{"id":371589,"date":"2017-08-18T18:28:16","date_gmt":"2017-08-18T23:28:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/arizona-law\/arizona-robbery-laws.html"},"modified":"2018-03-10T15:02:00","modified_gmt":"2018-03-10T20:02:00","slug":"arizona-robbery-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/arizona-law\/arizona-robbery-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Robbery Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Arizona Robbery Laws<\/h1>\n
\n
\n

Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last reviewed\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

If you sneak up behind someone and take their wallet without them noticing, you\u2019ve committed a theft crime. But, it\u2019s not robbery. A conviction for robbery requires the use of force and the taking of property against the victim\u2019s will.<\/p>\r\n

Arizona divides robbery into three distinct crimes: robbery, aggravated robbery, and armed robbery. The elements of proof required for each of these crimes is very similar. However, the punishments are extremely different. A conviction for a first offense of robbery is as little as one year. In contrast, a first offense for armed robbery carries a mandatory 7-years prison term. Let\u2019s take a closer look at Arizona robbery laws to better understand the important distinctions between these crimes.<\/p>\r\n

Overview of Arizona Robbery Law<\/h2>\r\n

Below, you will find key provisions of Arizona\u2019s robbery law.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Arizona Statutes<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Statutory Definitions<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    \r\n
  • Force<\/b>: Any physical act directed against a person as a means of gaining control of property.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
      \r\n
    • Threat<\/b>: Intrusion of any part of any instrument or any part of a person’s body inside the external boundaries of a structure or unit of real property.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
        \r\n
      • In the Course of Committing:<\/b> Any of the defendant’s acts beginning with the initiation and extending through the flight from a robbery.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Robbery Classifications and Sentences<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    \r\n
  • Robbery<\/b>
      \r\n
    • Class 4 Felony<\/li>\r\n
    • Minimum 1 years in prison \/ Maximum 3.75 years (no priors)<\/li>\r\n
    • Minimum 2.25 years in prison \/ Maximum 7.5 years (1 prior conviction)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n
    • Aggravated Robbery<\/b>
        \r\n
      • Class 3 Felony<\/li>\r\n
      • Minimum 2 years in prison \/ Maximum 8.75 years (no priors)<\/li>\r\n
      • Minimum 3.5 years in prison \/ Maximum 16.25 years (1 prior conviction)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n
      • Armed Robbery<\/b>
          \r\n
        • Class 2 \u201cDangerous\u201d Felony<\/li>\r\n
        • Minimum 7 \/Maximum 21 years<\/li>\r\n
        • Minimum 14 years in prison \/ Maximum 28 years (1 prior \u201cdangerous\u201d conviction)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Defenses<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n