Arizona's expungement equivalent is "setting aside" a conviction. Arizona's setting aside statute (ARS 13-907) allows a defendant to petition the court to have a conviction set aside after the terms of the sentence are met. If the court grants the petition, the defendant shall "be released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the conviction other than those imposed by the Department of Transportation…”. The conviction can be used in any subsequent criminal prosecution.
By Mathew K. Higbee, Esq.
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ARIZONA REVISED STATUTE
13-907
A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, every person convicted of a criminal offense, on fulfillment of the conditions of probation or sentence and discharge by the court, may apply to the judge, justice of the peace or magistrate who pronounced sentence or imposed probation or such judge, justice of the peace or magistrate's successor in office to have the judgment of guilt set aside. The convicted person shall be informed of this right at the time of discharge.
B. The application to set aside the judgment may be made by the convicted person or by the convicted person's attorney or probation officer authorized in writing.
C. If the judge, justice of the peace or magistrate grants the application, the judge, justice of the peace or magistrate shall set aside the judgment of guilt, dismiss the accusations or information and order that the person be released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the conviction other than those imposed by:
1. The department of transportation pursuant to section 28-3304, 28-3306, 28-3307, 28-3308 or 28-3319, except that the conviction may be used as a conviction if such conviction would be admissible had it not been set aside and may be pleaded and proved in any subsequent prosecution of such person by the state or any of its subdivisions for any offense or used by the department of transportation in enforcing section 28-3304, 28-3306, 28-3307, 28-3308 or 28-3319 as if the judgment of guilt had not been set aside.
2. The game and fish commission pursuant to section 17-314 or 17-340.
D. This section does not apply to a person convicted of a criminal offense:
1. Involving the infliction of serious physical injury.
2. Involving the use or exhibition of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument.
3. For which the person is required or ordered by the court to register pursuant to section 13-3821.
4. For which there has been a finding of sexual motivation pursuant to section 13-118.
5. In which the victim is a minor under fifteen years of age.
6. In violation of section 28-3473, any local ordinance relating to stopping, standing or operation of a vehicle or title 28, chapter 3, except a violation of section 28-693 or any local ordinance relating to the same subject matter as section 28-693.
This content is provided free of charge. It was verified by the Law Offices of Mathew K. Higbee
ARS. 13-907 Setting aside judgment of convicted person on discharge; application; release from disabilities; exceptions
ARS. 13-908 Restoration of civil rights in the discretion of the superior court judge
ARS. 13-909 Restoration of civil rights; persons completing probation for federal offense
ARS. 13-910 Applications by persons discharged from federal prison