Arizona » Arizona Arrest Sealing
If you were arrested details of the arrest are on your criminal background and files can be seen in courts and law enforcement agencies. Such details can cause embarrassment and prevent you from reaching your potential.
Under Arizona law, if you were wrongfully arrested, indicted, or otherwise charged, and not convicted, you may petition the court to enter on your record that you have been cleared of all charges. If successful, the judge will order all law enforcement agencies and courts to cease from distributing your arrest record to anyone. The arrest will be treated as if it never occurred. Any person who has notice of the order and fails to comply will be liable to you for damages caused.
RecordGone.com provides a free online eligibility test where you can easily check if you qualify for this service.
Arizona Arrest Sealing Benefits
By sealing your Arizona record, you can:
- Tell employers that you have not been convicted of a crime
- Become eligible for student loans
- Become eligible for housing assistance
- Become eligible for more types of professional licenses and certificates
- Tell friends and family that you have not been convicted of a crime
- Stop fearing or being embarrassed when someone does a background check on you.
Arizona Arrest Sealing Requirements
If you were arrested in Arizona and charges were dropped before trial, you may be eligible for record sealing. If you were wrongfully arrested, indicted, or otherwise charged, and not convicted, you may petition the court to enter on your record that you have been cleared of all charges. If successful, the judge will order all law enforcement agencies and courts to cease from distributing your arrest record to anyone. The arrest will be treated as if it never occurred.
Arizona Arrest Sealing Law
§ 13-4051. Entry on records; stipulation; court order
A. Any person who is wrongfully arrested, indicted or otherwise charged for any crime may petition the superior court for entry upon all court records, police records and any other records of any other agency relating to such arrest or indictment a notation that the person has been cleared.
B. After a hearing on the petition, if the judge believes that justice will be served by such entry, the judge shall issue the order requiring the entry that the person has been cleared on such records, with accompanying justification therefor, and shall cause a copy of such order to be delivered to all law enforcement agencies and courts. The order shall further require that all law enforcement agencies and courts shall not release copies of such records to any person except upon order of the court.
C. Any person who has notice of such order and fails to comply with the court order issued pursuant to this section shall be liable to the person for damages from such failure.
Whats on your record?
The first step to removing your criminal record is to find out what, if anything, is showing up on your criminal background. If you are unsure of what exactly is holding you back from jobs or any of lives other opportunities we highly recommend visiting our partner, BackgroundChecks.com, where you can get a full national criminal history background check for a super low price.
