Law Department FAQ

See our Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office Protective orders page for assistance on obtaining a protective order. Or, you may visit the Phoenix Municipal Court’s Protective Orders page for more information.

Visit our Victim Information Center for a variety of information, or contact Victim Services at 602-261-8192 and ask to speak to a victim advocate.

A prosecutor evaluates each case and sends subpoenas to witnesses who are needed to testify during trial. Without your presence, the case may not be able to proceed. The date and trial location (courtroom number) will be printed on each subpoena, as well as a phone number. It is important to call the listed phone number as directed on the subpoena to make sure the trial has not been reset to another date.

If you've received a subpoena on a civil matter, please contact 602-262-6761.

PLEASE NOTE: A subpoena is an order form the Presiding Judge of the Phoenix Municipal Court. There may be legal consequences for failing to obey a subpoena. 

The length of time you are needed in court depends on the reason you are attending. If you are coming to court for:

• A pretrial disposition conference or evidentiary hearing - approximately 1-1½ hours
• A non-jury trial - typically 1-2 hours
• A jury trial - typically 1-2 days
• A restitution hearing - approximately 1 hour

For jury trials, if you were subpoenaed by the prosecution, speak to the assigned prosecutor when you arrive at court and exchange contact information. The prosecutor will be able to provide you with more details about the timing and length of your appearance. The Court will release you as soon as possible once you are no longer needed. If you are a crime victim you also have the right to remain through the entire proceeding.

There is a parking garage directly south of City Hall and the Phoenix Municipal Courthouse located at 305 West Washington. The entrance to the parking garage is off of 4th Avenue. The following link will provide you with a downtown area parking map

You may validate your parking for a reduced rate at the information center in front of the elevators.

You may also find metered parking on the streets around the Court. Please note that these parking meters are only for 1 and 2 hour parking, so please take careful note of where you park and consider how long you may be in the building when choosing where to park.

When you enter the Phoenix Municipal Courthouse you will go through a security screening, which is similar to the airport. If busy, security can take up to 10 minutes. Do not bring any weapons or sharp objects--including pocketknives or pepper sprays. The elevators in the lobby just past security will take you to your courtroom.

• 2nd Floor: Arraignments
• 3rd Floor: Court Clerk & Records
• 4th Floor: Public Defender's Office and Courtrooms 401 - 404
• 5th Floor: Courtrooms 501 - 508
• 6th Floor: Courtrooms 601 - 608
• 7th Floor: Courtrooms 701 - 708
• 8th Floor: Phoenix City Prosecutor's Office
• There is an information booth in the lobby for additional help.

Your appearance is important. You should come dressed as you would for a job interview (business casual), a dinner at a nice restaurant, or a special event. You should not wear tank tops or shorts, or T-shirts with rude or offensive language. Shoes and shirts are required.

If you are the victim of the crime, you will receive a letter explaining that the case was declined or referred for additional investigation. As a victim, you also have the right to discuss the matter with a prosecutor. To do so, call 602-262-6461 or contact Victim Services at 602-261-8192.

If you are not the victim of the crime, we will not be able to discuss specific charging decisions or pending investigations.

If no criminal charge was filed in your case you can contact our office to request a letter indicating that no charge was filed. Contact us by phone at 602-262-6461 and ask to speak to the Charging Legal Secretary. They can explain the process and provide the required forms. Note that we can only provide such a letter in cases that were referred to our office for a charging decision. If the case was not referred to us, or if we cannot locate records for your case we will not be able to provide a letter. In those cases if the report was taken by Phoenix Police, the Public Records Detail of the Phoenix Police Department may be able to provide a "Letter of Clearance."

If the case was charged in Phoenix Municipal Court, you will need to obtain information about the disposition of the case from the Court. The phone number for the Phoenix Municipal Court is 602-262-6421.

If you have an active case in the Phoenix Municipal Court, you should direct any questions about your case to your attorney. We cannot talk to you about your case if you have an attorney representing you. If you do not have an attorney, you can hire an attorney or ask the Court to appoint an attorney to represent you. If you do not have an attorney and you want to represent yourself, you can speak to the prosecutor and/or the Court in court at your assigned court date and time.

No. Neither the Phoenix City Attorney's Office nor the Prosecutor's Office can provide legal advice to citizens of Phoenix. Our sole function is to prosecute people who violate criminal misdemeanor laws, and to provide legal representation to the city, its agents, and employees. To contact the Maricopa County Law Library, call 602-506-3461 or visit the Maricopa County Law Library website. You may also try contacting Community Legal Services.

• See the State’s websi te for Arizona Revised Statutes, the laws in Arizona.
• See the Phoenix City Code.​

• Maricopa County Clerk of the Court, Family Support Services can be reached at 602-506-3762.
• The Department of Economic Security's Child Support Enforcement Unit can be reached at 602-252-4045.

The Phoenix Prosecutor's Office and Phoenix Municipal Court handle civil traffic cases and adult criminal misdemeanor cases arising out of the City of Phoenix. We do not handle felony criminal cases, family law cases, juvenile cases, federal cases, or cases that arise out of another city's jurisdiction. You will need to contact the appropriate jurisdiction or prosecuting agency for information on those cases.

For information about felony criminal cases arising out of Maricopa County, contact the Maricopa County Attorney's Office or the Maricopa County Superior Court.

For information about family law or juvenile cases in Maricopa County, contact the Maricopa County Superior Court's Family or Juvenile divisions.

If you have a case in federal court, you may be able to obtain additional information from the Sandra Day O'Connor federal court house located around the corner from the Phoenix Municipal Court.

For information on other courts in Arizona, and for information on the court system in general, visit: http://www.azcourts.gov/azcourts.aspx.

To get information on someone being held in a jail in Maricopa County, visit the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office - Inmate Information page. The MCSO web page also maintains information on Jail Locations as well as information for Families and about Visitation

• If it is a life threatening emergency or a crime in progress, call 911.
• If is a non-emergency criminal issue such as a noise complaint or a crime that already occurred, call the Phoenix Police non emergency number (Crime Stop): (602) 262-6151 or use the Phoenix Police Department’s Online Reporting System.
• To report suspected child abuse or neglect contact Arizona Child Protective Services at 1-888-767-2445.
  
• For assistance with a landlord/tenant dispute, contact Human Services - Landlord and Tenant Program.
• Report zoning/property violations via Neighborhood Services / myPHX311.
• Report identity theft through the Phoenix Police Department’s Online Reporting System.
• Report fraudulent business or consumer fraud with the Attorney General’s office by filling out their Complaint Form.
• Report a dead animal for pickup to 602-262-6791

• Information on requests for City of Phoenix Public Records can be found on the City’s Public Records page.
• All media requests for public records must go through the Public Information Office.
• Police reports can be obtained from Public Records Detail of the Phoenix Police Department.

For any information regarding business or regulatory licenses issued within the City of Phoenix, please see the Phoenix City Clerk Web site.

Information on both of these can be obtained from the Maricopa County Clerk of Court

Birth and Death certificates are obtained through the State of Arizona Office of Vital Records.

Each semester, law students who attend Arizona State University College of Law are selected to participate in the City Prosecutor's internship program and work with the Phoenix City Prosecutor's Office. For additional information see: Arizona State University Criminal Practice Clinic.

All inquiries into employment with the City of Phoenix are directed to the City’s Employment page.

Attorneys in the City Attorney’s Office serve as the attorneys for the City government and City officials. The City Attorney’s Office does not represent individuals in private legal matters and cannot provide any legal advice to individuals or businesses. Individuals must retain their own attorneys for legal advice and representation.

There are many resources available for legal questions, including, the Maricopa County Bar Lawyer Referral Service, the Arizona State Bar, and Community Legal Services.

Please refer to the City Clerk, more information here.