QUICK FACTS BAR
State DOC: Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR)
Parole: Arizona Board of Executive Clemency (ABEC) - note: Arizona abolished discretionary parole for offenses after January 1, 1994; most people serve flat time and release to Community Supervision
Medicaid expansion: YES (full expansion - 2014, AHCCCS)
Voting rights: Restored upon completion of probation and payment of fines/fees - NOT restored while on Community Supervision (Arizona's term for post-release supervision)
SNAP drug felony ban: Modified - must comply with probation/parole conditions to qualify
Expungement: Very limited - Arizona uses a "Set Aside" mechanism that does not seal or erase the record; some automatic set-asides for marijuana under Prop 207; otherwise petition-based with narrow eligibility
Ban the box: Public employers (state agencies) only; no statewide private employer law; Tucson and Phoenix have local ordinances
INTRO
Arizona abolished discretionary parole for crimes committed after January 1, 1994. Most people serving Arizona state sentences today do not go before a parole board - they serve their sentence and are released to a period of Community Supervision, which functions similarly to parole but operates under different rules. Voting rights in Arizona restore only after completing probation - not Community Supervision - meaning most people releasing from Arizona state prison cannot vote until Community Supervision ends. Arizona's AHCCCS (the state's Medicaid program) is one of the better-administered Medicaid systems in the country and coverage for returning citizens is generally accessible. Arizona's record relief framework is among the most limited in the West - the "set aside" mechanism does not seal or erase records and its practical value for employment and housing is limited. Proposition 207, passed in 2020, did provide automatic expungement for marijuana convictions, which is a meaningful but narrow piece of relief. The reentry service infrastructure is strongest in Maricopa County (Phoenix) and Pima County (Tucson); rural and tribal land areas are significantly underserved.
FIRST 30 DAYS CHECKLIST
Day 1-3:
Report to your Arizona Department of Corrections Community Supervision officer as directed. ADCRR Community Supervision is the post-release supervision period that follows most Arizona state prison sentences. Reporting is mandatory and early contact establishes the supervision relationship.
Day 1-7:
Obtain your Arizona state ID or driver's license. Arizona MVD (Motor Vehicle Division): azmvdnow.gov. ADCRR provides a state ID to qualifying individuals at release. Bring: birth certificate or ADCRR ID, Social Security card, and proof of Arizona residency.
Day 1-14:
Apply for AHCCCS (Arizona Medicaid). Arizona's AHCCCS (pronounced "access") covers most low-income adults. Apply at healthearizonaplus.gov or call 1-855-HEA-PLUS (1-855-432-7587). Coverage is typically available within days of a complete application for eligible individuals.
Day 1-14:
Apply for SNAP (Nutrition Assistance in Arizona). Arizona has modified the federal drug felony ban - you must be complying with all conditions of Community Supervision or probation. If compliant, apply at healthearizonaplus.gov or your local DES (Department of Economic Security) office.
Day 1-30:
Determine when your Community Supervision ends. Your CS end date - not your release date - determines when your voting rights restore in Arizona. Get a copy of your release paperwork showing the CS end date, or contact your CS officer.
ID RESTORATION
Birth certificate:
Arizona Department of Health Services Vital Records - azdhs.gov/vital-records. Cost: $20 per copy. ADCRR assists with pre-release birth certificate requests - confirm with case manager.
Social Security card:
SSA.gov/ssnumber. Free. Locate nearest office at ssa.gov/locator.
State ID / Driver's License:
Arizona MVD - azmvdnow.gov. ADCRR provides state IDs at release for qualifying individuals. Bring proof of identity, Social Security number, and Arizona residency. Cost: $12 for ID card. Note: Arizona requires proof of citizenship or lawful immigration status for an Arizona driver's license (Real ID compliant). This can create barriers for some returning citizens - contact ADCRR or legal aid if you encounter issues.
ID Assistance Programs:
Arizona Justice Project (azjusticeproject.org) assists with wrongful conviction and reentry legal issues. Community Legal Services (clsaz.org) in Phoenix provides reentry legal assistance including ID navigation. Southern Arizona Legal Aid (sazlegalaid.org) in Tucson.
VOTING RIGHTS
Arizona's voting rights restoration is conditional and requires individual assessment.
For first felony conviction: Rights restore automatically upon completion of sentence including probation and payment of all fines, fees, and restitution. Community Supervision (post-prison supervision) counts as part of the sentence for this purpose - voting rights do NOT restore while on CS.
For second or subsequent felony convictions: Rights do NOT restore automatically. Restoration requires an application to the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency (ABEC) after completing all sentences and paying all fines and fees.
This means:
- First felony: wait until CS ends AND all financial obligations are paid
- Two or more felonies: apply to ABEC after everything is completed - no automatic restoration
How to check: Contact the Arizona Secretary of State Elections Division at azsos.gov/elections or the county recorder in your county of residence.
Financial obligations: Outstanding court fines, fees, and restitution must be paid before rights restore for the first conviction. Contact the clerk of the superior court in the county of conviction to determine outstanding balances.
Register to vote once eligible: azsos.gov/elections or your county recorder.
BENEFITS ACCESS
AHCCCS (MEDICAID):
Arizona fully expanded Medicaid in 2013 under the ACA. AHCCCS covers most low-income adults. Apply at healthearizonaplus.gov or call 1-855-HEA-PLUS. AHCCCS is administered through managed care plans including UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, Mercy Care, and others depending on county. Coverage for physical health, behavioral health, and substance use disorder treatment is included.
ADCRR has a pre-release AHCCCS enrollment initiative - confirm with your case manager whether enrollment has been initiated before release.
SNAP (Arizona Nutrition Assistance):
Arizona has modified (not eliminated) the federal drug felony ban. People with drug felony convictions who are complying with all conditions of probation or Community Supervision are eligible for SNAP in Arizona. A violation of supervision conditions can result in ineligibility. Apply at healthearizonaplus.gov or your local DES office.
TANF (Arizona Works - Cash Assistance):
Arizona maintains modified TANF restrictions for drug felony convictions - the federal ban has not been fully opted out of. Contact your local DES office for current TANF eligibility specifics for people with drug felony convictions.
Housing:
Arizona does not have a state-funded transitional housing program. Reentry housing is primarily through federal RRCs (for federal inmates under RRM Phoenix), ADCRR-contracted facilities, and nonprofit providers. Maricopa County (Phoenix) and Pima County (Tucson) have the most developed reentry housing networks. Rural Arizona - including tribal communities - is significantly underserved for transitional housing.
EXPUNGEMENT AND RECORD RELIEF
Arizona Set Aside (ARS 13-905):
Arizona does not have traditional expungement. The "set aside" process has the court set aside the judgment of guilt and dismiss the charges - but the record remains public and accessible. The set aside is noted on the record. Employers, landlords, and licensing boards can still see the conviction - but also see the set aside notation.
Set aside is available for: most misdemeanor and felony convictions after completing the sentence and probation, with no pending criminal charges. It is NOT available for: serious offenses including dangerous offenses (offenses involving a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument), offenses where the victim was under 15, sex offenses requiring registration, and several other categories.
Practical value: Limited for employment and housing because the conviction is still visible. The set aside does restore some civil rights and can be helpful for licensing applications where the board considers it as evidence of rehabilitation.
Proposition 207 - Marijuana Conviction Expungement:
Passed in 2020, Prop 207 allows people with eligible marijuana possession, use, or paraphernalia convictions to petition for expungement - a full erasure of the record. This is a true expungement unlike the general set aside. Eligible convictions: possession of 2.5 oz or less of marijuana, possession of marijuana paraphernalia, and transport of less than 2.5 oz. Apply through the court where the conviction occurred. This is one of the most meaningful record relief tools available in Arizona and is underused.
Legal resources:
- Community Legal Services: clsaz.org / (602) 258-3434 / Phoenix - set aside assistance
- Southern Arizona Legal Aid: sazlegalaid.org / (520) 623-9465 / Tucson
- Arizona Justice Project: azjusticeproject.org / (480) 965-0292 / post-conviction legal work
- AZ Court Help: azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter - self-help tools for set aside petitions
EMPLOYMENT AND LICENSING
Ban the box:
Arizona enacted ban-the-box for state government employment - state agencies may not ask about criminal history on initial job applications. Private employers in Arizona have no statewide restriction.
Phoenix and Tucson have enacted local ban-the-box ordinances for city employment. Private employers in those cities are not covered by city ordinance.
Occupational licensing:
Arizona enacted licensing reform under HB 2569 (2021). Licensing boards may not categorically deny licenses based on criminal convictions - they must conduct individualized assessments. People can request a preliminary determination before investing in training. The reform does not apply to all licensing categories - some statutory restrictions remain for specific serious offense categories.
Employment assistance:
- Arizona@Work: arizonaatwork.com - statewide workforce development network. Local Arizona@Work offices provide employment services including reentry-specific programs.
- ADCRR Reentry Employment Services: coordinated through ADCRR reentry unit and Arizona@Work partnership
- Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona: goodwillaz.org - employment programs with reentry focus in Phoenix metro
KEY ARIZONA REENTRY ORGANIZATIONS
Maricopa County Adult Probation Reentry Services
maricopa.gov/1706/Adult-Probation - Phoenix
Maricopa County operates one of the largest probation and reentry service systems in the country. Reentry case management, employment assistance, and housing navigation for people on Maricopa County probation and CS.
Arizona Community Development Corporation (AZCD)
azcd.org / (602) 252-4050 / Phoenix
Transitional housing and reentry services in the Phoenix area.
Chrysalis Shelter / Chrysalis Reentry
chrysalisshelter.org / (602) 955-9059 / Phoenix
Transitional housing and services for women and children - includes reentry programming for women releasing from prison.
Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona
goodwillaz.org / (602) 535-4000 / Phoenix metro
Employment training, job placement, and reentry services across Maricopa County and central Arizona.
Community Legal Services
clsaz.org / (602) 258-3434 / Phoenix (Maricopa County)
Free civil legal services including set aside petitions, Prop 207 expungement, reentry legal issues, and housing advocacy.
Southern Arizona Legal Aid
sazlegalaid.org / (520) 623-9465 / Tucson (Pima County and southern AZ)
Free civil legal services in southern and rural Arizona including reentry legal assistance.
ADCRR Reentry Division
corrections.az.gov/reentry
Official ADCRR reentry coordination. Pre-release planning, Community Supervision transition, and community resource connections.
STATE DOC REENTRY PROGRAMS
ADCRR Reentry and Rehabilitation Division:
ADCRR has significantly rebranded and restructured its reentry focus in recent years, adding "Rehabilitation and Reentry" to its official name. Pre-release programming includes employment readiness, substance abuse treatment, and community resource connections.
Work Furlough and Work Release:
ADCRR operates work furlough and work release programs at select facilities allowing eligible individuals to work in the community prior to full release.
Vocational and Education Programs:
ADCRR provides vocational training (construction, welding, culinary, and others), GED preparation, and some college programming through community college partnerships.
Community Supervision:
Community Supervision officers are ADCRR employees who supervise the post-release period. CS is a mandatory component of most Arizona state sentences - it is not parole and does not require a board decision for most cases.
HALFWAY HOUSES LINK BLOCK
Find halfway houses and reentry housing in Arizona ->
inmateaid.com/halfway-houses/arizona/
Arizona has federal Residential Reentry Centers under BOP Residential Reentry Management Phoenix (covers AZ, NV, NM, UT, CO). Federal RRCs in Arizona are operated primarily in the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas. State-contracted ADCRR transition facilities serve CS clients. Maricopa County has the highest concentration of reentry housing options. Rural Arizona - including large tribal land areas - is significantly underserved.
Frequently asked questions
Q: When do my voting rights restore in Arizona?
A: For a first felony conviction: automatically after completing your full sentence including Community Supervision AND paying all fines, fees, and restitution. For two or more felony convictions: you must apply to the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency after completing all sentences - rights do not restore automatically. Contact the Arizona Secretary of State at azsos.gov/elections to check your status.
Q: Can my Arizona conviction be expunged?
A: Arizona does not have traditional expungement for most convictions - instead, there is a "set aside" process (ARS 13-905) that dismisses the charges but keeps the record public and visible. If you have a marijuana possession or paraphernalia conviction that qualifies under Proposition 207, you can petition for a true expungement that removes the record. Contact Community Legal Services (clsaz.org) in Phoenix or Southern Arizona Legal Aid (sazlegalaid.org) in Tucson for free assistance with either process.
Q: How do I apply for AHCCCS (Arizona Medicaid) after prison?
A: Apply at healthearizonaplus.gov or call 1-855-HEA-PLUS (1-855-432-7587). Arizona fully expanded Medicaid and most low-income adults qualify quickly. Ask your ADCRR case manager whether you have been pre-enrolled before your release date.
Q: Does Arizona ban the box for private employers?
A: No - only for state government employers. Phoenix and Tucson have local ordinances for city employment. Private employers across Arizona can ask about criminal history at any point. Arizona@Work offices (arizonaatwork.com) can connect you with employers who actively hire people with records.
Q: What is Community Supervision in Arizona and how is it different from parole?
A: Arizona abolished discretionary parole for crimes committed after January 1, 1994. Community Supervision is the mandatory post-release supervision period that replaces parole for most Arizona state sentences. Unlike traditional parole, it does not require a board decision - it is a fixed period built into the sentence. CS officers are ADCRR employees. Violating CS conditions can result in revocation and return to prison. For voting rights purposes, CS counts as part of the sentence - voting rights do not restore until CS ends. TruthFinder WIDGET Search Arizona inmate and arrest records INTERNAL LINKS - inmateaid.com/halfway-houses/arizona/ - inmateaid.com/reentry/ - inmateaid.com/reentry/myths-and-facts/ EXTERNAL LINKS (new tab) - corrections.az.gov - healthearizonaplus.gov - azsos.gov/elections - azmvdnow.gov - clsaz.org - arizonaatwork.com - findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov SCHEMA BreadcrumbList + FAQPage DATA SOURCES Voting rights: ARS 13-912; ARS 13-912.01; ABEC / azsos.gov/elections; ccresourcecenter.org Medicaid: kff.org expansion tracker / AHCCCS SNAP: ccresourcecenter.org modified ban confirmed / DES Expungement: ARS 13-905 (Set Aside); Prop 207 (ARS 36-2862) / azcourts.gov Ban the box: Executive Order (state agencies) / Phoenix and Tucson local ordinances Licensing: HB 2569 (2021) / Arizona licensing boards Organizations: verified from individual organization websites ADCRR programs: corrections.az.gov/reentry BOP RRM: RRM Phoenix covers AZ, NV, NM, UT, CO Parole abolition: ARS 41-1604.09 (effective Jan 1, 1994)