ARS 13-2505: Promoting prison contraband
The complete text of A.R.S. § 13-2505 on promoting prison contraband, what the State has to prove, and the sentencing range, with a violation charged as a class 2 through 5 felony and exposure reaching up to 12.5 years in prison.
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What the State Must Prove Under § 13-2505
A.R.S. § 13-2505 is the Arizona statute on promoting prison contraband. The statute sets out 3 ways the offense can be committed. A violation is a class 2 through 5 felony, depending on the paragraph charged and what the State can prove. The maximum exposure is 12.5 years in prison.
A. A person, not otherwise authorized by law, commits promoting prison contraband:
- By knowingly taking contraband into a correctional facility or the grounds of a correctional facility; or
- By knowingly conveying contraband to any person confined in a correctional facility; or
- By knowingly making, obtaining or possessing contraband while being confined in a correctional facility or while being lawfully transported or moved incident to correctional facility confinement.
The State must prove every element of the paragraph it actually charged, beyond a reasonable doubt. Which paragraph appears on the complaint decides what the case is about, and it is the first thing to check.
Penalties for a § 13-2505 Conviction
| Class | Mitigated | Minimum | Presumptive | Maximum | Aggravated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 2 felony | 3 years | 4 years | 5 years | 10 years | 12.5 years |
| Class 5 felony | 6 months | 9 months | 1.5 years | 2 years | 2.5 years |
Felony ranges are set by A.R.S. § 13-702(D) and apply to a first felony conviction that is not dangerous and not repetitive. A dangerous offense (§ 13-704), a repetitive offense (§ 13-703) or a dangerous crime against children (§ 13-705) carries a longer range, and some carry mandatory prison with no probation. Misdemeanor maximums come from §§ 13-707 and 13-802; surcharges are added on top of every fine.
Full Text of A.R.S. § 13-2505
A. A person, not otherwise authorized by law, commits promoting prison contraband:
1. By knowingly taking contraband into a correctional facility or the grounds of a correctional facility; or
2. By knowingly conveying contraband to any person confined in a correctional facility; or
3. By knowingly making, obtaining or possessing contraband while being confined in a correctional facility or while being lawfully transported or moved incident to correctional facility confinement.
B. A person who has reasonable grounds to believe there has been a violation or attempted violation of this section shall immediately report the violation or attempted violation to the official in charge of the facility or to a peace officer.
C. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any person who is convicted of a violation of this section is prohibited from being employed by this state or any of its agencies or political subdivisions until the person’s civil rights have been restored pursuant to chapter 9 of this title.
D. This section does not apply to any of the following:
1. A prisoner who possesses or carries any tool, instrument or implement used by him at the direction or with the permission of prison officials.
2. Contraband located at the place where a person is on home arrest.
3. Contraband authorized by the correctional facility policies and used at the direction or with the permission of prison officials.
E. The state department of corrections, a county jail or a city or town correctional facility may request a licensed practitioner as defined in section 32-2801 to order that x-radiation be performed on any inmate if there is reason to believe the inmate is in possession of any contraband.
F. The state department of corrections, a county jail or a city or town correctional facility, in compliance with generally accepted health and safety standards, may perform a body scan of an inmate by using low-dose ionizing radiation without an order from a licensed practitioner to prevent any contraband from entering into a correctional facility.
G. Promoting prison contraband if the contraband is a deadly weapon, dangerous instrument or explosive is a class 2 felony. Promoting prison contraband if the contraband is a dangerous drug, narcotic drug or marijuana is a class 2 felony. In all other cases promoting prison contraband is a class 5 felony. Failure to report a violation or attempted violation of this section is a class 5 felony.
Source: Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-2505, Arizona Legislative Council revision of 09/19/25. Read the official text on azleg.gov. Statutes change; verify the current version before relying on it.
Related Statutes in Chapter 25 — Escape And Related Offenses
- A.R.S. § 13-2504 — Escape in the first degree
- A.R.S. § 13-2506 — Failure to appear in the second degree
- A.R.S. § 13-2503 — Escape in the second degree
- A.R.S. § 13-2507 — Failure to appear in the first degree
- A.R.S. § 13-2502 — Escape in the third degree
- A.R.S. § 13-2508 — Resisting arrest
- A.R.S. § 13-2509 — Resisting an order directing, regulating or controlling motor vehicle
- A.R.S. § 13-2511 — Hindering prosecution in the second degree
How Tamou Law Group Defends § 13-2505 Cases
A § 13-2505 case is decided by the paragraph the State charged, not by the statute as a whole. We start with the charging document and the disclosure, identify which subsection the prosecutor has to prove, and test whether the evidence actually reaches every element of it. Where the class turns on a fact such as value, an alleged injury, a prior conviction or the identity of the person involved, that fact is frequently the difference between a class 2 through 5 felony and something far less serious, and it is where these cases are won.
We handle promoting prison contraband cases across Maricopa County and statewide, from our Scottsdale and Phoenix offices. Call 623-321-4699 any time, or read the statute in full above before you speak to anyone about the case.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is A.R.S. § 13-2505?
A.R.S. § 13-2505 is the Arizona statute on promoting prison contraband. A violation is a class 2 through 5 felony, and which class applies depends on the paragraph charged and the facts the State can prove.
Is a violation of § 13-2505 a felony in Arizona?
Yes. Under the statute a violation is a class 2 through 5 felony, so the exposure reaches up to 12.5 years in prison. The paragraph charged and the facts decide which class applies.
What is the sentence for a class 2 felony in Arizona?
For a first felony conviction that is not dangerous or repetitive, A.R.S. 13-702(D) sets a class 2 felony at 3 years to 12.5 years, with a presumptive term of 5 years. Dangerous, repetitive and dangerous-crimes-against-children sentencing under 13-703, 13-704 and 13-705 runs longer.
Where can I read the official text of § 13-2505?
The Arizona Legislature publishes it at azleg.gov, in the revision dated 09/19/25. The complete text is reproduced on this page, and every Arizona criminal statute is searchable on our Arizona Criminal Code index.
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