Expunging or sealing records

questions & answers

Question: I was accused of shoplifting I did not do due to a misunderstanding . I was not arrested and the case was completely dismissed by the court. How do I remove this from public record?

Answer: The following is provided for general information only. To find out how the law applies to a specific situation, contact an attorney directly.In Arizona, one can only have their arrest record expunged if they were wrongfully arrested, indicted, or charged with a crime. Even if a case is eventually dropped because of lack of sufficient evidence, the arrest can still have been legally OK. If a person with a record thinks that they were wrongfully arrested, indicted, or charged with a crime, they should take a look at the Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS), Section 13-4051. For more information on criminal recordkeeping in Arizona in general, take a look at the “Questions” page on the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s website located here http://www.azdps.gov/Services/Records/Criminal_History_Records/.