Bill > HB1835

This bill updates and clarifies Arkansas laws concerning specialty court programs, including drug courts, mental health courts, veterans courts, and DWI/BWI specialty courts. The bill makes several key changes: it modifies the definition and oversight of specialty court programs, updates the evaluation and data collection requirements for these programs, and introduces new provisions for transferring participants between courts and sealing records upon successful program completion. The bill streamlines the administrative processes for specialty courts by allowing more flexibility in judicial assignments, clarifying the roles of various state agencies, and standardizing procedures for program evaluation and participant tracking. It also removes some outdated language and references to specific national standards, replacing them with more general guidelines. The legislation aims to improve the effectiveness and consistency of specialty court programs across Arkansas by providing clearer guidelines for program operation, participant management, and program assessment, while maintaining the core mission of rehabilitation and reducing recidivism for participants in these alternative court programs.

Justice

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1835&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R