Arizona Revised Statutes

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-706 (2026)

Serious, violent or aggravated offenders; sentencing; life imprisonment; definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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13-706. Serious, violent or aggravated offenders; sentencing; life imprisonment; definitions

A. A person who is at least eighteen years of age or who has been tried as an adult and who is convicted of a serious offense except a drug offense, first degree murder or any dangerous crime against children as defined in section 13-705, whether a completed or preparatory offense, and who has previously been convicted of two or more serious offenses not committed on the same occasion shall be sentenced to life imprisonment and 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 person has served at least twenty-five years or the sentence is commuted.

B. Unless a longer term of imprisonment or death is the prescribed penalty and notwithstanding any provision that establishes a shorter term of imprisonment, a person who has been convicted of committing or attempting or conspiring to commit any violent or aggravated felony and who has previously been convicted on separate occasions of two or more violent or aggravated felonies not committed on the same occasion shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life and is not eligible for suspension of sentence, probation, pardon or release on any basis except that the person may be eligible for commutation after the person has served at least thirty-five years.

C. In order for the penalty under subsection B of this section to apply, both of the following must occur:

1. The aggravated or violent felonies that comprise the prior convictions shall have been entered within fifteen years of the conviction for the third offense, not including time spent in custody or on probation for an offense or while the person is an absconder.

2. The sentence for the first aggravated or violent felony conviction shall have been imposed before the conduct occurred that gave rise to the second conviction, and the sentence for the second aggravated or violent felony conviction shall have been imposed before the conduct occurred that gave rise to the third conviction.

D. Chapter 3 of this title applies to all offenses under this section.

E. For the purposes of this section, if a person has been convicted of an offense committed in another jurisdiction that if committed in this state would be a violation or attempted violation of any of the offenses listed in this section and that has the same elements of an offense listed in this section, the offense committed in another jurisdiction is considered an offense committed in this state.

F. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Serious offense" means any of the following offenses if committed in this state or any offense committed outside this state that if committed in this state would constitute one of the following offenses:

(a) First degree murder.

(b) Second degree murder.

(c) Manslaughter.

(d) Aggravated assault resulting in serious physical injury or involving the discharge, use or threatening exhibition of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument.

(e) Sexual assault.

(f) Any dangerous crime against children.

(g) Arson of an occupied structure.

(h) Armed robbery.

(i) Burglary in the first degree.

(j) Kidnapping.

(k) Sexual conduct with a minor under fifteen years of age.

(l) Child sex trafficking.

2. "Violent or aggravated felony" means any of the following offenses:

(a) First degree murder.

(b) Second degree murder.

(c) Aggravated assault resulting in serious physical injury or involving the discharge, use or threatening exhibition of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument.

(d) Dangerous or deadly assault by prisoner.

(e) Committing assault with intent to incite to riot or participate in riot.

(f) Drive by shooting.

(g) Discharging a firearm at a residential structure if the structure is occupied.

(h) Kidnapping.

(i) Sexual conduct with a minor that is a class 2 felony.

(j) Sexual assault.

(k) Molestation of a child.

(l) Continuous sexual abuse of a child.

(m) Violent sexual assault.

(n) Burglary in the first degree committed in a residential structure if the structure is occupied.

(o) Arson of an occupied structure.

(p) Arson of an occupied jail or prison facility.

(q) Armed robbery.

(r) Participating in or assisting a criminal syndicate or leading or participating in a criminal street gang.

(s) Terrorism.

(t) Taking a child for the purpose of prostitution.

(u) Child sex trafficking.

(v) Commercial sexual exploitation of a minor.

(w) Sexual exploitation of a minor.

(x) Unlawful introduction of disease or parasite as prescribed by section 13-2912, subsection A, paragraph 2 or 3.

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 42 cases (15 in the last 5 years), 1995–2026 · leading case: State of Arizona v. Daniel Andrew Snider, 311 P.3d 656 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2013).
State of Arizona v. Daniel Andrew Snider, 311 P.3d 656 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 10× “5-year prison term on count two, burglary; fifteen years on count four, burglary; twenty years on count eleven, attempted armed robbery; and, life in prison with the possibility of release after twenty-five years on the eighteen remaining counts pursuant to AR.S. § 13-706(A), 2…”
State v. James, 297 P.3d 182 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 2× “§ 13-604(S) (2006) (currently codified at A.R.S. § 13-706). James timely appealed, and this court allowed the parties to file supplemental briefs addressing the issue of fundamental error.”
Krone v. Hotham, 890 P.2d 1149 (Ariz. 1995). · cites it 4× “A.R.S. § 13-706(A) (Supp.1994). If the defendant files any subsequent petition for post-conviction relief, he or she must apply separately to this court, not to the superior court, to seek a stay of execution pending completion of that subsequent petition.”
State v. Neese, 366 P.3d 561 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 3× “) section 13-107 E (period of limitation does not run for a serious offense as defined in *86 A.R.S. § 13-706 during any time when the identity of the person who commits the offense or offenses is unknown).”
State v. Schackart, 947 P.2d 315 (Ariz. 1997). · cites it 2× “See A.R.S. §§ 13-706(A), 13-703. D. Governor Symington’s hard labor program Defendant complains about a statement that the former governor allegedly made concerning a plan to “devise a hard labor program for our death row inmates, to help them pass the time while the courts…”
State v. Carver, 258 P.3d 256 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 6× “Either spouse may be examined as a witness for or against the other in a prosecution for an offense listed in § 13-706, subsection F, paragraph 1, ... if either of the following occurs: (a) Before testifying, the testifying spouse makes a voluntary statement to a law enforcement…”
State of Arizona v. Raymond Anthony Hall, 322 P.3d 191 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 2× “However, under §§ 13-905(C) and 13-906(C), a person who has been convicted of a serious offense is not eligible to apply for the restoration of his right to carry firearms until ten years after his discharge from probation or imprisonment.”
Prudholm v. State, 333 S.W.3d 590 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). “04 (b); Ariz.Rev.Stat. § 13-706; and (iv) as in Texas, the elements of the foreign offense are similar to the elements of an enumerated offense, see, e.”
State v. Garcia, 334 P.3d 1286 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 2× “As the State notes, the applicable sentence under AR.S. § 13-706(A) is life imprisonment without the possibility of release for 25 years.”
Delgado-Hernandez v. Holder, 697 F.3d 1125 (9th Cir. 2012). “765 (a)(1)(B) (characterizing “kidnapping or attempted kidnapping of a child” as a “violent crime”); Ariz.Rev.Stat. § 13-706(2)(h) (defining “violent or aggravated felony”); CahPenal Code § 667.”
Amaya-Ruiz v. Stewart, 136 F. Supp. 2d 1014 (D. Ariz. 2001). · cites it 2× “A.R.S. § 13-706(A) provides: After a conviction and sentence of death are affirmed and the first post-conviction relief proceedings have been concluded, the supreme court shall issue a warrant of execution that authorizes the director of the state department of corrections to…”
MARIO W. v. Kaipio, 265 P.3d 389 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “A violation of any serious offense as defined in § 13-706 that is a dangerous offense as defined in § 13-105.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-706(2)(h) — 1 case
Delgado-Hernandez v. Holder, 697 F.3d 1125 (9th Cir. 2012). “765 (a)(1)(B) (characterizing “kidnapping or attempted kidnapping of a child” as a “violent crime”); Ariz.Rev.Stat. § 13-706(2)(h) (defining “violent or aggravated felony”); CahPenal Code § 667.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-706(A) — 8 cases
State of Arizona v. Daniel Andrew Snider, 311 P.3d 656 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2013). “5-year prison term on count two, burglary; fifteen years on count four, burglary; twenty years on count eleven, attempted armed robbery; and, life in prison with the possibility of release after twenty-five years on the eighteen remaining counts pursuant to AR.S. § 13-706(A), 2…”
Krone v. Hotham, 890 P.2d 1149 (Ariz. 1995). “A.R.S. § 13-706(A) (Supp.1994). If the defendant files any subsequent petition for post-conviction relief, he or she must apply separately to this court, not to the superior court, to seek a stay of execution pending completion of that subsequent petition.”
State v. Schackart, 947 P.2d 315 (Ariz. 1997). “See A.R.S. §§ 13-706(A), 13-703. D. Governor Symington’s hard labor program Defendant complains about a statement that the former governor allegedly made concerning a plan to “devise a hard labor program for our death row inmates, to help them pass the time while the courts…”
State v. Garcia, 334 P.3d 1286 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014). “As the State notes, the applicable sentence under AR.S. § 13-706(A) is life imprisonment without the possibility of release for 25 years.”
Amaya-Ruiz v. Stewart, 136 F. Supp. 2d 1014 (D. Ariz. 2001). “A.R.S. § 13-706(A) provides: After a conviction and sentence of death are affirmed and the first post-conviction relief proceedings have been concluded, the supreme court shall issue a warrant of execution that authorizes the director of the state department of corrections to…”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-706(B) — 3 cases
State v. Robinson (Ariz. Ct. App. 2021).
State v. Siegfried (Ariz. Ct. App. 2024).
State v. Puma (Ariz. Ct. App. 2015).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-706(F) — 4 cases
State of Arizona v. Daniel Andrew Snider, 311 P.3d 656 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2013). “5-year prison term on count two, burglary; fifteen years on count four, burglary; twenty years on count eleven, attempted armed robbery; and, life in prison with the possibility of release after twenty-five years on the eighteen remaining counts pursuant to AR.S. § 13-706(A), 2…”
State v. Humelhans (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014).
State v. Francisco (Ariz. Ct. App. 2017).
State v. Dutra, 426 P.3d 308 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2018).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-706(F)(1) — 3 cases
State v. Carver, 258 P.3d 256 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2011). “Either spouse may be examined as a witness for or against the other in a prosecution for an offense listed in § 13-706, subsection F, paragraph 1, ... if either of the following occurs: (a) Before testifying, the testifying spouse makes a voluntary statement to a law enforcement…”
State v. Humelhans (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-706(F)(1)(a) — 1 case
State v. James (Ariz. Ct. App. 2026).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-706(F)(1)(b) — 1 case
State of Arizona v. Hon. Fink, 539 P.3d 543 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2023).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-706(F)(1)(c) — 1 case
State v. Gallegos (Ariz. Ct. App. 2015).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-706(F)(1)(d) — 3 cases
State v. Francisco (Ariz. Ct. App. 2017).
State of Arizona v. Albert F. Vergara (Ariz. Ct. App. 2025).
State v. Oman (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-706(F)(2)(a) — 1 case
McGuire v. Lee ex rel. Cnty. of Pima, 372 P.3d 328 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2016).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-706(P)(1) — 1 case
State v. Farnsworth, 389 P.3d 88 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2017).
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