Arizona Violent Crime Lawyers
Charged with a violent crime in Arizona, assault, domestic violence, robbery, or homicide? Many violent offenses are “dangerous offenses” under A.R.S. § 13-704 carrying mandatory flat-time prison, and crimes against children fall under the harsh DCAC law. Self-defense is often the central issue, do not talk to police before you call us.
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Our Team Has SeenBoth Sides
Former Prosecutors · Law Enforcement · Public Defenders
When you call Tamou Law Group, you reach a firm that handles criminal defense exclusively, with serious experience defending assault, domestic violence, weapons, and homicide cases across Arizona. Our team includes former prosecutors who charged violent crimes and law enforcement officers who investigated them, so we know how the State builds these cases, and where self-defense and the evidence break them down.
At many large firms, the name on the building is a marketing figurehead, you will rarely get them on the phone and your case is handed to a junior associate. When you hire Tamou Law Group, your case is handled by a full team of attorneys, not associates, including Michael Tamou. Call 623-321-4699 for a free, confidential consultation, 24/7.
What Is a Violent Crime in Arizona?
Quick answer: In Arizona, a “violent crime” broadly covers offenses involving force or the threat of force against a person, assault and aggravated assault, domestic violence, robbery, kidnapping, homicide, and weapons offenses. Many become “dangerous offenses” under A.R.S. § 13-704 when a deadly weapon or serious physical injury is involved, which means mandatory flat-time prison with no probation. Crimes against a child under 15 fall under the harsh Dangerous Crimes Against Children law. The defense often turns on self-defense, intent, and challenging the injury or weapon allegation.
Key Takeaways
- Violent crimes range from a misdemeanor assault to first-degree murder, and the penalties scale dramatically.
- A “dangerous offense” (a deadly weapon or serious physical injury) under A.R.S. § 13-704 means mandatory flat-time prison, no probation.
- A violent crime against a child under 15 can be charged under the Dangerous Crimes Against Children law (A.R.S. § 13-705), among the harshest in Arizona.
- Self-defense and defense of others are complete defenses, if your force was justified, there is no crime.
- When the parties share a domestic relationship, a domestic violence designation adds a firearm ban, no-contact orders, and mandatory counseling.
- Early defense is critical, the video, witnesses, and self-defense evidence that clear you disappear fast.
- Your case is handled by a full team of attorneys, not associates, including Michael Tamou, available 24/7 at 623-321-4699.
Recognized By
Flat-Time Prison
A “Dangerous” Charge?
A weapon or serious injury makes a violent crime a dangerous offense under A.R.S. § 13-704, mandatory prison, no probation, served day-for-day. What you say now matters. Call before you speak to detectives.
Call 623-321-4699 →Often a Defense
Were You Defending Yourself?
Self-defense and defense of others are complete defenses in Arizona. If your use of force was justified, you committed no crime, and that is frequently the heart of the case.
See the Defenses →Act Now
Evidence Disappears Fast
Surveillance video, 911 audio, and witness memories, the evidence that proves what really happened, vanish within days. The sooner we start, the more we can protect.
CALL NOWArizona Violent Crimes We Defend
Choose your charge below for a complete guide to the law, penalties, and defenses, or call us 24/7.
Aggravated Assault
Deadly Weapon / Injury · A.R.S. 13-1204
Assault with a weapon, serious injury, or a protected victim, a dangerous felony with flat-time prison.
Learn More →Domestic Violence
A.R.S. 13-3601 Designation
A DV tag on assault or other charges, triggering a firearm ban, no-contact orders, and counseling.
Learn More →Murder & Homicide
2nd-Degree Murder · A.R.S. 13-1104
Intentional, knowing, or extreme-indifference killings, 10 to 25 years and up. We fight the charge level.
Learn More →Manslaughter & Negligent Homicide
A.R.S. 13-1103 / 13-1102
Reckless or negligent killings, often from a crash. We work to move the charge down the homicide ladder.
Learn More →DUI Causing Death
Fatal DUI · A.R.S. 28-1383
A fatal impaired-driving crash, charged from negligent homicide up to second-degree murder.
Learn More →Robbery, Kidnapping & Weapons
Armed & Dangerous Offenses
Robbery, kidnapping, threatening, and weapons-misconduct charges, frequently dangerous felonies.
Learn More →Not sure which charge you are facing? Call now for a free, confidential consultation.
CALL 623-321-4699Arizona Violent Crime Law: The Essentials
A few rules drive the outcome of almost every violent-crime case in Arizona. Statutes link to azleg.gov.
“Dangerous Offenses” & Flat Time, A.R.S. § 13-704
When a violent crime involves the discharge, use, or threatening exhibition of a deadly weapon, or the intentional or knowing infliction of serious physical injury, it is a dangerous offense. That designation removes probation and requires the prison term to be served day-for-day, with no early release. Defeating the “dangerous” finding, often by disputing the weapon or the injury, is the single most valuable move in many cases.
Self-Defense & Justification, A.R.S. §§ 13-404, 13-405
Arizona law allows the use of reasonable force to defend yourself or another person from unlawful force, and deadly force to prevent death or serious injury. Justification is a complete defense, and once raised, the State must disprove it beyond a reasonable doubt. In assault, homicide, and many other violent cases, self-defense is the central battleground.
Dangerous Crimes Against Children, A.R.S. § 13-705
When certain violent or sexual offenses are committed against a child under 15, they are charged as Dangerous Crimes Against Children, among the most severely punished offenses in Arizona, with long, often consecutive prison terms and limited release. These cases demand immediate, experienced defense.
Assault, Homicide & the Charge Ladder
Violent crimes are graded by the harm and the mental state. Assault runs from a misdemeanor up to a Class 2 felony; homicide runs from negligent homicide and manslaughter up to first-degree murder. Moving a charge down the ladder, by defeating intent or an aggravator, can mean years or decades of difference.
Domestic Violence & Weapons Enhancements
When a violent crime involves people in a domestic relationship, a domestic violence designation (A.R.S. § 13-3601) attaches, with a firearm ban and no-contact orders. Separately, using a gun can trigger weapons-misconduct charges and sentence enhancements. We address every layer of the case. Learn more about our criminal defense practice.
How Arizona Grades Violent Crimes
The harm and the mental state decide the charge, and the charge decides whether you face probation or decades in prison. Each links to its full guide.
| Offense | Statute | Level | Exposure (First Offense) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple assault | 13-1203 | Class 1–3 Misd. | Up to 6 months jail |
| Aggravated assault (weapon/injury) | 13-1204 | Class 3 Dangerous | 5 – 15 years (flat) |
| Negligent homicide | 13-1102 | Class 4 Dangerous | 4 – 8 years |
| Manslaughter | 13-1103 | Class 2 Dangerous | 7 – 21 years |
| Second-degree murder | 13-1104 | Class 1 Felony | 10 – 25 years |
| First-degree murder | 13-1105 | Class 1 Felony | Life or death penalty |
A domestic violence tag or a fatal DUI can attach to several of these. Moving a charge down even one rung can change your life.
Penalties for Violent Crimes in Arizona
Violent-crime penalties run from probation to life in prison. The “dangerous” designation is what forces flat time, and it is often the first thing we fight.
Misd. / Class 4–6
Lower-Level Violent Crimes
Class 2–3 Dangerous
Weapon / Serious Injury
Class 1
Murder
⚠ “Dangerous Offense” Means Flat Time
A deadly weapon or serious physical injury makes a violent crime a dangerous offense under A.R.S. § 13-704, removing probation and requiring the sentence to be served day-for-day. That is why defeating the weapon or injury finding, or establishing self-defense, is the core of the defense. Beyond prison, a violent felony brings loss of firearm and civil rights, immigration consequences, and lasting damage to employment and housing.
Common Defenses in Arizona Violent Crime Cases
The State must prove an unjustified act, the required intent, and any aggravator. Each is a place to fight.
Justification & Intent
Self-Defense. Under A.R.S. § 13-404, reasonable force to protect yourself is justified. If justified, you committed no crime, and the State must disprove it beyond a reasonable doubt.
Defense of Others & Property. The same right extends to protecting another person, your home, or your property from an attacker.
Lack of Intent / Accident. Most violent crimes require a culpable mental state. A genuine accident or absence of intent can defeat or reduce the charge.
Fighting the Charge Level. We work to move a charge down the ladder, from murder to manslaughter, or aggravated to simple assault, cutting the exposure sharply.
Attacking the Aggravators & Evidence
Not a “Deadly Weapon” / Not “Serious Injury.” Defeating these findings removes the “dangerous” designation and the flat-time prison that comes with it.
False or Exaggerated Allegations. Common in domestic, custody, and bar-fight cases, where motive, bias, and inconsistent statements undermine the accuser.
Mistaken Identity. In chaotic, fast-moving incidents, witnesses frequently identify the wrong person.
Unlawful Stop, Search, or Statements. Evidence and admissions obtained in violation of your rights can be suppressed.
Forensic & Medical Challenges. Independent experts frequently contradict the State’s account of the injuries, the weapon, and what happened.
After reviewing your case, we will explain which defenses apply and the best path forward.
CALL 623-321-4699The Experts We Bring to the Table
The State builds violent-crime cases with police, ER records, and a one-sided narrative. We answer with specialists who test every piece of it.
Medical & ER Experts
Injury Severity
Review the medical records to challenge whether an injury meets Arizona’s narrow ‘serious physical injury’ standard, which drives the felony class.
Use-of-Force Experts
Reasonableness
Evaluate whether the force used was a reasonable, justified response, central to a self-defense claim.
Video & 911 Analysts
Surveillance & Audio
Recover and analyze surveillance, body-cam, and 911 recordings that often show who the real aggressor was.
Forensic & Reconstruction Experts
What Really Happened
Reconstruct the incident, wounds, and weapon evidence to test the State’s account against the defense version.
Eyewitness-ID Experts
Identification
Expose the well-documented unreliability of eyewitness identification in chaotic, high-stress events.
Psychological Experts
Threat & Perception
Explain perception of threat and reaction under stress, supporting the reasonableness of a defensive response.
Our Violent-Crime Defense Process
The same disciplined process applies whether the charge is assault or homicide, move fast, attack the State’s theory, and protect your future.
Preserve the Evidence
We move immediately to secure surveillance video, 911 audio, and witnesses before they disappear, often the proof that you were defending yourself.
Build the Self-Defense Record
Justification is a complete defense. We document the threat you faced and the reasonableness of your response from day one.
Attack the Aggravators
We use medical and forensic experts to dispute ‘serious injury’ and ‘deadly weapon’ findings, defeating the dangerous designation and flat time.
Expose False or Exaggerated Claims
We test the accuser’s account against the physical evidence, prior statements, and motive, where the State’s story often unravels.
Fight the Charge Level
We push to move the charge down the ladder, murder to manslaughter, aggravated to simple assault, cutting the exposure dramatically.
Reduce, Dismiss, or Try It
We prepare every case for trial. That readiness is what gives our negotiations leverage and protects you if the State will not be fair.
Areas We Serve
Tamou Law Group defends violent-crime cases across Maricopa County and all of Arizona.
We represent clients in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, Avondale, and throughout Maricopa County, with representation available statewide. Call 623-321-4699 for a free, confidential consultation, 24/7.
A Full Team of Attorneys, Not Associates
The single biggest factor in your defense is who actually handles your case, and how hard they fight it.
At many large firms, the name on the building is a marketing figurehead. You may never get them on the phone, and your case is handed to a rotating junior associate who has never tried a case like yours. At Tamou Law Group, your defense is handled by a full team of experienced attorneys, not junior associates, including founding attorney Michael Tamou. The same senior team handles your calls, your strategy, and your court dates.
Our reputation is built on results and on our clients’ words, a 5.0-star Google rating from people we have actually defended. Read them in the reviews below.
What Clients Say About Tamou Law
Real Google reviews from clients we have defended across Phoenix and Maricopa County. Every review is from a criminal defense client, never padded with non-legal work.
Clients reach us searching in many ways, for the best violent crime lawyer in Arizona, for an assault or domestic violence defense attorney, or for help with a homicide or weapons charge. However you found us, Tamou Law Group defends violent-crime cases across Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, and all of Maricopa County, with representation statewide. Call 623-321-4699 for a free, confidential consultation, 24/7.
Awards & Recognition
Our recognition for Phoenix violent crime defense is independently verified, click any award to confirm it:
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100
- National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
- Elite Lawyer 2026 – Criminal Defense
- Super Lawyers – Southwest
- National College for DUI Defense (NCDD)
Together, these place Tamou Law Group among the best Phoenix violent crime lawyers, led by Founding Attorney Michael Tamou and a full team of attorneys, including former prosecutors.
Arizona Violent Crime FAQs
Common questions about violent-crime charges, penalties, dangerous offenses, and defenses in Arizona.
What is considered a violent crime in Arizona?
A violent crime is an offense involving force or the threat of force against a person, including assault and aggravated assault, domestic violence, robbery, kidnapping, homicide, and many weapons offenses. Many carry felony penalties and a ‘dangerous offense’ designation.
What is a ‘dangerous offense’ and why does it matter?
Under A.R.S. 13-704, a violent crime involving a deadly weapon or the intentional infliction of serious physical injury is a dangerous offense. That removes probation and requires the prison sentence to be served day-for-day, with no early release.
Is self-defense a defense to violent crime charges?
Yes, and it is often the strongest one. A.R.S. 13-404 allows reasonable force to defend yourself or others. If your use of force was justified, you committed no crime, and the State must disprove self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt.
How much prison time do violent crimes carry in Arizona?
It varies widely, from probation for a low-level offense, to 5 to 21 years of flat time for a dangerous aggravated assault or manslaughter, to 10 to 25 years for second-degree murder, up to life for first-degree murder.
What are Dangerous Crimes Against Children?
Under A.R.S. 13-705, certain violent or sexual offenses against a child under 15 are charged as Dangerous Crimes Against Children, with long, often consecutive prison terms and very limited release. They are among the harshest charges in Arizona.
Can a violent crime charge be reduced or dismissed?
Often, yes. By establishing self-defense, defeating the ‘deadly weapon’ or ‘serious injury’ finding, exposing false allegations, or moving the charge down the ladder, violent crimes are frequently reduced or dismissed.
What should I do if I’m charged with a violent crime?
Do not talk to police, even if you were defending yourself, and ask for a lawyer. Preserve any evidence of self-defense, including your own injuries, and contact a defense attorney immediately, the early window is critical.
Does a weapon make the charge worse?
Yes. Using, displaying, or even threatening with a deadly weapon usually triggers the ‘dangerous offense’ designation and flat-time prison, and can add separate weapons-misconduct charges. Disputing the weapon allegation is a key defense.
What if the alleged victim does not want to press charges?
In Arizona the prosecutor, not the victim, decides whether to pursue a case. A victim’s wishes can matter, especially in domestic cases, but it must be handled through counsel, never by contacting the accuser directly.
Will I get a real attorney or a junior associate?
At many large firms the name on the door is a marketing figurehead and your case goes to a rotating associate. At Tamou Law Group your defense is handled by a full team of experienced attorneys, not associates, including founding attorney Michael Tamou. Call 623-321-4699, 24/7.
Two Arizona Offices, One Team
We serve all of Maricopa County and the surrounding area, with free, confidential consultations 24/7 by phone and in-person meetings at either office by appointment.
Case Results Disclaimer: The results described on this page are based on specific facts and circumstances and do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case. Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee future results. No attorney-client relationship is formed by viewing this page or submitting a contact form until a written fee agreement has been signed. Tamou Law Group, PLLC is licensed to practice law in the State of Arizona. This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.