aggravated harassment; lifetime injunctions

Lifetime protection for domestic violence victims

Arizona adds felony aggravated harassment involving domestic violence to crimes eligible for lifetime court orders banning contact with the victim. Qualifying convictions include completed crimes and preparatory offenses, such as attempts. At sentencing, the superior court must issue the order if the victim or prosecutor asks. It takes effect immediately and must be served on the defendant at sentencing. Victims can petition later if they did not request an order at sentencing or sentencing occurred before September 24, 2022. Those petitions have no filing fee, and law enforcement serves the order free. The court must notify the victim and send information for registration in the national crime database. Orders last for the defendant’s lifetime unless the victim dies, the conviction is dismissed, expunged or overturned, or a pardon occurs. Victims can also request early expiration in writing; the court may hold a hearing to verify the request. Reducing the conviction to a misdemeanor, setting it aside or sealing it does not block or invalidate an order.