FOIA Request to Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office regarding housing policies at Maricopa County jails on November 26, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office seeking records related to housing policies at specific county jail facilities. The request, made under the Arizona Public Records Law § 39.101 et seq., aims to obtain detailed information about the current procedures and guidelines concerning inmate housing at the Lower Buckeye Jail Intake Processing and Release Center and the 4th Avenue Jail.
The request specifically asks for documents that outline whether male and female inmates are housed together in any capacity, including units, cells, or common areas. Additionally, it seeks records of complaints, grievances, or incident reports filed by inmates or staff regarding the housing of opposite-sex inmates from January 1, 2020, to the present. Another aspect of the request includes obtaining policies related to the housing or segregation of inmates convicted or charged with crimes against children.
The Grand Canyon Times has emphasized its role in providing transparency and holding public institutions accountable through access to public records. As a media organization committed to disseminating news, they have requested a fee waiver for this FOIA submission.
This request is supported by The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that aids media companies in investigating governmental agencies using Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. More information about their work can be found on their website: https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.
