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Your Maricopa Criminal Defense Attorney
A charge in Arizona comes with a real, tiered deadline attached, except for the state’s most serious offenses: homicide and certain serious violent felonies can be prosecuted with no time limit at all. Arizona’s Superior Courts, one in each county, are where the more serious of these cases are actually filed, a detail covered further down this page.
Understanding a Criminal Charge in Arizona
Arizona’s criminal process gives an accused person real rights at every stage, from the moment of arrest through any eventual trial, that don’t depend on the strength of the case against them.
When Arizona Can and Can't File Charges
Under A.R.S. Section 13-107(B), most felonies (class 2 through 6) have to be charged within seven years, misdemeanors within one year, and petty offenses within six months. A.R.S. Section 13-107(A) removes the deadline entirely for homicide and certain other serious violent felonies, meaning the state can charge those offenses at any point.
Arizona's Own Role in the Right to Counsel
It’s a genuinely Arizona-specific piece of legal history: the warnings read to a suspect during an arrest anywhere in the country trace back to a single 1963 Phoenix case, Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966). The practical effect today is straightforward: a suspect has the right to stay silent and to have an attorney present during police questioning, and to have one appointed if one can’t be afforded.
Getting Released Pending an Arizona Case
Arizona doesn’t leave the timeline to the arresting agency’s discretion: Ariz. R. Crim. P. 4.1(a) sets a real 24-hour outer boundary before a magistrate has to be involved. Release conditions can be revisited later in the case; an attorney can request a review of bail or other conditions set at the initial appearance in appropriate circumstances.
Arizona's Strict DUI Laws
Arizona doesn’t treat every DUI the same: A.R.S. Section 28-1381 covers standard DUI, Section 28-1382 covers extreme DUI at 0.15 BAC or above, and Section 28-1383 elevates certain DUIs, including a third within 84 months, to a felony. Aggravated DUI under A.R.S. Section 28-1383 is prosecuted as a felony in Superior Court, a meaningfully different track than the misdemeanor process that handles most standard DUI cases.
Maricopa's Court and Detention System
The City of Maricopa Police Department books arrestees at a Pinal County-run holding facility located at the same Madison Avenue address as the police department itself, with city-level matters handled through Maricopa Municipal Court. A criminal case connected to Maricopa is filed in the Superior Court of Arizona in Pinal County, following the same statewide rules that apply everywhere in Arizona.
Speak With a Maricopa Criminal Defense Attorney
Given the deadlines and initial-appearance rules involved, connecting with an attorney early in Maricopa gives more time to build a real defense before key decisions get made. Complete the form here to speak with a criminal defense attorney about what your case may involve.
You may also want to look at our San Tan Valley criminal defense attorneys.Frequently Asked Questions
Do the filing deadlines change based on what I’m charged with?
Yes, significantly: A.R.S. Section 13-107 ties the deadline directly to offense severity, from six months up to seven years, or no deadline at all for the most serious offenses. Plea agreements are negotiated after charges are filed, so the filing deadline itself isn’t something a plea can extend.
Will I automatically be released on bail in Arizona?
No, it’s not automatic; release and bail conditions under Ariz. R. Crim. P. 7 depend on the offense’s severity, criminal history, danger to the community, and flight risk. The magistrate weighs the same core factors regardless of the charge: severity, history, community danger, and flight risk.
Are all Arizona DUI charges treated the same?
No: Arizona separates standard DUI (A.R.S. Section 28-1381), extreme DUI at 0.15 BAC or higher (Section 28-1382), and aggravated DUI, a felony (Section 28-1383), each with different penalties. Arizona’s DUI penalties apply regardless of whether the vehicle involved was actually being driven on a public road at the time.
Where would my Maricopa criminal case be filed?
Felony cases connected to Maricopa are generally filed in the Superior Court of Arizona in Pinal County, which has exclusive original jurisdiction over felonies.
Speak With a Maricopa Criminal Defense Attorney
Given the deadlines and initial-appearance rules involved, connecting with an attorney early in Maricopa gives more time to build a real defense before key decisions get made. The form on this page connects you directly with a criminal defense attorney to go over your situation and next steps.
