Arizona statute
A.R.S. § 13-1214 — Unlawful mutilation; classification; 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
Full text of A.R.S. § 13-1214
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. It is unlawful for a person to:
1. Mutilate a female who is under eighteen years of age.
2. Knowingly transport a female who is under eighteen years of age to another jurisdiction for the purpose of mutilation.
3. Recklessly transport a female who is under eighteen years of age to another jurisdiction where mutilation is likely to occur.
B. In addition to any other penalty prescribed by this title, the court shall order a person who is convicted of a violation of this section to pay a fine of not less than twenty-five thousand dollars.
C. Unlawful mutilation is a class 2 felony, and the person convicted shall be sentenced pursuant to this section and the person is not eligible for suspension of sentence, probation, pardon or release from confinement on any basis except as specifically authorized by section 31-233, subsection A or B until the sentence imposed by the court has been served or commuted. If the victim is under fifteen years of age, unlawful mutilation is punishable pursuant to section 13-705. The presumptive term may be aggravated or mitigated within the range under this section pursuant to section 13-701, subsections C, D and E. The term for a first offense is as follows:
Minimum Presumptive Maximum
5.25 years 7 years 14 years
The term for a defendant who has one historical prior felony conviction is as follows:
Minimum Presumptive Maximum
7 years 10.5 years 21 years
The term for a defendant who has two or more historical prior felony convictions is as follows:
Minimum Presumptive Maximum
14 years 15.75 years 28 years
D. The sentence imposed on a person for unlawful mutilation shall be consecutive to any other unlawful mutilation sentence imposed on the person at any time.
E. The consent of the minor on whom the mutilation is performed or the parents of the minor is not a defense to a prosecution for unlawful mutilation.
F. For the purposes of this section, "mutilate" or "mutilation" means the partial or total removal of the clitoris, prepuce, labia minora, with or without excision of the labia major, the narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal formed by cutting and repositioning the inner or outer labia, with or without removal of the clitoris, or any harmful procedure to the genitalia, including pricking, piercing, incising, scraping or cauterizing. Mutilate and mutilation do not include procedures performed by a licensed physician that are proven to be medically necessary due to a medically recognized condition.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is unlawful mutilation a felony or a misdemeanor in Arizona?
Unlawful mutilation is a Class 2 Felony in Arizona under A.R.S. § 13-1214.
Which Arizona statute covers unlawful mutilation?
Unlawful mutilation is governed by A.R.S. § 13-1214 (Unlawful mutilation; classification; definition).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.