Arizona statute

A.R.S. § 13-1304 — Kidnapping; classification; consecutive sentence

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

Part of Chapter 13: Kidnapping and Related Offenses, Arizona Revised Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Kidnapping

Full text of A.R.S. § 13-1304

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. § 13-1304Primary source, current through the 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

A. A person commits kidnapping by knowingly restraining another person with the intent to: 1. Hold the victim for ransom, as a shield or hostage; or 2. Hold the victim for involuntary servitude; or 3. Inflict death, physical injury or a sexual offense on the victim, or to otherwise aid in the commission of a felony; or 4. Place the victim or a third person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury to the victim or the third person; or 5. Interfere with the performance of a governmental or political function; or 6. Seize or exercise control over any airplane, train, bus, ship or other vehicle. B. Kidnapping is a class 2 felony unless the victim is released voluntarily by the defendant without physical injury in a safe place before arrest and before accomplishing any of the further enumerated offenses in subsection A of this section in which case it is a class 4 felony. If the victim is released pursuant to an agreement with the state and without any physical injury, it is a class 3 felony. If the victim is under fifteen years of age kidnapping is a class 2 felony punishable pursuant to section 13-705. The sentence for kidnapping of a victim under fifteen years of age shall run consecutively to any other sentence imposed on the defendant and to any undischarged term of imprisonment of the defendant.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is kidnapping a felony or a misdemeanor in Arizona?

It depends on the circumstances: kidnapping ranges from a Class 4 Felony to a Class 2 Felony in Arizona under A.R.S. § 13-1304.

Kidnapping (base offense): Class 2 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1304B) · Kidnapping — voluntary safe release before arrest: Class 4 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1304B) · Kidnapping — release pursuant to agreement with the state: Class 3 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1304B) · Kidnapping of a victim under fifteen years of age: Class 2 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1304B)

Which Arizona statute covers kidnapping?

Kidnapping is governed by A.R.S. § 13-1304 (Kidnapping; classification; consecutive sentence).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.