Journalism
For additional assistance, contact Library Support
Public Records
About Public Records
Open access to certain records varies by state. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press publishes information on each state's open records and open meetings laws in Tapping Officials' Secrets.
The Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS), Section 39, covers Public Records. The Tapping Officials' Secrets listed above gives a breakdown of record categories for Arizona and whether they are open or closed records (scroll down to section IV).
Some examples include:
- Police records are governed by the Arizona Public Records Law
- Vital records (defined in ARS 36-301 (33) as "a registered birth certificate or a registered death certificate") are not open records.
- Access to driving records is not completely open. The Motor Vehicle Record Request form describes how records may be released, and who is exempted from providing all the required information to access the records (e.g., licensed private investigator, bonded motor vehicle dealer, etc.)
- A completed and signed voter registration form received by the county recorder becomes part of the official public record (ARS 16-161). Anyone from the public may come in and look at these records, which include names, party preference, date of birth, phone number, etc.
Accessing Public Records
"Public record" does not necessarily mean the records are available online or free to access. Some public records are available online, while others must be viewed in person at the government office that keeps them.
These sites are directories for finding some public records online:
SearchSystems.net Free Public Records Directory
Public Records Online Directory
For information about obtaining vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce), see Where to Write for Vital Records from the National Center for Health Statistics.
Arizona/Pima County/City of Tucson Public Records
The Arizona Daily Star ran a series of articles in December 2004 about an audit of access to public records in Arizona.
Accessing Arizona Public Records
From the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.
Supreme Court, State of Arizona
Public Access to Court Information
Pima County Clerk of the Superior Court Records Search
Includes court cases (civil, appeals, criminal, custody, etc.), marriage licenses, and more.
Pima County Assessor
Information on property ownership, property type, assessement of property value and property taxes.
Pima County Recorder Document Search
Deeds, liens, and other documents.
List of where to find other Pima County documents
Pima County Justice Courts
Search the court dockets
City of Tucson City Clerk's Office
Includes minutes of City Council meetings.
Finding People
In addition to the sources listed above, these sources may be used to find information about people:
- phone directories
- phone directories online
- reverse directories - lists residential and business addresses; provides directory by street address and phone number (sometimes called a “criss-cross” directory) - Cole Directory for Tucson and Vicinity at call# F819.T93 C76 Info Commons Reference
- voter registration records (unlisted phone numbers)
- motor vehicle records (see restrictions above)
- Arizona Board of Technical Registrations (occupational licensing)
- State of Arizona Sex Offender InfoCenter
Finding information about companies
- business directories
- financial filings (for public companies)
- business licenses
Knowing the community
- City, county, and state government agencies
- Local news outlets (newspaper, TV news)
- Chamber of Commerce, Visitor's Bureau, non-profit agencies
Additional Sources
Public Records Online: The National Guide to Private and Government Online Sources of Public Records, 3rd rev. ed. edited by Michael L. Sankey; James R. Flowers, Jr.; and Peter Weber. Tempe, AZ: Facts on Demand Press, 2001. Available at call# JK468.P76 P83 2006 Main.
The Reporter's Handbook: An Investigator's Guide to Documents and Techniques, 3rd ed. by Steve Weinberg. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1996. Available at call# PN4781 .R38 1996 Main Reference
Tapping State Government Information Sources. by Lori L. Smith, Daniel C. Barkley, Daniel D. Cornwall, Eric W. Johnson, and J. Louise Malcomb. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2003 Main. Available at call# Z1223.5 .A1 T36 2003 Main.
Local and Regional Government Information: How to Find It, How to Use It. by Mary Martin. Westport, CT : Greenwood Press, 2005. Available at call# Z1223.5.A1 L63 2005 Main.
Webpage created by Mary Feeney, Journalism Librarian