Reference Library

Straight answers about Arizona criminal law, DUI defense, and what actually happens after an arrest in Pima County.

If you found this page, you are probably worried about something — a case of your own, a family member in custody, an upcoming court date, or a decision you need to make quickly. I built this library so you can find honest information without wading through legal jargon or scary marketing copy.

Everything here is educational. None of it replaces a real conversation with a defense attorney who knows your facts. But it should help you understand what you are dealing with, ask better questions, and stop panicking long enough to make a good decision.

If you want to skip ahead and talk to me directly, schedule a consultation or call 520-333-7977.

Start Here

Pick the situation that best describes where you are right now.

I was just arrested or cited

Take a breath. Most cases are not lost or won in the first 48 hours, but a few things do matter early — especially in DUI cases where the MVD clock starts running immediately.

A family member is in custody

You cannot fix this alone from the outside, but you can help. Locate them, understand release conditions, and get an attorney involved before the first court appearance if possible.

I have a court date coming up

Whether it is an arraignment, a pretrial conference, or a trial, knowing what the room looks like takes a lot of the fear out of it.

I want to clean up an old conviction

Arizona now allows both set-asides and, for many offenses, record sealing. Two different tools, two different eligibility rules.

Tucson & Pima County Court Directory

A lot of the anxiety around a court date comes from not knowing where to go, what to wear, or what the day will look like. Here is what you need to know about the courts you are most likely to appear in.

Pima County Superior Court

Handles all felony cases in Pima County, plus appeals from the lower courts.

  • Address: 110 W. Congress St., Tucson, AZ 85701
  • What it handles: Felony arraignments, pretrial conferences, trials, and sentencings; probation matters; some post-conviction relief.
  • What to expect: Arrive early. Security is airport-style — no phones during proceedings in most divisions. Dress like you are going to a job interview.
  • Case lookup: sc.pima.gov
Pima County Consolidated Justice Court

Handles misdemeanors that happen outside Tucson city limits, plus small civil matters and initial appearances for many felony arrests.

  • Address: 240 N. Stone Ave., Tucson, AZ 85701
  • What it handles: Most misdemeanor DUIs from Pima County Sheriff, DPS, and other non-Tucson agencies; initial appearances; orders of protection.
  • Case lookup: jp.pima.gov
Tucson City Court

Handles misdemeanors that occur inside Tucson city limits.

  • Address: 103 E. Alameda St., Tucson, AZ 85701
  • What it handles: Tucson Police DUIs, misdemeanor domestic violence, city code violations, and most misdemeanors originating with TPD.
  • Case lookup: Tucson City Court
Municipal Courts in Surrounding Communities

Each town has its own court for local misdemeanors and traffic matters.

  • Marana Municipal Court — 11555 W. Civic Center Dr., Marana
  • Oro Valley Magistrate Court — 11000 N. La Cañada Dr., Oro Valley
  • Sahuarita Municipal Court — 375 W. Sahuarita Center Way, Sahuarita
  • Green Valley matters are handled through the Pima County Consolidated Justice Court (Green Valley/Sahuarita Justice Precinct).
U.S. District Court (Federal)

Federal charges in southern Arizona are heard at the Evo A. DeConcini U.S. Courthouse, 405 W. Congress St., Tucson. Federal cases have completely different rules, timelines, and sentencing exposure than state cases — if you are dealing with federal charges, do not assume state advice applies.

Guides by Topic

Every article on this site is written to answer real questions I get from real clients. Here is the library, organized by what you might actually be searching for. If you want to browse everything, the full articles archive is here.

DUI — The Basics

DUI — Field Sobriety, Breath & Blood

DUI — The Stop & Officer Conduct

DUI — Marijuana & Prescriptions

DUI — License & MVD Consequences

Domestic Violence & Assault

Harassment, Threats & Protective Orders

Court Process & What to Expect

Evidence, Disclosure & Investigation

Pleas, Trial & Strategy

Sentencing & Mitigation

Mental Health & Rule 11

Set-Asides, Sealing & Rights Restoration

Working With Your Attorney

Victims, Family & "Pressing Charges"

Collateral Consequences

Case Studies & Notable Wins

Arizona Legal Glossary

The plain-English version of the words you keep hearing.

Arraignment
Your first formal court appearance, where the charges are read and you enter a plea (usually "not guilty" at this stage).
Bail vs. Release Conditions
Bail is money; release conditions are rules (no drinking, no contact with alleged victim, GPS, etc.). Most misdemeanor cases in Arizona use release conditions, not cash bail.
BAC
Blood Alcohol Concentration. Arizona's per se limit is 0.08, with additional tiers at 0.15 (Extreme) and 0.20 (Super Extreme).
Complaint / Indictment
The charging document. A complaint is filed by a prosecutor; an indictment comes from a grand jury.
Diversion
A program that, if completed, results in the case being dismissed. Not available for every offense or every person.
Felony vs. Misdemeanor
Felonies carry potential prison time (over one year); misdemeanors are punished by jail (up to six months for a Class 1), fines, or probation.
IPR (Initial Pretrial Conference)
An early misdemeanor court date where the prosecutor typically makes an initial plea offer.
MVD (Motor Vehicle Division)
Arizona's DMV. In DUI cases, MVD runs a completely separate license process from the criminal case.
No-Contact Order
A court order (usually in a DV or assault case) prohibiting contact with an alleged victim. Different from an Order of Protection.
Order of Protection
A civil restraining order requested by an alleged victim, filed separately from any criminal case.
Plea Agreement
A negotiated resolution where you plead guilty (or no contest) to specific charges in exchange for specific sentencing terms.
Presentence Report
A written report prepared by probation before sentencing in felony cases. What goes in it matters.
Probation
Supervised (or unsupervised) release with conditions, in lieu of or in addition to jail/prison.
Restitution
Money paid to a victim for economic loss. Not the same as a fine.
Rule 11
Arizona's competency proceeding. Used when there is a legitimate question about whether a defendant can understand the proceedings.
Set-Aside
A post-conviction order that vacates the judgment of guilt on your record. Not the same as expungement (which Arizona does not have in the traditional sense), and not the same as sealing.
Sealing
A newer Arizona remedy (A.R.S. § 13-911) that removes many convictions from public record for most purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need a lawyer for a first-offense DUI?

For most people, yes. A first-offense DUI in Arizona carries mandatory jail, mandatory ignition interlock, MVD consequences, and long-term insurance and employment effects. Even in cases that seem "simple," there are often issues with the stop, the investigation, or the testing that a trained defense attorney can identify. And a good plea negotiation can meaningfully reduce the collateral damage.

Can my case be dismissed?

Some cases are dismissed. Many are not. Anyone who promises a dismissal before reviewing the evidence is telling you what you want to hear, not what is true. What a real defense attorney can do is evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the state's case, identify legal and factual defenses, and use that leverage in negotiations or at trial.

Will I go to jail?

It depends on the charge, your record, and the facts. Arizona has mandatory minimums for certain offenses (DUI is the most common example). For other offenses, jail is on the table but far from automatic. A defense attorney's job is often as much about minimizing exposure as it is about winning at trial.

How long does a criminal case take?

Misdemeanor cases in Tucson City Court or the Pima County Consolidated Justice Court typically resolve in three to nine months. Felony cases in Pima County Superior Court often take six months to over a year, sometimes longer for complex cases. Trials add time. Delay is not always bad — sometimes it works in the defense's favor.

What is the difference between a set-aside and record sealing in Arizona?

A set-aside vacates the judgment of guilt but the case still appears on your record (with a notation that it was set aside). Sealing (under A.R.S. § 13-911) makes many convictions non-public for most purposes, meaning you can lawfully deny them on most job applications. Not every conviction qualifies for sealing, and the two can sometimes be pursued together.

How much does a criminal defense attorney cost?

Fees vary by offense, complexity, and stage of the case. My published starting fees for DUI representation in Pima County misdemeanor courts begin at $5,500 flat fee. See the Cost page for more detail, or book a consultation and I will give you a straight answer based on your actual case.

Outside Resources

Places I trust to be accurate and useful.

A Note Before You Go

Everything on this page is general information about how Arizona law and Pima County courts work. It is not legal advice about your case, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Your facts matter — sometimes enormously. If you want to talk through your specific situation, I am happy to do that.

Talk With a Tucson Criminal Defense Attorney

520-333-7977 · amanda@ajblawfirm.com

177 N. Church Ave., Suite 808, Tucson, AZ 85701

Schedule a Consultation