Someone 'tampers with public records' when they knowingly defraud or deceive a person by:

making a public record, knowing it is false,

using a public record, knowing it was falsely made,

filing a public record, knowing it was falsely made,

destroying, concealing, removing or otherwise impairing the availability of a public record or

refusing to deliver a public record.

A 'public record' is defined by Arizona law as official books, papers, written instruments or records created, issued, received or kept by any governmental office or agency required by law to be kept. Public records can range from marriage licenses to memos and even email within government agencies.