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Your Scottsdale Criminal Defense Attorney
One fact shapes how an Arizona criminal case is actually timed: the filing deadline scales with the charge’s severity, and for homicide and certain serious violent felonies, that deadline doesn’t exist at all. The actual deadlines for lesser offenses, and what can pause the clock, are covered further down this page.
What an Arizona Criminal Charge Involves
Arizona sentencing scales sharply by felony class, from a presumptive one year for a class 6 felony up to life or death for a class 1 murder conviction under A.R.S. Sections 13-701 and 13-702.
Arizona's Criminal Filing Deadlines
Arizona’s general rule, A.R.S. Section 13-107(B), gives the state seven years to charge most felonies, one year for misdemeanors, and six months for petty offenses. The exceptions built into A.R.S. Section 13-107 exist specifically for cases where identifying or locating a suspect takes real time, not as a general grace period.
Arizona's Own Role in the Right to Counsel
Arizona isn’t just subject to Miranda rights, it’s the origin of them: the 1966 U.S. Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona, arising from a 1963 Phoenix arrest, is why police everywhere now have to advise a suspect of the right to remain silent and to an attorney. Exercising these rights, staying silent and asking for an attorney, doesn’t imply guilt; it’s a constitutional protection every person facing questioning in Arizona actually has.
What Happens In the First 24 Hours
Ariz. R. Crim. P. 4.1(a) sets a real outer limit on how long someone can be held before seeing a magistrate: without unnecessary delay, and release is generally required past 24 hours. Negotiated plea agreements, authorized under Ariz. R. Crim. P. 17.4, resolve the substantial majority of Arizona criminal cases well before trial, and how release conditions are handled early on can shape that process.
Arizona's Three DUI Tiers
A DUI charge in Arizona can escalate well beyond a standard offense: prior convictions, an especially high BAC, or circumstances like a minor in the vehicle can push a case into extreme or aggravated territory under A.R.S. Sections 28-1382 and 28-1383. Unlike some states that reserve mandatory jail time for repeat offenders, Arizona’s extreme DUI statute, A.R.S. Section 28-1382, imposes it starting with a first offense.
Scottsdale's Court and Detention System
Scottsdale operates its own 24/7 city jail, run by the Scottsdale Police Department’s detention services unit, primarily booking people arrested for misdemeanors, DUI, domestic violence, and local ordinance violations, including a dormitory program for short non-violent misdemeanor sentences. A case connected to Scottsdale follows Arizona’s statewide filing-deadline and bail framework, with felony matters filed in the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County.
Getting Started With a Scottsdale Criminal Defense Case
With Arizona’s filing deadlines, bail rules, and sentencing framework all in play, an attorney familiar with Scottsdale and the surrounding courts can help make sure nothing gets missed. Fill out the form on this page to get connected with a criminal defense attorney who can review the details of your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Arizona’s statute of limitations for a criminal case?
Under A.R.S. Section 13-107(B), the general deadlines are seven years (class 2-6 felonies), one year (misdemeanors), and six months (petty offenses). For certain serious offenses, the clock can also pause while the offender’s identity is unknown, relevant in DNA and cold-case matters, under A.R.S. Section 13-107(E).
Can plea agreements resolve an Arizona criminal case?
Yes: plea agreements, authorized under Ariz. R. Crim. P. 17.4, resolve the substantial majority of Arizona criminal cases without going to trial. Plea negotiations can begin well before trial and often shape how release conditions are handled along the way.
Is jail time mandatory for a first DUI in Arizona?
For an extreme DUI (0.15 BAC or higher) under A.R.S. Section 28-1382, yes: a mandatory minimum of 30 days (45 at 0.20+) applies even on a first offense, with no probation-only option. A mandatory ignition interlock device requirement applies alongside the jail term for an extreme DUI conviction.
Where would my Scottsdale criminal case be filed?
Felony cases connected to Scottsdale are generally filed in the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County, which has exclusive original jurisdiction over felonies.
How To Start Building Your Scottsdale Defense
Because bail conditions and plea decisions often happen fast, reaching out to an attorney early in Scottsdale matters more than it might seem at first. Complete the form here to speak with a criminal defense attorney about what your case may involve.
