SB1273 - 522R

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 13-907, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE13-907. Setting aside judgment of convicted person on discharge; application; release from disabilities; firearm possession; exceptions; sealing arrest and conviction records

A. Except as provided in subsection E of 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 convicted person or, if authorized in writing, the convicted person's attorney or probation officer may apply to set aside the judgment.

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 except 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 the 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. Notwithstanding section 13‑905 or 13‑906, if a judgment of guilt is set aside pursuant to this section, the person's right to possess a gun or firearm is restored. This subsection does not apply to a person who was convicted of a serious offense as defined in section 13‑706.

E. This section does not apply to a person who was convicted of a criminal offense:

1. Involving a dangerous offense.

2. For which the person is required or ordered by the court to register pursuant to section 13‑3821.

3. For which there has been a finding of sexual motivation pursuant to section 13‑118.

4. In which the victim is a minor under fifteen years of age.

5. 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.

F. If a judgment of guilt is set aside pursuant to this section, the person may request that the court seal the person's arrest and conviction records. The court or a law enforcement agency may not publicly disclose an arrest and conviction record that is sealed. A person whose arrest and conviction record is sealed may deny under all circumstances that the arrest and conviction occurred. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Title 13, chapter 38, article 19, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 13-4052, to read:

START_STATUTE13-4052. Criminal case records; erasure

A. In any criminal case that is commenced From and after October 1, 1969, if the accused, by a final judgment, is found not guilty of the charge or the charge is dismissed, all law enforcement, prosecuting agency and court records that pertain to the charge shall be erased when the time to file a notice of appeal expires if an appeal is not taken or, if an appeal is taken, on the final determination of the appeal if the finding of not guilty or the dismissal is sustained. this subsection does not require a record to be erased in a criminal case where the defendant was found not guilty by reason of insanity or adjudicated guilty except insane.

B. In any criminal case that is commenced before October 1, 1969, if the accused, by a final judgment, was found not guilty of the charge or the charge was dismissed, all law enforcement, grand jury, prosecuting agency and court records that pertain to the charge shall be erased by operation of law. The clerk of the court or any person who is charged with the retention and control of the records may not disclose to anyone the existence of the records or any information that pertains to any charge that is erased. this subsection does not prohibit the accused person or the person's heirs from filing a petition to erase the records with the court that granted the not guilty judgment or dismissal and, if granted, all law enforcement, grand jury, prosecuting agency and court records that pertain to the charge shall be erased. This subsection does not require any record to be erased in a criminal case where the defendant was found not guilty by reason of insanity or adjudicated guilty except insane.

C. If a person is arrested or charged with violating a criminal law and the prosecutor dismisses or does not file a criminal charge against the person in the Superior Court or a municipal court or justice Court for at least thirteen months after the arrest or dismissal, all law enforcement, grand jury, prosecuting agency and court records that pertain to the arrest or charge shall be erased. in cases where the dismissal was entered in the Superior, municipal or justice court before April 1, 1972, the records are deemed erased by operation of law and the clerk of the court or the person who is charged with the retention and control of the records may not disclose to anyone the existence of the records or any information that pertains to any charge that was erased. This subsection does not prohibit an arrested or charged person or the person's heirs from filing a petition with the court or the clerk of the court to erase the records and, if granted, the records shall be erased.

d. If a person who was convicted of an offense in any court of this state before October 1, 1974 receives a pardon for the offense, the person or the person's heirs, at any time subsequent to the pardon, may file a petition with the court that entered judgment, or with the court at the location having custody of the records of the conviction, for an order of erasure. the Court or clerk of the court shall direct all law enforcement, grand jury, prosecuting agency and court records that pertain to the case to be erased. If a person is pardoned on or after October 1, 1974, the records shall be erased.

E. The clerk of the court, any person who is charged with the retention and control of the records or any law enforcement agency that has information contained in the erased records may not disclose to anyone, except the subject of the record on submission of satisfactory proof of the subject's identity, information that pertains to any charge that is erased under this section. The clerk of the court or a person who is charged with the retention and control of the records shall forward a notice of the erasure to any law enforcement agency that the clerk or person knows information concerning the arrest has been disseminated and the law enforcement agency shall erase the records of the disseminated information. the clerk of the court or a person who is charged with the RETENTION AND control of the records shall provide adequate security measures to safeguard against unauthorized access to or dissemination of the records or, on the request of the accused, cause the actual physical destruction of the records, except that the clerk or person may not cause the actual physical destruction of the records until three years after the date of the final disposition of the criminal case to which the records pertain. A fee may not be charged in any court with respect to any petition under this section. Any person who has a record erased may state that the person has never been arrested within the meaning of the law with respect to the proceedings that are erased and may swear so under oath.

f. This section does not apply to any law enforcement, prosecuting agency or court record that pertains to an information or indictment that contains more than one count while the case is pending, or if the case is disposed of, only when all counts are entitled to erasure pursuant to this section.

G. For the purposes of this section, a court record does not include a record or transcript of the proceedings that is made or prepared by an official court reporter, assistant court reporter or monitor. END_STATUTE