Certificates of Second Chance: Arizona’s New Law Helps Citizens with Criminal Convictions Continue to Contribute

In 2021, Arizona added a new provision to the law which further helps break down some of the barriers faced by people with a prior conviction. A.R.S. § 13-905, known as the "set aside" statute, permits a Court to set aside the judgment of guilt in certain qualifying cases. While it is not the same thing as an expungement, a set aside often helps those with criminal convictions avoid penalties in the future. The new provision to that law now allows the Court to issue a "Certificate of Second Chance."

A Certificate of Second Chance allows a person whose conviction has been set aside to obtain benefits that they may not be able to obtain if they have a conviction. For example, some individuals who would qualify for an occupational license, such as architects, nurses, doctors, engineers, barbers, cosmetologists, accountants, real estate agents, and more, may not be able to get licensed if they have a particular conviction. A Certificate of Second Chance allows those citizens to qualify for the professional license and remain productive members of the community. Additionally, some housing opportunities are unavailable to individuals with particular convictions. A Certificate of Second Chance can open up those housing opportunities as well.

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