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Mesa, Arizona · A.R.S. § 13-911

Seal a Criminal Record in Mesa, AZ

Arizona's record-sealing law (A.R.S. § 13-911) lets eligible Mesa residents petition the Maricopa County Superior Court – Southeast Regional Center to hide their criminal record from public view. Once sealed, the record is removed from public access and most employer background checks; you can legally state on most applications that it never happened. Mesa is the third-largest city in Arizona and home to the Southeast Regional Court — Maricopa County's satellite court for the East Valley. Mesa residents can file petitions locally without driving to downtown Phoenix.

Check eligibility → Call (480) 923-7570
Arizona record sealing eligibility flowchart A decision tree showing who qualifies to seal a criminal record under A.R.S. § 13-911. The flowchart starts with whether the offense was a serious felony, then asks about waiting period, prior denial status, and outstanding obligations to determine if the petitioner is eligible, must wait, or is barred. Sealing Eligibility (§ 13-911) Arizona Revised Statutes — record sealing pathway Conviction in Arizona court Excluded under § 13-911(O)? Sex offenses, victim under 15 YES → BARRED Not eligible NO ↓ Waiting period elapsed? Class 4-6: 5 yr · Class 2-3: 10 yr · Misd: 2-3 yr measured from absolute discharge NO → WAIT Come back later YES ↓ Probation discharged + restitution paid? No active warrants or pending charges prior denials trigger 3-year wait NO → CURE FIRST Pay, discharge YES ↓ ELIGIBLE TO FILE Petition the original court $0 court filing fee · 60-day window What sealing does • Hides record from public • Hides from most employers • You can legally state on most applications it never happened Exceptions: law enforcement, AZPOST, child / vulnerable adult work

Filing in Mesa — local details

Where to file

Maricopa County Superior Court – Southeast Regional Center

Southeast Regional Court Center, 222 E. Javelina Ave., Mesa, AZ 85210

Phone: (602) 506-2074
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday

E-filing

Available — Mesa cases follow Maricopa County's eFiling system. Use the Clerk's Office Online Portal for criminal cases (separate from AZTurboCourt).

Required for: Attorneys (per administrative order). Optional for self-represented filers.

Payment methods

Visa, MasterCard, American Express, money orders, or law-firm/business checks. NO personal checks accepted at any Maricopa County clerk location.

Court filing fee for this service is $0 — no payment is required at the clerk's window.

Prosecutor service

Maricopa County Attorney's Office (handles Mesa cases)

301 W. Jefferson St., 8th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003

Phone: (602) 506-3411

Alternate filing locations

Mesa filers may also use the Central Court Complex (201 W. Jefferson, Phoenix) for criminal filings, especially when filing alongside other Maricopa cases. The Southeast Regional Court at 222 E. Javelina is closer for East Valley residents.

Parking & access

Free parking is available adjacent to the Southeast Regional Court at 222 E. Javelina. The Mesa courthouse is near the Mesa Drive light-rail station for those using public transit.

Processing time

Mesa cases are filed in Maricopa County's system, so processing times match Phoenix: 60-90 days for uncontested petitions. The Southeast Regional Court handles intake, but petitions may be heard at the Central Court Complex depending on judge assignment.

Judge assignment

Sealing petitions are routed to the original sentencing judge when possible. East Valley criminal-bench judges typically hear local cases; some petitions may be reassigned to downtown Phoenix depending on the judge's current calendar.

After-hours filing

After-hours filing depositories are available at the Central Court Complex in downtown Phoenix. The Mesa Southeast Regional Court accepts in-person filings during business hours.

What seal a criminal record does

Does

  • Hides the record from public view
  • Removes from most employer background checks
  • You can legally answer "no" to "have you ever been convicted" on most applications
  • Civil rights stay restored (if already restored under § 13-907)

Doesn't

  • Does not affect law-enforcement, AZPOST, or court access to the record
  • Does not seal records used in subsequent criminal cases (priors still apply)
  • Does not seal child-related employment background checks (DCS, DDD, schools)
  • Does not affect immigration consequences of the conviction

The statute, in plain terms

Section 13-911 establishes waiting periods based on offense classification: 2 years for misdemeanors (with a 3-year period for certain offenses), 5 years for Class 4-6 felonies, and 10 years for Class 2-3 felonies. The waiting clock starts from absolute discharge (probation discharge or release from custody, whichever is later). Offenses excluded under subsection (O) — including certain sex offenses, offenses against victims under 15, and select dangerous-offense classifications — cannot be sealed at all.

Note for Mesa filers: Sealing took on its current form in September 2024 (SB 1639), which removed the prior-felony 5-year extension and increased the prosecutor-response window from 30 to 60 days.

Mesa Seal a Criminal Record FAQ

Where do Mesa residents file a § 13-911 sealing petition?

Petitions are filed with the Maricopa County Superior Court – Southeast Regional Center. The criminal filing counter is at 222 E. Javelina Ave., Mesa, AZ 85210. Hours are 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday. Mesa filers may also use the Central Court Complex (201 W. Jefferson, Phoenix) for criminal filings, especially when filing alongside other Maricopa cases. The Southeast Regional Court at 222 E. Javelina is closer for East Valley residents.

Is there a court filing fee in Maricopa County?

No. Arizona courts charge $0 to file a § 13-911 sealing petition. The legislature deliberately removed filing fees so that record-clearing remedies remain accessible. Some attorneys quote "filing fees" but there are none — it's only the service fee for petition preparation.

Can I e-file my petition in Maricopa County?

Available — Mesa cases follow Maricopa County's eFiling system. Use the Clerk's Office Online Portal for criminal cases (separate from AZTurboCourt). Attorneys (per administrative order). Optional for self-represented filers.

How long does sealing take in Mesa?

Mesa cases are filed in Maricopa County's system, so processing times match Phoenix: 60-90 days for uncontested petitions. The Southeast Regional Court handles intake, but petitions may be heard at the Central Court Complex depending on judge assignment. The 60-day waiting period is required by statute — the court cannot rule sooner. Sealed orders typically issue within 7-14 days of the 60-day mark if uncontested.

What if the prosecutor objects to my petition?

Maricopa County Attorney's Office (handles Mesa cases) has 60 days from filing to object. If they object, the court schedules a hearing. Most petitions in Mesa are decided on the papers without a hearing — objections are uncommon when the petition is properly prepared and the petitioner is statutorily eligible. The prosecutor's office can be reached at (602) 506-3411.

Ready to seal a criminal record in Mesa?

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