Bill > SB244

This bill modifies Arkansas law regarding judgment postponement in district court cases, expanding the existing provisions for misdemeanor traffic cases to a broader range of district court cases. The bill allows district courts to postpone judgment for up to one year, during which the defendant remains on probation (either supervised or unsupervised) and must comply with court orders. If the defendant successfully completes the probationary term, they may be able to withdraw a conditional guilty plea and have the case dismissed. However, certain defendants are ineligible for judgment postponement, including commercial driver's license holders (with some exceptions), individuals charged with driving under the influence, and those for whom probation is prohibited by law. The bill also specifies that restitution, fines, and court costs will be distributed as if a conviction was entered, and the court is not required to report the case disposition until a final judgment or dismissal occurs. Additionally, the bill provides flexibility by allowing defendants or their counsel to request a faster entry of judgment or continuation of probation beyond one year, giving more discretion to both the court and the defendant in handling certain district court cases.

Justice

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sb244&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R