Arizona Fingerprint Board Personal Statement

When the Arizona Board of Fingerprinting requires a Fingerprint Board Personal Statement, you must describe, in detail, each of your arrests or charges (along with the court documents) listed in your application package when applying for a good cause exception for an Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card. 

The Board has a handout that contains examples of positive and negative personal statements for your good cause exception or central registry exception. Once complete, they will review the statement in the initial expedited review of your application. 

An effective personal statement can help you avoid a good cause exception hearing. How long does an AZ Good Cause Exception Take?

Fingerprint Board Personal Statement Contents

The personal statement should contain the following:

• An explanation of every criminal charge (whether it resulted in a conviction or not).
  • Include all criminal charges in Arizona and every other state.
  • You should include any charges from any point in your life (time does not matter).
• Explain what was going on in your life at the time of the charge, such as:
  • Were you having substance abuse issues?
  • Psychological problems?
  • Did a bad relationship lead to poor decision-making?
  • Financial troubles?
  • Family drama, etc.
• Steps you’ve taken to rehabilitate or modify your behavior since the charge:
  • Rehabilitation or treatment for substance abuse
  • No longer in a bad relationship
  • Psychological treatment (on new medication)
  • Continuing Education
  • Exercise, diet changes, etc.

Personal Statement Tips

• Follow the instructions carefully.
• Allow yourself enough time to write, revise, and proofread your personal statement.
• Describe your strengths.
• Read your personal statement out loud to make sure it flows and makes sense.
• Ask someone to proofread your work to ensure correct grammar and spelling.
• Type your personal statement or ask someone to type it for you.

Information on What Needs to be in a Personal Statement

What needs to be in your personal statement, specifically in your application for a good cause exception with the Arizona Fingerprint Board? 

You need a good cause exception if you have had any arrest or criminal history. And when you’re filling out the application, you can give a personal statement. Most importantly, you want to address everything in the denial letter. So, if you have multiple offenses or arrests, you want to ensure that you address every one of those. And for any additional criminal history not listed on the denial letter, you must disclose anything other.

In your personal statement, you’ll want to go through each one of those arrests or offenses. You’ll enjoy first giving a clear picture of the incident.

So, when you were arrested, were you charged? 

Were the charges dropped? 

Were you sentenced? 

Were you found guilty? 

Did you fulfill your sentence in all of those parts of your case? 

Have you been put on probation? 

Did you meet all those requirements? 

All of those are important to give the Board a clear picture. They ensure that nothing is pending, that you didn’t violate probation, or that you’re not awaiting trial. 

So, that’s the first part that’s important in your personal statement. Give a clear picture of the arrest and the disposition of that case. So, how did it end?

Next, taking responsibility for those actions is essential, especially if you were convicted of an actual crime.

Here is not the time to say that you were wrongly accused or go into specifics about that. It’s important to, like I said, take responsibility for those actions and be as straightforward as possible. (quote this)

You also want to let the Board know anything you have done since then to rehabilitate yourself and also let the Board know. Did you have a substance abuse issue at the time of the crimes? Well, then, here would be the place to explain that. So, you had substance abuse issues, and what you’ve done since then? 

Maybe you’ve completed a treatment program or are still in a specific one. If you can detail that in words to the Board, letting them know that you have been rehabilitated and that these events will not occur in the future, that is the best you want for your personal statement.

Take responsibility for your actions, which you should, and don’t lie. Be honest about what happened, but you can put in any mitigating circumstances, such as:

Was this your first and only criminal offense? 

Did you have substance abuse issues? 

Were you in an abusive relationship? 

Was this a hard time in your life? 

Those things you can include, and they’re essential. It gives the Board a clear picture. 

And again, tangible things you can show you’ve done since this criminal history. I gave substance abuse as an issue. Have you completed any anger management classes? Have you completed anything? Well, many times, there are things that the court might make you do. Anger management classes—things like that. You can show all of those things. 

If you’ve completed an outpatient program, that would be great if you’d like to disclose that. You’ve taken responsibility if you can show the Board that you have rehabilitated yourself. All these arrests are all over and done with. Nothing is pending out there, and this won’t happen again.

So, that’s the basics you want to stick to in your personal statement. 

Here at Chelle Law, we complete those statements for you and the application itself and represent you through the process for a good cause exception if needed.

If you’re interested in setting up a consultation with Chelle Law or learning more about how we can assist in drafting your Arizona Fingerprint Board Personal Statement, reach out today.