13-3601

13-3601. Domestic violence; definition;
classification; sentencing option; arrest and procedure for
violation; weapon seizure

A. "Domestic violence" means any act that is a dangerous crime against children as
defined in section 13-705 or an offense prescribed in section 13-1102, 13-1103, 13-1104,
13-1105, 13-1201, 13-1202, 13-1203, 13-1204, 13-1302, 13-1303, 13-1304, 13-1406, 13-1502,
13-1503, 13-1504, 13-1602 or 13-2810, section 13-2904, subsection A, paragraph 1, 2, 3 or
6, section 13-2910, subsection A, paragraph 8 or 9, section 13-2915, subsection A,
paragraph 3 or section 13-2916, 13-2921, 13-2921.01, 13-2923, 13-3019, 13-3601.02 or
13-3623, if any of the following applies:

1. The relationship between the victim and the defendant is one of marriage or
former marriage or of persons residing or having resided in the same household.

2. The victim and the defendant have a child in common.

3. The victim or the defendant is pregnant by the other party.

4. The victim is related to the defendant or the defendant's spouse by blood or
court order as a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister or by marriage
as a parent-in-law, grandparent-in-law, stepparent, step-grandparent, stepchild,
step-grandchild, brother-in-law or sister-in-law.

5. The victim is a child who resides or has resided in the same household as the
defendant and is related by blood to a former spouse of the defendant or to a person who
resides or who has resided in the same household as the defendant.

6. The relationship between the victim and the defendant is currently or was
previously a romantic or sexual relationship. The following factors may be considered in
determining whether the relationship between the victim and the defendant is currently or
was previously a romantic or sexual relationship:

(a) The type of relationship.

(b) The length of the relationship.

(d) If the relationship has terminated, the length of time since the termination.

B. A peace officer, with or without a warrant, may arrest a person if the officer
has probable cause to believe that domestic violence has been committed and the officer
has probable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed the offense,
whether the offense is a felony or a misdemeanor and whether the offense was committed
within or without the presence of the peace officer. In cases of domestic violence
involving the infliction of physical injury or involving the discharge, use or
threatening exhibition of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, the peace officer
shall arrest a person, with or without a warrant, if the officer has probable cause to
believe that the offense has been committed and the officer has probable cause to believe
that the person to be arrested has committed the offense, whether the offense was
committed within or without the presence of the peace officer, unless the officer has
reasonable grounds to believe that the circumstances at the time are such that the victim
will be protected from further injury. Failure to make an arrest does not give rise to
civil liability except pursuant to section 12-820.02. In order to arrest both parties,
the peace officer shall have probable cause to believe that both parties independently
have committed an act of domestic violence. An act of self-defense that is justified
under chapter 4 of this title is not deemed to be an act of domestic violence. The
release procedures available under section 13-3883, subsection A, paragraph 4 and section
13-3903 are not applicable to arrests made pursuant to this subsection.

C. A peace officer may question the persons who are present to determine if a
firearm is present on the premises. On learning or observing that a firearm is present
on the premises, the peace officer may temporarily seize the firearm if the firearm is in
plain view or was found pursuant to a consent to search and if the officer reasonably
believes that the firearm would expose the victim or another person in the household to a
risk of serious bodily injury or death. A firearm that is owned or possessed by the
victim shall not be seized unless there is probable cause to believe that both parties
independently have committed an act of domestic violence.

D. If a firearm is seized pursuant to subsection C of this section, the peace
officer shall give the owner or possessor of the firearm a receipt for each seized
firearm. The receipt shall indicate the identification or serial number or other
identifying characteristic of each seized firearm. Each seized firearm shall be held for
at least seventy-two hours by the law enforcement agency that seized the firearm.

E. If a firearm is seized pursuant to subsection C of this section, the victim
shall be notified by a peace officer before the firearm is released from temporary
custody.

F. If there is reasonable cause to believe that returning a firearm to the owner or
possessor may endanger the victim, the person who reported the assault or threat or
another person in the household, the prosecutor shall file a notice of intent to retain
the firearm in the appropriate superior, justice or municipal court. The prosecutor
shall serve notice on the owner or possessor of the firearm by certified mail. The
notice shall state that the firearm will be retained for not more than six months
following the date of seizure. On receipt of the notice, the owner or possessor may
request a hearing for the return of the firearm, to dispute the grounds for seizure or to
request an earlier return date. The court shall hold the hearing within ten days after
receiving the owner's or possessor's request for a hearing. At the hearing, unless the
court determines that the return of the firearm may endanger the victim, the person who
reported the assault or threat or another person in the household, the court shall order
the return of the firearm to the owner or possessor.

G. A peace officer is not liable for any act or omission in the good faith exercise
of the officer's duties under subsections C, D, E and F of this section.

H. Each indictment, information, complaint, summons or warrant that is issued and
that involves domestic violence shall state that the offense involved domestic violence
and shall be designated by the letters DV. A domestic violence charge shall not be
dismissed or a domestic violence conviction shall not be set aside for failure to comply
with this subsection.

I. A person who is arrested pursuant to subsection B of this section may be
released from custody in accordance with the Arizona rules of criminal procedure or any
other applicable statute. Any order for release, with or without an appearance bond,
shall include pretrial release conditions that are necessary to provide for the
protection of the alleged victim and other specifically designated persons and may
provide for additional conditions that the court deems appropriate, including
participation in any counseling programs available to the defendant.

J. When a peace officer responds to a call alleging that domestic violence has been
or may be committed, the officer shall inform in writing any alleged or potential victim
of the procedures and resources available for the protection of the victim including:

1. An order of protection pursuant to section 13-3602, an injunction pursuant to
section 25-315 and an injunction against harassment pursuant to section 12-1809.

2. The emergency telephone number for the local police agency.

3. Telephone numbers for emergency services in the local community.

K. A peace officer is not civilly liable for noncompliance with subsection J of
this section.

L. An offense that is included in domestic violence carries the classification
prescribed in the section of this title in which the offense is classified. If the
defendant committed a felony offense listed in subsection A of this section against a
pregnant victim and knew that the victim was pregnant or if the defendant committed a
felony offense causing physical injury to a pregnant victim and knew that the victim was
pregnant, section 13-709.04, subsection B applies to the sentence imposed.