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Tucson, Arizona · A.R.S. § 13-911

Seal a Criminal Record in Tucson, AZ

Arizona's record-sealing law (A.R.S. § 13-911) lets eligible Tucson residents petition the Arizona Superior Court in Pima County 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. Pima County's Superior Court has 53 judicial officers and is the second-largest in Arizona. Sealing petitions under § 13-911 are heard at the downtown Tucson courthouse on Congress Street, two blocks from the Tucson Convention Center.

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 Tucson — local details

Where to file

Arizona Superior Court in Pima County

Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court, 110 W. Congress St., Suite 241, Tucson, AZ 85701-1317

Phone: (520) 724-3200
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday

E-filing

Tucson criminal records filed July 1, 2015 or later are searchable through the AZ Judicial Branch eAccess portal. eFiling for new criminal documents follows the same statewide system used by Maricopa.

Required for: Attorneys for civil/family matters. Self-represented filers may file in person, by mail, or electronically where supported.

Payment methods

Money orders, business checks, and major credit cards. The Pima County clerk does accept personal checks for some fees, but check before relying on that.

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

Prosecutor service

Pima County Attorney's Office

32 N. Stone Ave., Suite 1400, Tucson, AZ 85701

Phone: (520) 724-5600

Alternate filing locations

Pima County is geographically large. Tucson residents in the south can reach the Superior Court at 110 W. Congress in 15 minutes. Marana and Oro Valley residents have a longer drive — about 25-35 minutes from north Pima County.

Parking & access

Public parking is available in the El Presidio garage at 160 W. Alameda St. (about 2 blocks from the courthouse). Metered street parking is available downtown but can be hard to find during business hours.

Processing time

Pima County processing times are generally 75-120 days for uncontested petitions, slightly longer than Maricopa due to lower judicial staffing per capita. The 60-day prosecutor-objection window under § 13-911 still applies.

Judge assignment

Pima County rotates criminal cases through its 53 judicial officers. Sealing petitions typically go to the original sentencing judge if still on the bench; otherwise to whichever criminal-bench judge is currently assigned to that calendar.

After-hours filing

Filings are accepted in person and by mail at the downtown Tucson clerk's office. After-hours depository availability varies — call ahead to confirm.

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 Tucson 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.

Tucson Seal a Criminal Record FAQ

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

Petitions are filed with the Arizona Superior Court in Pima County. The criminal filing counter is at 110 W. Congress St., Suite 241, Tucson, AZ 85701. Hours are 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday. Pima County is geographically large. Tucson residents in the south can reach the Superior Court at 110 W. Congress in 15 minutes. Marana and Oro Valley residents have a longer drive — about 25-35 minutes from north Pima County.

Is there a court filing fee in Pima 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 Pima County?

Tucson criminal records filed July 1, 2015 or later are searchable through the AZ Judicial Branch eAccess portal. eFiling for new criminal documents follows the same statewide system used by Maricopa. Attorneys for civil/family matters. Self-represented filers may file in person, by mail, or electronically where supported.

How long does sealing take in Tucson?

Pima County processing times are generally 75-120 days for uncontested petitions, slightly longer than Maricopa due to lower judicial staffing per capita. The 60-day prosecutor-objection window under § 13-911 still applies. 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?

Pima County Attorney's Office has 60 days from filing to object. If they object, the court schedules a hearing. Most petitions in Tucson 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 (520) 724-5600.

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