Juvinille felonies are treated differently than adult felonies; but since Arizona became a state, its state Constitution has limited the rights of people who have been convicted of any felony. (Ariz. Const. art. VII § 2. )

The legal definition of a felony is “an offense for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment in the custody of the state department of corrections is authorized by any law of this state.” A.R.S. § 13-105(16).

 

In Arizona, a person who has only been convicted of one felony automatically gets back most of their rights if the person has:

            1. Completed the terms of probation, or

            2. Receives an absolute discharge from imprisonment

and pays any fine or restitution that the court ordered. (A.R.S. § 13-912(A))  Once the above is completed most of that person’s rights, including their right to vote, are restored. [The right to possess a weapon is not automatically restored, however. A.R.S. § 13-912(B).

For people who have been convicted of more than one felony, restoration of rights is not automatic. Such felons must apply to the superior court to have their rights restored. 

·        A.R.S. § 13-905 (setting forth the application process for restoration of civil rights for persons who have completed probation);

·        A.R.S. § 13-906 (setting forth the application process for restoration of civil rights for persons who have been discharged from prison). The superior court judge by whom the felon was sentenced gets tp decided whether or not to give back the person's rights upon application. (A.R.S. § 13-908.)