In Arizona, expungement is the process through which certain individuals can have their criminal records effectively removed or concealed. This can be likened to sealing or destroying a criminal record. Not everyone qualifies for this relief, but those who do can obtain an expungement order, making their past offenses inaccessible to the general public.
Though it’s important to understand that an expungement isn’t a pardon and doesn’t negate the conviction itself, it does make the record invisible to potential employers, housing agencies, the judiciary, and the public at large. Through expungement in Arizona, eligible individuals are given an opportunity to move forward without the shadow of a past criminal conviction hindering their prospects in employment and housing.