A person convicted of a petty offense may now petition a court to seal the records immediately after finishing the court-ordered nonmonetary terms of the sentence and being discharged, with no extra waiting period.
Official title: criminal records sealed; petty offense
- September 12, 2026
What changes
BeforeThe law listed waiting periods before a person could petition to seal conviction records: 10 years for class 2 or 3 felonies, 5 years for class 4, 5 or 6 felonies, 3 years for class 1 misdemeanors and 2 years for class 2 or 3 misdemeanors. Petty offenses were not on that list.
NowA person convicted of a petty offense may petition to seal the records immediately after completing all nonmonetary terms of the sentence and being discharged by the court.
Who it affects
- People convicted of petty offenses in Arizona
- Courts and court clerks handling petitions to seal records
- Prosecutors and victims who may respond to sealing petitions
What you need to do
Nothing. A person convicted of a petty offense who wants records sealed may file a petition once the nonmonetary terms of the sentence are done and the court has discharged them; existing rules still require all fines, fees and restitution to be paid at the time of filing.
What the law doesn't answer
- What waiting period, if any, applied to petty offenses before this change
- Whether the change applies to petty offense convictions that happened before the law takes effect
- How many people have petty offense convictions that could be affected
- What specific offenses count as petty offenses
This summary describes the law as enacted. Later laws, court rulings or referendum petitions can change the picture. Check the official text for the current wording.