Arizona criminal charge
Assault in Arizona
Assault is a criminal offense under Arizona law, defined by A.R.S. § 13-1208. 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. § 13-1208.
What is the penalty for assault in Arizona?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | 2.5 years to 7 years (Assault by dog bite causing serious physical injury — A person intentionally or knowingly causes a dog to bite and inflict serious physical injury, or otherwise causes serious physical injury to a human being, absent justified self-defense or defense of a third person.; presumptive 3.5 years; mitigated 2 / aggravated 8.75 years on required findings (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Assault by dog bite causing serious physical injury — A person intentionally or knowingly causes a dog to bite and inflict serious physical injury, or otherwise causes serious physical injury to a human being, absent justified self-defense or defense of a third person.; fine cap for an individual (13-801); statute-specific amounts may exceed) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Jail / prison | 9 months to 24 months (Assault by vicious dog at large — A person owns a dog known or reasonably known to have a history of biting, a propensity to endanger humans without provocation, or a prior judicial vicious animal finding, and the dog bites, injures, or attacks a human while at large.; 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) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Assault by vicious dog at large — A person owns a dog known or reasonably known to have a history of biting, a propensity to endanger humans without provocation, or a prior judicial vicious animal finding, and the dog bites, injures, or attacks a human while at large.; fine cap for an individual (13-801); statute-specific amounts may exceed) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (Failure to confine known dangerous dog — A person who owns or is responsible for a dog known or reasonably known to be dangerous or judicially declared vicious fails to take reasonable care to prevent the dog from escaping a residence, enclosed area, yard, or structure.; definite term served outside state prison (13-707(A)(1)); prior same offense within 2 years elevates to the next higher class (13-707(B))) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-707 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Failure to confine known dangerous dog — A person who owns or is responsible for a dog known or reasonably known to be dangerous or judicially declared vicious fails to take reasonable care to prevent the dog from escaping a residence, enclosed area, yard, or structure.; 13-802(A)) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-707 |
Applies to first felony offense, non-dangerous; presumptive term 3.5 years.
How is assault classified in Arizona?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assault by dog bite causing serious physical injury | Class 3 Felony | A person intentionally or knowingly causes a dog to bite and inflict serious physical injury, or otherwise causes serious physical injury to a human being, absent justified self-defense or defense of a third person. | A.R.S. § 13-1208A |
| Assault by vicious dog at large | Class 5 Felony | A person owns a dog known or reasonably known to have a history of biting, a propensity to endanger humans without provocation, or a prior judicial vicious animal finding, and the dog bites, injures, or attacks a human while at large. | A.R.S. § 13-1208B |
| Failure to confine known dangerous dog | Class 1 Misdemeanor | A person who owns or is responsible for a dog known or reasonably known to be dangerous or judicially declared vicious fails to take reasonable care to prevent the dog from escaping a residence, enclosed area, yard, or structure. | A.R.S. § 13-1208C |
Common questions about assault in Arizona
Is assault a felony or a misdemeanor in Arizona?
It depends on the circumstances: assault ranges from a Class 1 Misdemeanor to a Class 3 Felony in Arizona under A.R.S. § 13-1208.
Assault by dog bite causing serious physical injury: Class 3 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1208A) · Assault by vicious dog at large: Class 5 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1208B) · Failure to confine known dangerous dog: Class 1 Misdemeanor (A.R.S. § 13-1208C)
What are the penalties for assault in Arizona?
Which Arizona statute covers assault?
Assault is governed by A.R.S. § 13-1208 (Assault; vicious animals; classification; exception; 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.