Under Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) 13-911, individuals with criminal history may be eligible to seal their criminal records. This means that their criminal history information will no longer be available to the public, except in certain limited circumstances.
To be eligible for record sealing under ARS 13-911, an individual must meet certain requirements, which include:
- Completing all the terms and conditions of their sentence, including probation or community supervision
- No new criminal charges or convictions pending
- All fines and restitution must be paid
After successfully completing his/her sentence, a petitioner must wait for the following time periods before becoming eligible to seal their records:
- Ten years for a class 2 or 3 felony.
- Five years for a class 4, 5 or 6 felony.
- Three years for a class 1 misdemeanor.
- Two years for a class 2 or 3 misdemeanor.
However, not all criminal offenses are eligible for record sealing. Some offenses, such as serious, dangerous, and sexual offenses, are generally excluded from eligibility. Most other offenses are eligible to be sealed.
If an individual’s petition for record sealing is granted, their criminal history information will be sealed from public view. This means that potential employers, landlords, and other members of the public will not be able to access this information.
However, law enforcement entities will still have access to sealed records.
The purpose of record sealing is to help individuals with criminal history move forward with their lives by giving them greater access to job and housing opportunities, as well as other aspects of life. By sealing their criminal history information, individuals may be able to overcome some of the barriers that can come with having a criminal record.
If you are interested in pursuing criminal record sealing, you can call us immediately for a free consultation at 602-777-4747.
