court precinct where your case got filed. That is where the records sit. Superior Court handles only felony criminal cases in Apache County.
Nearby Arizona Counties
Cases filed in neighboring counties require separate requests to those county clerks.