Criminal Law

questions & answers

Question: How long will a conviction for misdemeanor DUI stay on my record?

Answer:

If you are a juvenile when you are arrested and get convicted it will be on your juvenile record. (Most criminal agencies will not use this to enhance any additional punishment for a crime later committed as an adult.  For instance, if you had a DUI as a juvenile & then get one as an adult, you shouldn't be sentenced to a second offense because your first occurred when you were a juvenile.)

If you are an adult when you are arrested and convicted of a misdemeanor DUI the conviction will stay on your record permanently.  In some states, some misdemeanor charges and even convictions are deleted from the record after a number of years. This is not the case in Arizona.  Criminal charges and convictions are part of the public record and will never be deleted. http://legal.asua.arizona.edu/Legal_Sevices/FAQ.html   There is no way to erase or expunge a criminal conviction in Arizona. However, you can ask the court to “set aside the judgment of guilt.”
 

To find out more information about Setting Aside Convictions and Restoring Civil Right view the “Expunging or sealing records Article”  http://www.azlawhelp.org/articles_info.cfm?mc=13&sc=66&articleid=147

To find out how the law applies to a specific situation, you may want to contact an attorney http://www.azlawhelp.org/articles_info.cfm?mc=5&sc=35&articleid=129