ARIZONA CRIMINAL RECORD EXPUNGEMENT SERVICES
Don’t Let Your Past Hurt Your Future
When an individual is arrested or charged with a crime in Arizona, a criminal record is created with the Arizona Department of Public Safety Criminal History Records Division, who then forwards these records to the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division, making his or her records available to be found when conducting a background check.
These are just some of the criminal justice agencies that make your criminal history searchable in a background check for employment, purchasing a gun, and many other things like renting a place to live. Like many states, Arizona has enacted laws that provide some relief for Arizonians with criminal records that have already paid their debt to society.
Know Your Options
Arizona provides a few methods to deal with a criminal record and restore your Second Amendment Rights, so it’s important to review the specific circumstances surrounding the incidents on your record to figure out what’s the best method for you to deal with your criminal record.
Arizona Firearm Rights Restoration
arrow_drop_downLearn More Arizona Firearm Rights RestorationRestoring Firearm Rights in Arizona
Getting arrested or charged with a crime in Arizona will almost always produce a criminal record. If convicted of that crime, you can often have it set aside after you’ve received a final discharge from your sentence. However, if your charges were dismissed or you were found guilty, you can rarely do anything to get rid of your arrest record despite the fact that you weren’t even found guilty
Arizona Arrest Record Seals
arrow_drop_downLearn More Arizona Arrest Record SealsSealing Arrest Records in Arizona
Getting arrested or charged with a crime in Arizona will almost always produce a criminal record. If convicted of that crime, you can often have it set aside after you’ve received a final discharge from your sentence. However, if your charges were dismissed or you were found guilty, you can rarely do anything to get rid of your arrest record despite the fact that you weren’t even found guilty
Arizona Set Aside
arrow_drop_downLearn More Arizona Set AsideSetting Aside Convictions in Arizona
Arizona law allows for the setting aside of both misdemeanor and felony convictions in many situations under ARS 13-907, but not every criminal record qualifies. There are certain offenses that currently cannot be set aside under Arizona law, and you must also receive a final discharge from the terms of your sentence. In addition to meeting these requirements, you must then convince a judge, justice of the peace, or magistrate that you deserve to have your conviction set aside.
This Information is for You
Since the majority of people reading this aren’t lawyers, we’ve tried to simplify the legal jargon on our website, so regular people may follow along and get the information needed to understand their rights. However, before we get started, we should be clear that some of this information can get complicated, and, in many cases, it’s best to seek the assistance of an experienced lawyer.
To help you understand your rights, our lawyers have developed a tool that can be helpful in figuring out your options. This tool can’t be perfectly accurate in every situation, but our lawyers have invested substantial time and resources working to make it as accurate as possible.
You can get started by using our Secure Eligibility Test, or you can give us a call at (844) 947-3732 to see if our legal staff is available for a free consultation. Be aware that our staff is often busy with current clients and a high volume of calls and appointments. If you’re serious about getting rid of your record, your best bet is to take our secure, confidential Eligibility Test and then schedule an appointment to discuss your results and options.
Legal Effect of Setting Aside Your Records
Although Arizona law doesn’t actually use the term expungement, Arizona law permits you to set aside both misdemeanor and felony convictions, seal arrest records, restore civil rights like your firearm rights, and also set aside or seal juvenile records. Setting aside a conviction under ARS 13-907 allows you to legally state that you have not been convicted of a crime, and in many cases, it will restore your firearm rights as well. There are specific requirements discussed below, but the main requirement to setting aside your record is that you’ve completed your sentence.
How will setting aside my conviction or arrest record help me get a job?
arrow_drop_downSetting aside an Arizona conviction is currently the best way to improve your chances of getting a job when you have a criminal record. Obtaining a set aside indicates that you’re no longer a “criminal” and releases you from the judgement of guilt. Unfortunately, it does not completely destroy or remove your record from the public record. Instead, when you are granted a set aside, the court vacates your conviction and dismisses the charges.
It would be preferable if the set aside completely eliminated your conviction, but setting a conviction aside releases you of a judgement of guilt and is the best thing you can do to make it easier to get a job with a criminal record. It depends on the employer, but you may have to disclose the incident, even if it has been set aside. However, it is far better when you can explain that the charge has now been dismissed and you are no longer a “criminal” under Arizona law. While setting aside a conviction in Arizona is not a perfect solution when you’re trying to get a job, it’s the best option available, and should put you in a far better position to get hired.
Will expunging my record restore my Second Amendment Right to own and possess a firearm?
arrow_drop_downArizona law provides two different methods to restore your firearm rights. If you were not convicted of a “Serious Offense” set forth in ARS 13-706, a simple set aside should restore your right to own a firearm in most cases if it has been two years since final discharge from the terms of your sentence. A list of “Serious Offenses” can be found in the Firearm Rights Restoration section below of this page. However, if you were convicted of a “Serious Offense” you may still restore your firearm rights in many cases 10 years after final discharge from the terms of your sentence so long as your offense was not a “Dangerous Offense” under Arizona law (Dangerous Offenses are discussed in greater detail below).
Not everybody with an Arizona conviction can restore their constitutional right to own or possess firearms, but Arizona’s laws are pretty favorable when compared to the process in other states. It should be noted that you can almost never restore firearm rights based on federal convictions, and it can be very difficult if your Second Amendment rights were taken away due to a domestic violence conviction. For more information about federal firearm rights and domestic violence charges, the Department of Justice has resources you can find about domestic violence convictions.
We will go into more detail relating to restoring Second Amendment rights in Arizona below, but restoring firearm rights typically involves both state and federal law that should be handled by an experienced lawyer. The lawyers in our firm regularly handle complex firearm rights restoration issues, so a good first step in exploring whether you can restore your firearm rights would be to take our Secure Eligibility Test, and then if appropriate, setting up a time to speak with our legal staff about how to proceed.
What You Need to Do to Get Rid of Your Record
If you are tired of having a criminal record hold you back, reach out to us by taking our Secure Eligibility Test or by giving us a call at (844) 947-3732. Our law firm has helped thousands of people with criminal records move on in life, leaving many of the negative effects of a criminal record behind. Our experienced attorneys and legal staff are here to help you figure out what criminal record clearing services best fit your needs, and then help you accomplish your goals. Using our secure, confidential Eligibility Test is the best way to get the process started.
Some of the potential benefits of expunging your criminal record in Arizona include:
- Removing a finding of guilt from your criminal record to help you get a better job
- Becoming eligible for professional licenses you previously did not qualify for
- Restoring your Second Amendment Right to bear arms
- No longer being treated as a felon
- Increased eligibility for student loans, housing assistance, and government programs
- Improving your ability to obtain higher-paying job opportunities
- Improving access and admission to college and other educational resources
Each of Arizona's methods for dealing with your criminal record have different requirements and are meant for different circumstances. To move forward, it’s important to determine what Arizona criminal record services are available to you, and then select the services that will provide the greatest benefit. Eastman Meyler, PC is here to help you navigate this very specific area of Arizona criminal law, fight to protect your rights, and assist you in moving forward in life without the effects of a Arizona criminal record.
You can trust that you will get exceptional service from our law firm, as we have an A Rating from the Better Business Bureau, and prestigious attorney rating services such as Thompson Reuters and Avvo list our attorneys as Super Lawyers and Superb Attorneys. Our law firm has attorneys licensed to practice law in all Arizona state courts, provides low price guarantees, and is here to fight for you and put your criminal record behind you!