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Arizona criminal charge

Access interference in Arizona

Current through 2026 Arizona legislative session

Access interference is a criminal offense under Arizona law, defined by A.R.S. § 13-1305. Its classification is not fixed: Arizona assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.

Defined by A.R.S. § 13-1305.

What is the penalty for access interference in Arizona?

Penalties for Access interference
PenaltyRangeBasisAuthority
Jail / prison9 months to 24 months (Access interference — child removed from state — The child is removed from this state as a result of the access interference.; presumptive 1.5 years; mitigated 6 months / aggravated 2.5 years on required findings (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges)presumptiveA.R.S. § 13-702
Fineup to $150,000 (Access interference — child removed from state — The child is removed from this state as a result of the access interference.; fine cap for an individual (13-801); statute-specific amounts may exceed)discretionaryA.R.S. § 13-702
Jail / prisonup to 4 months (Access interference — child not removed from state — The access interference occurs but the child is not removed from this state.; definite term served outside state prison (13-707(A)(2)); prior same offense within 2 years elevates to the next higher class (13-707(B)))discretionaryA.R.S. § 13-707
Fineup to $750 (Access interference — child not removed from state — The access interference occurs but the child is not removed from this state.; 13-802(B))discretionaryA.R.S. § 13-707

Applies to first felony offense, non-dangerous; presumptive term 1.5 years.

How is access interference classified in Arizona?

The classification depends on the circumstances:

Classification variants for Access interference
VariantClassificationWhen it appliesStatute
Access interference — child removed from stateClass 5 FelonyThe child is removed from this state as a result of the access interference.A.R.S. § 13-1305B
Access interference — child not removed from stateClass 2 MisdemeanorThe access interference occurs but the child is not removed from this state.A.R.S. § 13-1305B

Common questions about access interference in Arizona

Is access interference a felony or a misdemeanor in Arizona?

It depends on the circumstances: access interference ranges from a Class 2 Misdemeanor to a Class 5 Felony in Arizona under A.R.S. § 13-1305.

Access interference — child removed from state: Class 5 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1305B) · Access interference — child not removed from state: Class 2 Misdemeanor (A.R.S. § 13-1305B)

What are the penalties for access interference in Arizona?

Penalties for access interference in Arizona depend on how it is classified — from a Class 2 Misdemeanor up to a Class 5 Felony — with the ranges set by A.R.S. § 13-702 and A.R.S. § 13-707; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.

Which Arizona statute covers access interference?

Access interference is governed by A.R.S. § 13-1305 (Access interference; classification; definition).

Legal terms used in this law

This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.