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In Chandler, the court, the city prosecutor, the downtown police station and the county justice courts are all within two blocks of each other on Chicago Street. Chandler Police misdemeanors go to Chandler Municipal Court, at 200 E. Chicago St. Misdemeanors from county and state agencies go to the justice courts across the street. Felonies go to Maricopa County Superior Court in downtown Phoenix. AZ Defenders handles cases in all of them, from our Tempe office about 20 minutes away.
Call (480) 456-6400 for a free consultation. Chandler’s city prosecutor handles thousands of domestic violence charges a year and can proceed even when the alleged victim doesn’t want to. Get advice before you talk to anyone about your case.
| Your situation | Court | Who prosecutes |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor cited or arrested by Chandler Police (domestic violence, assault, disorderly conduct, shoplifting, criminal damage, trespass) | Chandler Municipal Court, 200 E. Chicago St., Chandler, AZ 85225. Phone (480) 782-4700. Open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (4:30 p.m. Wednesdays). | Chandler City Prosecutor’s Office, 250 E. Chicago St. Phone (480) 782-4610. |
| Misdemeanor filed in a county justice court | The Ocotillo Regional Court Center, 201 E. Chicago St., which houses the Kyrene, San Marcos, San Tan and University Lakes justice courts. The San Marcos precinct covers Chandler, Sun Lakes and the Gila River Indian Community. | Maricopa County Attorney’s Office |
| Any felony | Maricopa County Superior Court, downtown Phoenix (South Court Tower, 175 W. Madison St., and Central Court Building, 201 W. Jefferson St.) | Maricopa County Attorney’s Office |
Justice court boundaries follow addresses and are being redrawn for a new court opening in January 2027. Go by the court named on your citation.
Chandler and Gilbert police share one jail, the Gilbert-Chandler Unified Holding Facility, open since 2014. People are held there for up to 24 hours. In that time they either see a judge or are taken to the county jail system.
Felony arrests go to the county’s Intake, Transfer and Release (ITR) facility at 2670 S. 28th Dr. in Phoenix. The Initial Appearance Court there meets every three hours, around the clock, and must see you within 24 hours of arrest. The judge sets release conditions.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office then decides what to charge. Its current org chart puts Chandler cases with the “Phoenix Central and Chandler” trial bureau. Domestic violence and sex crime felonies may go to its specialized East Valley bureaus. The case itself is heard in downtown Phoenix, not Mesa.
Arraignments are scheduled; your date is on the citation, summons or jail release order. If you were released, the arraignment is normally set within 30 days of the offense.
On October 5, 2026, the court issued a new administrative order: nearly every hearing, including arraignment, is now presumptively in person. Remote appearance takes good cause. Telephonic pleas and pleas by mail under Rule 17.1 are the exception.
Diversion, where it’s available, is usually discussed at the pretrial conference with the city prosecutor. That’s where having a lawyer who has already reviewed the police report makes the difference.
The court’s walk-in windows are 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. You can use them to deal with a warrant or a missed date. Call us first.
Domestic violence makes up a large share of Chandler’s misdemeanor caseload. In fiscal 2024–25, the city prosecutor’s office handled 2,685 domestic violence charges and took 948 cases of all kinds to trial.
The office describes its approach as “evidence-based prosecution.” In practice, a case can go forward on 911 recordings, body-camera video, photographs and officer testimony, even if the alleged victim later recants or doesn’t want to testify. Don’t assume a domestic violence case will be dropped because the other person asks.
A defense starts with what the officers recorded and whether it proves the charge. It also covers whether the relationship qualifies as domestic violence under A.R.S. § 13-3601, and the release conditions, such as no-contact orders, that keep you out of your own home. See domestic violence defense and orders of protection.
DUI cases are handled by our DUI team at Rosenstein Law Group.
| Class | Maximum jail or prison | Maximum fine (before surcharges) |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 misdemeanor | 6 months jail | $2,500 |
| Class 2 misdemeanor | 4 months jail | $750 |
| Class 3 misdemeanor | 30 days jail | $500 |
| Class 5 felony, first offense, non-dangerous (e.g., aggravated domestic violence) | Probation is available. The prison range is 6 months to 2.5 years (presumptive 1.5 years). | Up to $150,000 |
Sources: A.R.S. §§ 13-702, 13-707, 13-801 and 13-802. Domestic violence convictions also require completing a counseling program. See Arizona felony classes.
Results from cases in Chandler’s courts. Past results don’t guarantee a future outcome.
Arizona lets you ask the court that convicted you to set aside the judgment (A.R.S. § 13-905). After a waiting period you can also petition to seal the record (A.R.S. § 13-911). Example: sealing of a 2020 assault case in Chandler Municipal Court, granted. Learn more about set-asides and record sealing.
Not necessarily. In Arizona, the prosecutor brings the charge, not the victim. Chandler’s prosecutor says it uses “evidence-based prosecution,” meaning it can proceed on recordings, photos and officer testimony. What usually changes the outcome is a lawyer testing that evidence.
Yes. Since October 5, 2026, arraignments and most other hearings have been in person by default. Remote appearance requires good cause. Older online information about phone arraignments is out of date.
To the Gilbert-Chandler Unified Holding Facility, for up to 24 hours. Felony arrests then go to the county’s ITR facility in Phoenix for an initial appearance.
All four justice courts meet at the Ocotillo Regional Court Center, 201 E. Chicago St. in Chandler, across from the city court.
Call (480) 456-6400 or send us a message. You can also meet our attorneys. Our office is at 404 E. Southern Ave. in Tempe, about 13 miles from Chandler Municipal Court (about 22 minutes via Loop 101 South).
Reviewed by Vicki Lopez, Certified Criminal Law Specialist (State Bar of Arizona), on November 13, 2026.