In Arizona, a crime can be classified as either a felony or a misdemeanor. Felonies are more serious crimes such as murder or rape. Misdemeanors are considered less serious crimes, and are usually punished much less severely than felonies. Typically, if you are charged with a misdemeanor, you are subject to less than one year of imprisonment, as well as monetary fines.
Misdemeanors can vary from shoplifting to indecent exposure. It is important to note that several misdemeanors can also be considered felonies under certain circumstances. Below is a list of various crimes that can be considered misdemeanors in the state of Arizona.
Preparatory Offenses
- Solicitation
- Conspiracy
- Facilitation
Personal Offenses
- Assault
- Endangerment
- Threatening
- Kidnapping
- Unlawful imprisonment
Sexual
- Indecent exposure
- Public sexual indecency
- Prostitution
Property Offenses
- Theft
- Shoplifting
- Unlawful failure to return rental or lease property
- Issuing a bad check
Forgery
- Obtaining a signature by deception
Fraud
- Receipt of anything of value by fraudulent use of credit card
- Fraudulent use of credit card
- Possession of machinery, plate, contrivance, or incomplete credit card
- Fraud by person authorized to provide goods or services
- Credit card transaction record theft
- Deceptive business practices
- False advertising
Perjury
- Unsworn falsification
- Interfering with judicial process
- Simulating legal processes
Public Order Offenses
- Disorderly conduct
- Loitering
- Obstruction of highway or other public thoroughfare
- Criminal nuisance
- Cruelty to animals
- Use of telephone to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy, or offend
- Harassment
- Unlawful solicitation of tort victims
Weapons and Explosives
- Misconduct involving weapons
- Misconduct involving explosives
- Unlawful discharge of firearm
- Misconduct involving simulated explosive
Drug Offenses
- Possession or sale of toxic releasing substance
- Nitrous oxide containers; sale to minors
- Nitrous oxide; selling or giving to underage person
- Possession or sale of precursor chemicals, regulated chemicals, substance or equipment
- Possession, use, administration, acquisition, sale, manufacture or transportation of dangerous drugs
- Possession, manufacture, delivery, advertisement of drug paraphernalia
- Possession or possession with intent to use imitation controlled substance
- Possession, use, administration, acquisition, sale, manufacture or transportation of prescription-only drugs
- Possession, use, administration, acquisition, sale, manufacture or transportation of dangerous drugs
- Possession, manufacture, delivery, advertisement of drug paraphernalia
- Possession or possession with intent to use imitation controlled substance
- Possession or possession with intent to use imitation prescription-only drug
- Possession or possession with intent to use imitation over-the-counter drug
- Manufacture of certain substances or drugs by certain means
Family Offenses
- Contributing to delinquency
- Permitting life, health or morals of minor to be imperiled by neglect, abuse or immoral associations
- Duty to report non-accidental injuries, physical neglect, and denial or deprivation of necessary medical or surgical care or nourishment of minors; duty to make medical records available
Insurance Offenses
- Fraudulent statement in application
Adult Protective Offenses
- Duty to report abuse, neglect, exploitation of incapacitated or vulnerable adult
- Permitting life or health of incapacitated or vulnerable adult to be endangered by neglect
Transportation Offenses
- Driving or actual physical control while under the influence
- Driving or actual physical control while under the extreme influence
- Blood and breath test
- Aircraft operation under the influence
Boating and Watersports Offenses
- Operating or actual physical control of motorized watercraft while intoxicated
- Operating or actual physical control of motorized watercraft under the extreme influence of intoxicating liquor
Livestock Offenses
- Improperly maintain a stallion or jack
- Taking animal without consent of owner
- Transporting equine in a cruel manner
- Alteration of certificate or record of inspection
- Tuberculosis control
- Brucellosis control
Miscellaneous Offenses
- Failure to procure or exhibit a business license
- Consideration for referral of patient, client or customer
- Duty of physician or attendant upon treating certain wounds
Misdemeanor FAQ
What is a misdemeanor?
A misdemeanor may be defined as a “lesser” criminal act, or less serious than a felony.
What are the different classifications of misdemeanors in Arizona?
- Class 1
- Class 2
- Class 3
- Petty offense
What is the fine for a misdemeanor in Arizona?
- Class 1: Up to $2,500 for persons; Up to $20,000 for enterprises
- Class 2: Up to $750 for persons; Up to $10,000 for enterprises
- Class 3: Up to $500 for persons; Up to $2,000 for enterprises
- Petty offense: Up to $300 persons; Up to $1,000 for enterprises
What is the imprisonment sentence for a misdemeanor in Arizona?
- Class 1: 6 months maximum
- Class 2: 4 months maximum
- Class 3: 30 days maximum
- Petty offense: No jail
What happens if I am convicted of the same misdemeanor more than once in Arizona?
If you are convicted of the same misdemeanor or petty offense within two years of the date of the present offense, you will most likely be sentenced for the next higher class of offense that you are currently convicted of. Some misdemeanors such as DUIs and domestic violence offenses are charged as felonies upon a finding of multiple prior misdemeanor convictions.
Call the JacksonWhite Criminal Law team at (480) 467-4370 to discuss your case today.
