Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get the Board's Good cause exception application?

See Answer:

You can download a copy of our application. If you have trouble downloading or printing the applicant, you can contact us to ask that we mail you a copy of the application form.
**Please note: you should not download the applicant and submit it until your application for a fingerprint clearance card has been denied, or your card has been suspended. Do not submit an application until you receive the Department of Public Safety notice of denial or suspension because you'll need to include information from that notice on your application form. If you submit the application without this information, we will send the application back to you.

What are your application requirements?

See Answer:

Our application requirements are outlined in our application package. However: you should not submit the package until you receive the Department of Public Safety notice of denial or suspension.

I didn't get or keep copies of my court documents or police reports. What should I do?

See Answer:

You should contact the appropriate courts or police departments to get copies of the records. Some courts may require you to pay a fee to conduct a records search or make copies of records. You are responsible for paying those fees.
In some cases, the courts (and, less frequently, the police departments) will not have copies of the records because of the length of time since the case. In particular, most courts will purge records a certain number of years after the case is closed. You should ask the court for a statement that it searched its records but could not locate a case. This statement will show either that you were not convicted of the offense in that court or that you completed any sentencing requirements because a court will not purge records unless the case was closed.
For more information about the requirement to submit court documents, please download our guide on court documents.

May I submit reference letters in addition to the two reference forms that the Board requires?

See Answer:

Yes. You may submit as many reference letters as you like. However, you must submit at least two of the reference forms that are part of the application package, and those forms must meet the requirements described in the application instructions. If you need additional copies of the reference form, you may download it at this link or by visiting our Forms page. The two references may be relatives or friends; individuals who can speak to your good character and rehabilitation; if applicable.

Any reference letters that you submit in addition to the reference forms should be signed and dated. You may submit reference letters that were not specifically written for the good cause exception application (i.e., a copy of a reference letter you have that was not written to the Board but rather for some other purpose). However, keep in mind that these letters often do not carry as much weight as letters specifically written for the good cause exception application process.

My criminal offense was minor and occurred a long time ago. Do I really have to submit all the information asked for in the application?

See Answer:

Yes. Even if your offense or criminal charges were from a long time ago, you must meet all application requirements.

What is an expedited review?

See Answer:

An expedited review is the Board's initial review of your application. You will not be present for this review. Based only on the application materials you have submitted, the Board will decide one of two things:

That you should be given a fingerprint clearance card, without having to appear at an administrative hearing
That you should appear at an administrative hearing. Please note that you may have to appear at a hearing, even if you meet all application requirements.

What criteria do the Board members consider when deciding whether to approve an application under an expedited review?

See Answer:

When conducting an expedited review, the Board applies the criteria that appear in A.R.S. § 41–619.55(E).

Although the Board also applies these criteria to individuals who appear at a hearing, the Board is looking to see whether it can approve applicants without them needing to appear at a hearing. In general, the sorts of individuals who are approved under an expedited review are applicants who have very limited criminal histories, who have not committed an offense recently, who meet all application requirements, and whose offenses are not serious in nature.

Obversely, applicants who have extensive criminal histories, who committed crimes recently, who do not meet the application requirements, or who commit serious crimes normally have to appear at a hearing. Also, applicants who are awaiting trial, have outstanding warrants, or who have not completed their sentences typically must appear at a hearing.

What happens after the expedited review?

See Answer:

The fastest way to find out the results of your expedited review is to check the status of your case online by going to this page: http://directoryfingerprint.az.gov/status_search.asp.

You should wait until after 1:00 p.m. the day of the Board meeting; the Web site will not be updated before then. Alternatively, you can contact the Board staff on the Monday following the Board meeting.

If you are approved for a good cause exception at an expedited review, the Board staff will send two letters. The first letter will go to the address we have on record for you, and it notifies you that you were approved for a fingerprint clearance card. The second letter goes to the Department of Public Safety (DPS), and it requests that DPS issue a fingerprint clearance card. After a couple of weeks, you should receive your fingerprint clearance card.

If you were not approved for a good cause exception at an expedited review, the Board staff will send you a letter. This letter will explain that you will need to appear at an administrative hearing and will give a tentative date for your hearing. Please note that this date may change and is provided only to help give you a sense of about how long you will need to wait for a hearing. At least 20 days prior to your hearing, the Board staff will send a formal notice of hearing by certified mail. This notice will give you the date, time, and location of your hearing.

If you have any change of address during the appeal process, you should contact the Board staff immediately to be sure you get all correspondence.

What happens at a hearing?

See Answer:

If you have to appear at a hearing, you must arrive at the time, date, and place specified in the notice of hearing. When your hearing begins, you will appear in a room before a hearing officer (also called an administrative law judge). The administrative law judge will swear you in and then ask you questions specific to your case. The administrative law judge will also give you an opportunity to make a statement. In this statement, you should explain why you should be granted a fingerprint clearance card, despite your criminal history. You may want to describe positive steps you have taken since your most recent offense to change your criminal behavior.

The hearing itself will be informal in the sense that it will be much like a conversation between you and the hearing officer. However, you should not be disrespectful to the hearing officer. Also, you should keep in mind that in this process, you have the burden of proving that you are rehabilitated. Although the administrative law judge may have questions to ask, you should be prepared to demonstrate why you should be given a fingerprint clearance card.

Do I need to bring anything to the hearing?

See Answer:

No. However, you may want to bring documentation that you have not submitted to the Board. In particular, if the status of a criminal case changes, you should bring a copy of any relevant documentation to your hearing. Also, if you failed to submit documentation that was an application requirement, you should bring a copy. Please be sure to bring an extra copy of any documentation because the administrative law judge may not be able to make a photocopy.

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