ARS 13-2921: Harassment
The complete text of A.R.S. § 13-2921 on harassment, what the State has to prove, and the sentencing range, with a violation charged as a class 5 felony or a class 1 misdemeanor and exposure reaching up to 2.5 years in prison.
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What the State Must Prove Under § 13-2921
A.R.S. § 13-2921 is the Arizona statute on harassment. The statute sets out 5 ways the offense can be committed. A violation is a class 5 felony or a class 1 misdemeanor, depending on the paragraph charged and what the State can prove. The maximum exposure is 2.5 years in prison.
A. A person commits harassment if the person knowingly and repeatedly commits an act or acts that harass another person or the person knowingly commits any one of the following acts in a manner that harasses:
- Contacts or causes a communication with another person by verbal, electronic, mechanical, telegraphic, telephonic or written means.
- Continues to follow another person in or about a public place after being asked by that person to desist.
- Surveils or causes a person to surveil another person.
- Makes a false report to a law enforcement, credit or social service agency against another person.
- Interferes with the delivery of any public or regulated utility to another person.
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 § 13-2921 Conviction
| Class | Mitigated | Minimum | Presumptive | Maximum | Aggravated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 5 felony | 6 months | 9 months | 1.5 years | 2 years | 2.5 years |
| Class | Maximum jail | Maximum fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 misdemeanor | 6 months | $2,500 |
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. § 13-2921
A. A person commits harassment if the person knowingly and repeatedly commits an act or acts that harass another person or the person knowingly commits any one of the following acts in a manner that harasses:
1. Contacts or causes a communication with another person by verbal, electronic, mechanical, telegraphic, telephonic or written means.
2. Continues to follow another person in or about a public place after being asked by that person to desist.
3. Surveils or causes a person to surveil another person.
4. Makes a false report to a law enforcement, credit or social service agency against another person.
5. Interferes with the delivery of any public or regulated utility to another person.
B. A person commits harassment against a public officer or employee if the person, with intent to harass, files a nonconsensual lien against any public officer or employee that is not accompanied by an order or a judgment from a court of competent jurisdiction authorizing the filing of the lien or is not issued by a governmental entity or political subdivision or agency pursuant to its statutory authority, a validly licensed utility or water delivery company, a mechanics’ lien claimant or an entity created under covenants, conditions, restrictions or declarations affecting real property.
C. Harassment under subsection A is a class 1 misdemeanor. Harassment under subsection B is a class 5 felony.
D. This section does not apply to any of the following:
1. A lawful demonstration, assembly or picketing.
2. A professional investigator or peace officer who is licensed by this state and who is acting within the scope of the investigator’s or officer’s duties in connection with any criminal or civil investigation.
3. A certified and duly authorized process server who is acting within the scope of the process server’s duties in connection with any judicial or administrative action or proceeding.
E. For the purposes of this section, “harass” means conduct that is directed at a specific person and that would cause a reasonable person to be seriously alarmed, annoyed, humiliated or mentally distressed and the conduct in fact seriously alarms, annoys, humiliates or mentally distresses the person.
Source: Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-2921, 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.
Our Guides on This Charge
Written by our defense team on how these cases run in Arizona courts.
- Is Harassment a Crime in Arizona? (13-2921)
- What Is Aggravated Harassment in Arizona? (13-2921.01)
- Harassment & Aggravated Harassment
Related Statutes in Chapter 29 — Offenses Against Public Order
- A.R.S. § 13-2921.01 — Aggravated harassment
- A.R.S. § 13-2920 — Advertisements and required preamble message for telephone information services
- A.R.S. § 13-2922 — Interference with transmissions on public safety land mobile radio frequencies
- A.R.S. § 13-2919 — Automated telephone solicitation
- A.R.S. § 13-2923 — Stalking
- A.R.S. § 13-2918 — Interference with emergency transmission on citizens’ band radio frequency
- A.R.S. § 13-2924 — Unlawful solicitation of tort victims
- A.R.S. § 13-2917 — Public nuisance
How Tamou Law Group Defends § 13-2921 Cases
A § 13-2921 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 5 felony and something far less serious, and it is where these cases are won.
We handle harassment 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. § 13-2921?
A.R.S. § 13-2921 is the Arizona statute on harassment. A violation is a class 5 felony or a class 1 misdemeanor, and which class applies depends on the paragraph charged and the facts the State can prove.
Is a violation of § 13-2921 a felony in Arizona?
It can be. Under the statute a violation is a class 5 felony or a class 1 misdemeanor, so the exposure reaches up to 2.5 years in prison. The paragraph charged and the facts decide which class applies.
What is the sentence for a class 5 felony in Arizona?
For a first felony conviction that is not dangerous or repetitive, A.R.S. 13-702(D) sets a class 5 felony at 6 months to 2.5 years, with a presumptive term of 1.5 years. Dangerous, repetitive and dangerous-crimes-against-children sentencing under 13-703, 13-704 and 13-705 runs longer.
What is the maximum penalty for a class 1 misdemeanor?
A.R.S. 13-707 caps jail at 6 months for a class 1 misdemeanor and A.R.S. 13-802 caps the fine at $2,500, before surcharges. A judge may also impose probation and other conditions.
Where can I read the official text of § 13-2921?
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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