Assault Laws in Arizona

Assault in Arizona is intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing any physical injury to another person; intentionally placing someone in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury; or knowingly touching someone with intent to injure, insult or provoke. Intentionally or knowingly causing injury is a class 1 misdemeanor (up to six months in jail and a fine up to $2,500); recklessly causing injury is a class 2 misdemeanor (up to four months, up to $750); and threatening or offensive-touching assault is a class 3 misdemeanor (up to thirty days, up to $500). Assault becomes aggravated assault, a felony, when it causes serious physical injury or involves a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument (class 3 felony; class 2 if the victim is under fifteen), causes a fracture or substantial temporary disfigurement (class 4 felony), or is committed on a restrained victim, after entering a private home to commit the assault, by an adult on a child under fifteen, in violation of a protective order, or on a listed worker such as a teacher, health care worker or transit employee (class 6 felony). Assaults on peace officers and other first responders are graded higher.

Arizona's rule on court-appointed lawyers: County public defenders, on court order, represent a person who is entitled to counsel as a matter of law and who is not financially able to employ counsel, in offenses triable in superior court or justice court and other listed proceedings. Representation by the public defender or court-appointed counsel is provided without expense to the defendant, and the court may not impose an indigent administrative assessment or order reimbursement to the county for legal services. A.R.S. § 11-584

Lawyers set their own fees, and Arizona has rules on how they may charge. See hiring a criminal defense lawyer in Arizona for fee rules, how to check a lawyer's license and free help.

How release before trial works in Arizona: All persons charged with crime are bailable except: for capital offenses, sexual assault, or sexual conduct with or molestation of a child under fifteen, when the proof is evident or the presumption great; for felonies committed while on bail for a separate felony; for felonies where the person poses a threat to others or the community and no release conditions can adequately assure safety; and for serious felonies by a person who entered or remained in the United States illegally. Bail and release conditions are meant to assure appearance, protect against witness intimidation, and protect the victim and community. At the initial appearance, a judicial officer orders a person charged with a bailable offense released pending trial on his or her own recognizance or on bail. The officer considers factors including the victim's views, the nature of the offense, prior serious or violent offenses, danger to the community, the weight of the evidence, family ties, employment, financial resources, character, mental condition, length of residence, record and history of court appearances. Conditions can include supervision by a designated person, travel or contact restrictions, a cash deposit, weapons/alcohol/drug bans and reporting; electronic monitoring and no-contact orders are mandatory for certain sexual and domestic-violence felonies. Ariz. Const. art. 2, § 22; A.R.S. § 13-3967 What happens after an arrest.

Each state sets its own rules for sealing or expunging records. See Arizona expungement and record sealing rules.