Arizona statute

A.R.S. § 13-1208 — Assault; vicious animals; classification; exception; definition

Current through 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

Part of Chapter 12: Assault and Related Offenses, Arizona Revised Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Assault

Full text of A.R.S. § 13-1208

Statutory text current through the 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025). This publication reproduces the official statutory text published by the Arizona Legislature (Arizona Legislative Council compilation, azleg.gov); it is not the official statutes of the State of Arizona.

A.R.S. § 13-1208Primary source, current through the 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

A. A person who intentionally or knowingly causes any dog to bite and inflict serious physical injury on a human being or otherwise cause serious physical injury to a human being is guilty of a class 3 felony, unless the person would be justified in using physical force or deadly physical force in self-defense or defense of a third person pursuant to chapter 4 of this title. B. A person who owns a dog that the owner knows or has reason to know has a history of biting or a propensity to cause injury or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings without provocation or that has been found to be a vicious animal by a court of competent jurisdiction and that bites, inflicts physical injury on or attacks a human being while at large is guilty of a class 5 felony. C. A person who owns or who is responsible for the care of a dog that the owner or responsible person knows or has reason to know has a history of biting or a propensity to cause injury or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings without provocation or that has been found to be a vicious animal by a court of competent jurisdiction and who does not take reasonable care to prohibit the dog from escaping to the outside of a residence or enclosed area, yard or structure is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor. D. This section does not apply to dogs that are owned or used by a law enforcement agency and that are used in the performance of police work. E. For the purposes of this section, "reasonable care" means the degree of care that a person of ordinary prudence would exercise in the same or similar circumstances.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

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)

Which Arizona statute covers assault?

Assault is governed by A.R.S. § 13-1208 (Assault; vicious animals; classification; exception; definition).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.