questions & answers

Question: When the Court Sets Aside a misdemeanor conviction and orders a person released from all penalties and disabilities, does this mean that all civil rights (voting, gun rights, etc.) are restored? And if so are there any other documents that have to be submitted to complete this action?

Answer: After an Arizona court sets aside a misdemeanor conviction, no other action is necessary to reduce the effects of a misdemeanor conviction. Misdemeanors do not reduce an American citizen's civil rights in the same ways that felonies do. A misdemeanor conviction does not reduce a citizen's voting rights, gun rights, or most other legal rights in Arizona and the United States. Setting aside a misdemeanor conviction in Arizona merely adds the appropriate expungement note to the person's criminal history report. This note may or may not assist the person in obtaining employment, credit, or other benefits under the law. Felony convictions, however, carry greater consequences, which setting aside (expungement) can reduce. For more information, please consult the AZ Law Help article: http://azlawhelp.org/articles_info.cfm?mc=13&sc=66&articleid=147 or contact an attorney for fact-specific advice and information.