The charge was dismissed within a week, but the arrest still showed up on background checks. Future First handled the Phoenix Sealing Records Assault petition and the court sealed the record under ARS § 13-911.
At a glance
| Original charge | Assault (ARS § 13-1203(A)(1)), Class 1 Misdemeanor, 2024 (dismissed, no conviction) |
| Application filed | Sealing Records Application (ARS § 13-911), 2025 |
| Court | Phoenix Municipal Court |
| Result | Arrest and charge records sealed |
| Rights restored | Not applicable; no conviction |
| Time from application to grant | 67 days from application filing to granted |
The challenge
The client faced a Class 1 misdemeanor assault charge under ARS § 13-1203(A)(1) in Phoenix Municipal Court. The court dismissed the case within a week of filing. No conviction ever entered.
A dismissal is the right result, but it does not erase the record. The arrest and the dismissed charge stay in court databases and on commercial background reports. Employers and landlords who run a background check see the arrest, not the dismissal. An assault entry, even a dismissed one, raises questions the client should never have to answer. The only way to remove it from public view is to seal it.
What we did
Future First filed the petition to seal under ARS § 13-911 in the Phoenix Municipal Court. The Phoenix Sealing Records Assault petition showed that the case was dismissed, that no conviction entered, and that the client met every eligibility requirement. The petition asked the court to seal all records of the arrest and the charge.
The State conceded that the petition met the statutory requirements and the court granted it. After sealing, the dismissed assault case no longer appears on standard background checks, and the client can lawfully state that the arrest did not occur.
What our clients say
You can read verified reviews from Future First clients on our client reviews page or on Google Maps.
If you have an old arrest in Arizona
Arizona’s record sealing law, ARS § 13-911, covers more than convictions. It lets people seal records of arrests and charges that ended in dismissal or acquittal. A dismissed case is one of the cleanest sealing candidates because there is no conviction and no sentence to complete.
The waiting period for a dismissed misdemeanor is short. Once the case is closed and the eligibility rules are met, the petition can move quickly, as it did here. Sealing closes the arrest record so it stops surfacing on employment and housing checks.
If a charge against you was dismissed, you do not have to carry the arrest on your record. A sealing petition can put the matter fully behind you.
Related resources
Call us
Want to clear your record in Arizona? Call Future First Criminal Law at 602-900-6240 or request a free consultation. We have handled hundreds of Arizona record removal applications across every statute path. The cleanup is permanent and the process moves faster when handled by a firm that knows the local court.
Anonymized in line with firm policy. Client name not used. Specific dates approximated to year only. Outcome described reflects this client’s actual results. Past outcomes do not guarantee future results. For more detailed information on Arizona record removal law, visit the Arizona State Legislature website.
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