Learn / Arizona Record Clearing

Clearing Your Criminal Record in Arizona: Complete Guide

Last updated May 2026. All statutory references reflect Arizona law in effect after SB 1639 (eff. Sept 13, 2024) and HB2119 (eff. Sept 24, 2022).

If you have a criminal record in Arizona, you likely have more options than you realize. Arizona's legislature has spent the last decade dramatically expanding statutory relief for people with criminal histories. As of 2026, there are seven distinct legal pathways — each with its own eligibility rules, waiting periods, and effect on your record.

This guide walks through all seven. If you finish this article unsure which fits your situation, our free screening tool will tell you in three minutes — but you don't need to use it. The statutes are public and the procedures are knowable. We wrote this so you'd be informed regardless of what you decide to do next.

Why Arizona made record relief so accessible

Arizona used to be a "hard" state for criminal-record relief — you needed a pardon from the Governor's office for most things, and the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency processed only a handful per year. Starting around 2018, the legislature shifted course on this issue. Three big legislative actions changed everything:

• HB2034 (2017) created the Certificate of Second Chance, signaling a new direction.
• Proposition 207 (2020) legalized recreational marijuana and authorized expungement of past marijuana convictions under § 36-2862.
• HB2119 (2022) created automatic restoration of civil rights for first-time AZ felons under § 13-907 — no application needed for most felons.
• SB 1639 (2024) dramatically expanded sealing under § 13-911 — removed the prior-felony 5-year extension, increased prosecutor objection window from 30 to 60 days.

The cumulative effect: Arizona courts now charge $0 in filing fees for record-clearing petitions, the eligibility rules are clearer, and the procedural barriers are much lower than they used to be. The legislature deliberately made these remedies accessible. Most petitioners who file properly succeed.

The seven paths, in plain terms

1. Record Sealing — A.R.S. § 13-911

What it does: Hides your criminal record from public view. After sealing, you can legally state on most employment applications that the offense never happened. The record is preserved in court files but is no longer accessible to the public, most employers, or background-check companies.

Who it's for: Most people with completed convictions in Arizona, after the relevant waiting period (2-3 years for misdemeanors, 5 years for Class 4-6 felonies, 10 years for Class 2-3 felonies — measured from absolute discharge).

Exclusions: Sex offenses requiring registration, offenses against victims under 15, and other categories listed in § 13-911(O).

→ Read the full sealing guide

2. Set-Aside — A.R.S. § 13-905

What it does: Vacates the judgment of guilt and adds a "set aside" notation to the record. The conviction is still visible on background checks, but it's marked as set aside, which most employers treat favorably. Civil rights are also restored as a matter of law.

Who it's for: Most people with completed sentences. No statutory waiting period — you can apply as soon as probation is discharged and all fines are paid. Discretionary, so a strong personal statement matters.

Exclusions: Dangerous offenses, sex offenses requiring registration, victim under 15, and select DUIs (§ 13-905(P)).

→ Read the full set-aside guide

3. Civil Rights Restoration — A.R.S. §§ 13-907, 13-908

What it does: Restores the right to vote, serve on a jury, and hold public office. Section 13-907 is automatic for first-time AZ felons at probation discharge (HB2119, eff. Sept 24, 2022). Section 13-908 covers everyone else.

Who it's for: Anyone with a felony who hasn't had civil rights restored. Most first-time AZ felons discharged after September 2022 already have rights restored automatically — check first before applying.

Exclusions: None per se — it's an application process under § 13-908, but eligibility depends on factors like restitution payment.

→ Read the full civil rights guide

4. Firearm Rights Restoration — A.R.S. § 13-910

What it does: Restores the federal and state right to possess a firearm. Civil rights restoration under § 13-907 does NOT include firearm rights — that's a separate statute, § 13-910, with its own waiting periods.

Who it's for: Most non-dangerous felons after a 2-year wait from absolute discharge. Serious offenses under § 13-706 trigger a 10-year wait. Dangerous offenses under § 13-704 are permanently barred.

Exclusions: Federal restrictions still apply for some categories regardless of state restoration. Domestic violence misdemeanors carry a federal lifetime ban under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9) that AZ state restoration does not lift.

→ Read the full firearm rights guide

5. Marijuana Expungement — A.R.S. § 36-2862

What it does: True expungement — the record is destroyed, not just sealed. The conviction is erased from your record, and you can deny it ever happened in any context including law enforcement queries.

Who it's for: Anyone with a personal-use marijuana possession, paraphernalia, or cultivation conviction (up to 2.5 oz, up to 6 plants). Authorized by Proposition 207 (2020). State v. Sorensen (2023) confirmed sales offenses are also eligible if for personal use.

Exclusions: Distribution offenses involving large quantities; trafficking convictions.

→ Read the full marijuana expungement guide

6. Class 6 Felony Designation — A.R.S. § 13-604

What it does: Converts an "undesignated" Class 6 felony to a misdemeanor after probation completion. This is a major reduction — most legal consequences of a felony (firearm bar, voting restrictions, public employment limits) disappear.

Who it's for: Anyone whose Class 6 felony was left "undesignated" or "open" at sentencing (verify on the minute entry) and who has completed probation. Not subject to dangerous-offense exclusions or two-or-more-priors rule.

Exclusions: Designated Class 6 felonies (already designated at sentencing). Dangerous offenses. Two or more priors at the time of conviction.

→ Read the full Class 6 designation guide

7. Admin Per Se Expungement — A.R.S. § 28-3004

What it does: Removes the "Administrative Per Se" license suspension notation from your MVD record. This is the suspension that follows a DUI arrest before any conviction. If the DUI was dismissed, you were acquitted, or no charge was ever filed, you can expunge the suspension notation.

Who it's for: Anyone who served an Admin Per Se suspension where the underlying DUI did not result in conviction, and who is not a CDL holder.

Exclusions: CDL holders. Drivers operating commercial vehicles at the time. Cases where the DUI was convicted.

→ Read the full Admin Per Se guide

How to figure out which paths apply to you

Most petitioners qualify for more than one path. The optimal strategy depends on what you're trying to accomplish:

• If you want the cleanest possible background check: File set-aside first, then sealing. This vacates the conviction AND hides it from public view. (Two separate filings, both $0 court fees in Arizona.)
• If you only need civil rights (vote, jury): Check whether they're already auto-restored under § 13-907. If yes, no filing needed. If no, file under § 13-908.
• If you need firearm rights: File under § 13-910. This is independent of civil rights and sealing — you might file all three together.
• If you have a marijuana conviction: File expungement under § 36-2862. This is the strongest available remedy in Arizona — record destroyed, not just sealed.
• If you have an undesignated Class 6 felony: File designation under § 13-604 first to drop it to a misdemeanor, then consider sealing or set-aside.

Our screening tool runs all seven evaluators in parallel and tells you exactly which paths apply, which require waiting, and which are barred. It's free and takes about 3 minutes.

Common mistakes that cause denials

If you're filing pro se, these are the most common reasons petitions are denied:

• Unpaid restitution. All restitution must be paid in full before applying. Check with the court clerk to confirm the balance is $0.
• Active warrants or pending cases. If you have any open criminal matter, courts will deny across the board. Resolve those first.
• Probation not formally discharged. "I finished my probation term" is not enough — you need a Discharge from Probation order. Contact your probation officer.
• Wrong court. Set-aside, sealing, designation, and Class 6 reduction are filed in the original sentencing court. Civil rights for out-of-state convictions go in your AZ county of residence.
• Premature filing under § 13-911. A sealing denial triggers a 3-year refile bar. Don't file sealing if you're not sure you qualify — use our screening tool first.
• Weak personal statement. Especially for set-aside (which is discretionary), a generic personal statement is the most common avoidable cause of denial. Judges read these — make yours specific.

Whether to file pro se or use a service

You have three options:

• Pro se (file yourself): Free, but you need to understand the statute, find the right form, fill it out correctly, file at the right court, serve the prosecutor properly, and respond to any objections. Doable for many petitioners but takes serious time.
• Document-preparation service (us, $750): We screen your eligibility against current statutes, prepare the correct form pre-filled, give you county-specific filing instructions, and provide a personal statement template. You file yourself.
• Attorney ($1,500-3,000+): Full representation. The attorney prepares everything, files for you, appears at any hearing, and handles objections. Best for complex cases or when the personal statement requires significant legal framing.

There's no "right answer" — it depends on your case complexity and your time. Most petitioners with clean facts can succeed pro se. Petitioners with prior denials, complicated case histories, or contested matters often benefit from an attorney.