ARS 13-3918: Time of execution and return
The complete text of A.R.S. § 13-3918 on time of execution and return, and how this section is used in Arizona criminal cases. It defines terms and procedure rather than creating an offense.
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Full Text of A.R.S. § 13-3918
A.R.S. § 13-3918 is the Arizona statute on time of execution and return. It sets out procedure and rules rather than defining an offense, so no offense class or sentence attaches to this section on its own.
A. A search warrant shall be executed within five calendar days from its issuance and returned to a magistrate within three court business days after the warrant is executed. Upon expiration of the five day period, the warrant is void unless the time is extended by a magistrate. The time for execution of the warrant may be extended for no longer than five calendar days. The documents and records of the court relating to the search warrant need not be open to the public until the return of the warrant or the warrant is deemed void pursuant to this section unless a magistrate orders the time to be shortened or lengthened for good cause. Thereafter, if the warrant has been executed, the documents and records shall be open to the public as a judicial record.
B. If a duplicate original search warrant has been executed, the peace officer who executed the warrant shall enter the exact time of its execution on its face.
Source: Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-3918, 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 38 — Miscellaneous
- A.R.S. § 13-3924 — Unlawful procurement of search warrant without probable cause
- A.R.S. § 13-3903 — Notice to appear and complaint
- A.R.S. § 13-3885 — Arrest of principal by surety
- A.R.S. § 13-3864 — Payment of account of agent
- A.R.S. § 13-3981 — Compromise of misdemeanors and petty offenses
- A.R.S. § 13-4006 — Unlawful foreign law enforcement activity
- A.R.S. § 13-3824 — Violation
- A.R.S. § 13-3806 — Duty of physician or attendant upon treating certain wounds
How § 13-3918 Affects an Arizona Case
§ 13-3918 usually matters because of how it interacts with the charge someone is actually facing. We read it alongside the charging statute, because a definition or a procedural rule frequently decides what the State must prove, what a judge may impose, or what relief is available afterward.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is A.R.S. § 13-3918?
A.R.S. § 13-3918 is the Arizona statute on time of execution and return. It sets out rules that apply across Arizona criminal cases rather than defining a single offense.
Where can I read the official text of § 13-3918?
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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