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Posted on February 15, 2024 in Expungement
The expungement of an arrest or conviction record means that a court seals or erases your criminal record, blocking it from view by employers, landlords, and others. Until 2023, Arizona did not allow for record expungement, but new laws now allow for expungement and record sealing in the state. Eligible parties can also apply to have their convictions set aside.
Find out if you are eligible to have your conviction set aside with assistance from an attorney. Call AZ Defenders today at (480) 456-6400.
It can be confusing to tell apart an expungement from a sealed record, and a set aside from either an expungement or record sealing. We will consider each of these options below.
Expungement is different from record sealing in that sealed records can still be accessed in some circumstances, notably by law enforcement or Arizona courts. With record expungement a court erases a criminal conviction, making it as though it never existed.
The main limitation on expungements in Arizona is that they are limited to pre-legalization marijuana-related charges. Outside of this narrow range of eligibility, expungement is not an option.
To most people and agencies, including employers, a sealed record is invisible like an expungement except that law enforcement agencies and the courts can access it.
A conviction, arrest or criminal charge that has been set aside will still exist and be visible for parties that are authorized to view the record. It shows, however, that the court dismissed the conviction or vacated the judgment.
If a conviction is set aside under Arizona Revised Statute Section 13-905, there will be a note on the record stating that a judge or court has agreed to “set aside” the record. This shows anyone viewing the record that the individual committed a type of crime that qualified him or her for setting the record aside (usually, a non-dangerous crime that did not harm anyone) and fulfilled the conditions of his or her sentence or probation.
There are similarities in the benefits that these legal processes can give to the subject of the criminal record. Like expungement or record sealing, setting aside a conviction can come with housing, employment and other benefits if you have a prior criminal conviction on your record.
Also, under the same statute above an individual who has had a record set aside may also receive a Certificate of Second Chance, which can allow them to obtain an occupational license for further employment opportunities.
According to the law, most people who have been convicted of offenses in Arizona – both misdemeanors and felonies – will qualify to have their records set aside as long as they fulfill the probation or sentence related to the crime and enough time has passed. There is no waiting period for a misdemeanor crime, but setting aside a felony record comes with a mandatory waiting period of two to five years after the fulfillment of a sentence.
There are certain crimes and situations, however, which disqualify an individual in Arizona from being able to set aside a criminal record. These include:
It is up to a judge’s discretion whether or not to accept an application to have a record set aside in Arizona. When making this determination, a judge will look at many different factors, including the amount of time that has passed since the conviction, whether this was the individual’s first offense, the severity and nature of the crime committed, and any applicable eligibility rules.
If you are eligible for Arizona’s version of record expungement, you or your attorney will need to fill out and submit the required application to the criminal courts. Your probation officer can also submit this paperwork. Working with an expungement attorney in Phoenix can make it easier for you to improve your prospects after being convicted of a crime. An attorney can help you understand and navigate the process of having a record set aside in Arizona.