A motion to revoke bond asks the court to put you back in jail until your case is over, or to tighten the conditions of your release. In Arkansas, the State usually has to show one of two things: that you willfully violated a condition of release, or that there’s reasonable cause to believe you committed a new felony while you were out.
Here’s what triggers a motion to revoke, what the State has to prove, what the judge can do, and what to do right now. For how bond is set in the first place, see how bond works in Arkansas.
Right Now
Stop any contact a no-contact order forbids, even if the other person reaches out first. Don’t try to explain the violation to police. And don’t walk into the hearing without a lawyer: the judge decides whether you stay out based on what’s presented there.
What The State Has To Show
The route depends on what you’re accused of:
| Ground | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Willful violation of a release condition | The prosecutor files a verified application, and the court can issue a warrant. After a hearing, if the judge finds you willfully violated a reasonable condition of release, the judge can impose different or additional conditions or revoke your release. |
| New felony while released | If the court finds reasonable cause to believe you committed a felony while released on the earlier charge, the court that released you can revoke your release. |
| No-contact order violation | A warrant issues, and you can be held up to 24 hours (48 on a Friday or holiday) while the prosecutor petitions to revoke or modify your bond. The hearing must be held within 48 hours of your appearance (72 for a Friday or holiday violation). The violation is also a separate Class A misdemeanor. |
| Missed court date | Appearing in court is a condition of every release, so a missed date can support revocation. It can also mean a warrant, a separate failure-to-appear charge, and forfeiture proceedings against the bond. |
Ark. R. Crim. P. 9.5, 9.6; Ark. Code §§ 16-85-714, 5-54-120. See what happens if you miss your court date.
The word “willfully” matters. Under Rule 9.5, a violation that wasn’t willful, such as a genuine misunderstanding of a condition, isn’t a basis for revocation. And a new arrest isn’t automatically a new felony: Rule 9.6 requires reasonable cause to believe you committed one.
Common Triggers
- A new arrest while you’re out on bond. A felony arrest brings Rule 9.6 into play.
- Contact with a protected person. “Friendly” contact counts, and responding when the other person reaches out still counts as contact. See how to lift or modify a no-contact order.
- A missed court date.
- Drug or alcohol violations, such as a failed test or drinking under a no-alcohol condition.
- Monitoring or reporting failures, such as a GPS violation or a missed check-in.
What The Judge Can Do
| Outcome | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Continue release | If the judge doesn’t find a willful violation, or decides tighter conditions aren’t needed, release continues. |
| Different or additional conditions | A higher bond, GPS monitoring, a curfew, a no-alcohol condition, drug testing, or other terms. |
| Revoke release | You’re held in jail until the case is resolved. |
Ark. R. Crim. P. 9.5, 9.6.
Before conviction, the Arkansas Constitution guarantees a right to bail except in capital cases when “the proof is evident or the presumption great” (art. 2, § 8). Revocation under Rules 9.5 and 9.6 is how someone who was released can still end up held until trial.
Building The Response
The hearing turns on the facts behind the alleged violation and on what you’ve done since:
- Was it willful? A misunderstanding about a condition, a scheduling conflict with documentation, or an error in monitoring records can all bear on that question.
- Proof of compliance. Treatment enrollment, test results, receipts, employment records, and messages that show what actually happened.
- The underlying issue. A substance assessment, counseling, or other steps that address what led to the violation.
- The new charge. If the motion rests on a new arrest, the facts of that arrest are part of the hearing. Don’t discuss them with police. See should you talk to the police?
If you’re also on probation or parole, a new arrest can start a separate revocation case with its own hold, and posting bond on the new charge may not get you out. See probation revocations.
Related Reading
Has the State Moved to Revoke Your Bond?
The hearing decides whether you stay out until trial. Let’s get the facts and the proof of compliance in front of the judge.
Updated October 22, 2026
This blog post is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship with Wesley Rhodes, Attorney at Law. If you need legal advice about your specific situation, you should consult with a qualified criminal defense attorney.