Defend Your Rights. Protect Your Future. Demand Justice.
The Protect Arkansas Act (Act 659 of 2023) changed how long people convicted of Arkansas felonies must remain in prison before release becomes possible. For offenses committed on or after January 1, 2025, specified felonies require 100% or at least 85% of the prison...
At an Arkansas plea hearing, you tell the court how you plead to the charge. Before accepting a guilty or no-contest plea, the judge must determine that you understand the charge, possible punishment, and rights you are giving up, and that your decision is voluntary....
When someone is charged with a crime in Arkansas, the State usually has to prove more than what happened. It has to prove what was going on in the defendant's mind. This is called mens rea, or the culpable mental state, and Arkansas defines four of them: purposely,...
An Arkansas criminal case can change well after your first contact with police. Prosecutors may add charges, a bond violation can affect your release, and evidence can arrive months after an arrest. But there are limits on each step. Whether the State can proceed, use...
An arrest in Arkansas is not a conviction, and your first appearance in court is not necessarily an arraignment or trial. What happens next depends on the charge, whether the prosecutor has filed a formal case, and the conditions of your release. You can protect your...
In an Arkansas criminal case, terms such as "bond," "dismissal," and "appeal" describe different rights and procedures. The court, the written order, and the stage of your case determine what a term means for you, including whether you face a deadline. Keep The...
Police generally need a warrant to search the messages, photos, and other data on your cell phone, even after an arrest. Consent, an emergency, or certain supervision conditions can change that answer. Taking the phone, searching its contents, and forcing you to...
Arkansas police can use drones and helicopters in some investigations without a warrant, but permission to fly does not settle whether the surveillance is lawful. What officers observe, how they obtain the view, and whether they intrude into a constitutionally...
Can police question your child without you there? In Arkansas, often yes, especially when the child isn't in custody. But once a child is taken into custody, Arkansas law adds protections adults don't get, including the right to stop questioning by asking for a...
Police mistook you for someone else? Learn when a mistaken arrest is still lawful, when evidence can be suppressed, and how to clear the record.