United States of Disparities
National map » Arkansas
One-day count
Data in this section show how many youth are detained, committed, or otherwise sleeping somewhere other than their homes per orders of the court on "any given day" in select years. Data is available for the nation and on a state-by-state basis, and are based upon one-day counts of youth in residential placement facilities conducted in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2015. Learn more »
Show table and download this data
Click column headers to sort Download
| Year | White | Black | Latino | Native American | Asian | Other | All youth of color | All youth |
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- Please note: Imputation is used to address missing information about youth characteristics including race/ethnicity data. See our About page to learn more
- Due to minor differences in sources for youth population data, rates of detention, commitment and incarceration may vary slightly from those on the Easy Access to Juveniles in Residential Placement website.
Annual decision points
This section includes data at nine key juvenile justice annual decision points. Data are available at the county and state-level, but only for counties that report. This section allows you to view the data from many different angles and all of the data is broken down by race and ethnicity. Learn more »
Case flow diagram
Click on a decision-making point to see the data for that point. Click additional decision-making points to the graph to compare.
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Youth population
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- 1Comparison of arrest to population is rate per 1,000 youth. All other annual decision points are rate per 100 youth at the prior decision-making point.
- 2Due to differences in how states define arrests and referrals to court, some states may have more referrals to court than arrests.
Click column headers to sort Download
| Decision | White | Black | Latino | American Indian or Alaskan Native | Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | Asian | Other | All youth of color | All youth |
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75 of 75 counties (Why?)
Detention statute
Juvenile courts may hold delinquents in a secure detention facility if the court believes it is in the best interest of the community or the child. After arrest a youth is often brought to the local juvenile detention facility by law enforcement. Juvenile probation officers or detention workers review the case and decide if the juvenile should be held pending a hearing by a judge.
Jurisdiction ages
10-17
Extended Age of Delinquency Jurisdiction: 20
Age of Detention:
10-17
Standard for detention
http://www.burnsinstitute.org/downloads/ArkansasDetention.pdf
(b)(1)In determining whether to detain a juvenile who has been taken into custody on an allegation of delinquency pending a detention hearing, the intake officer shall consider the following facts:
(A)Ties to the community, including:
(i)Place and length of residence;
(ii)School attendance;
(iii)Present and past employment;
(iv)Family relationships;
(v)References; and
(B)Nature of the alleged offense, including:
(i)Whether the offense would constitute a felony or misdemeanor;
(ii)The use of force or violence;
(iii)Prior juvenile or criminal record; and
(iv)Any history of failure to appear for court appearances.
(2)The intake officer may determine that there is no less restrictive alternative to detention if detention is necessary:
(A)To prevent imminent bodily harm to the juvenile or to another; or
(B)To prevent flight when the juvenile is a fugitive or escapee from another jurisdiction.
(3)Only if a substantial number of the facts considered under subdivision (b)(1) of this section weigh against the juvenile or one (1) of the two (2) circumstances in subdivision (b)(2) of this section exists shall the juvenile be detained pending a detention hearing by the court.
Detention hearing timeline
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/SearchCenter/Pages/ArkansasCodeSearchResultPage.aspx
Within 72 hours after the juvenile is taken into custody or on the next business day if the 72 hours ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday.
Contact
Please email Anna Wong with any updates to contact information for your DMC coordinator, JJS coordinator, or DMC subcommittee chair.
DMC coordinator
Henry Thompson
Division of Youth Services
Arkansas Department of Human Services
700 Main Street
P.O. Box 1437, Slot S503
Little Rock, AR 72203-1437
Phone: 501-320-6139
henry.thompson@arkansas.gov
There is no DMC website
JJS coordinator
Wanda Goree
Division of Youth Services
Arkansas Department of Human Services
700 Main Street
P.O. Box 1437, Slot S503
Little Rock, AR 72203-1437
Phone: 501-320-6119
wanda.goree@arkansas.gov
DMC subcommittee chair
Dr. Donnell Hetler
hetlerdonnell@yahoo.com
Reform efforts
States that wish to post their most recent three-year plans or share other relevant publications about their reform work should contact Anna Wong. We would be happy to link to relevant documents and information.
DMC reform efforts
http://www.arjuvjust.net/images/dmcfacts.pdf
Three targeted counties by RRI are slated to work with DMC.
State plan
There is no link available to the current State Plan
State Advisory Group (SAG)
The Arkansas Coalition for Juvenile Justice is the State Advisory Group (SAG) under terms of the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. The SAG advises the governor and the legislature about issues, trends and practices related to delinquency prevention and the state's juvenile justice system.
Its members are appointed by the governor to indefinite terms and serve at the pleasure of the governor. They come from many walks of life and include representatives of non-profit organizations, public agencies, resource providers, elected officials and public school students, among others.
Juvenile justice systems in our state and nation recognize that youth are different from adults, that they are able to change and adapt, and that the juvenile justice system should help guide them toward productive adulthood rather than dispense punishment.
The ACJJ holds that all youth are at risk because of the huge challenges they face in growing up. Some face more risk than others due to situations involving poverty, dysfunctional families, cultural and ethnic disparities, mental health problems, and violence embedded in our culture. The ACJJ is most concerned about and committed to helping those children at greater risk in our society.
SAG chair
Jerry Walsh
State Advisory Group
P.O. Box 205
Magnolia, AR 71753
South Arkansas Youth Services, Inc.
124 South Jackson, Suite 308
Magnolia, AR 71753
Phone: 870-234-6550, ext. 308
Email: jkwalsh@sbcglobal.net
Website »
Organizational structure
The Arkansas Coalition for Juvenile Justice is comprised of people from many walks of life - representatives of the juvenile justice system, public and private agencies, law enforcement, schools, young people (including former delinquent youth) and other concerned citizens. Its members are appointed by and serve at the will of the Governor.
Committees
DMC
Waiting on further Committees to be created
Membership
- Jerry Walsh - Magnolia
- Judge Gary Arnold - Benton
- Angie Bobo - Hope
- Judge Wiley Branton - Maumelle
- Michelle Brewer - Conway
- Luke Flesher - North Little Rock
- Kay Forrest - Cherokee Village
- Donnell Hegler - El Dorado
- Christine Johnson - Little Rock
- Pat Malone - Corning
- Marilyn Rutledge - Little Rock
- Dan Sears - Harrison
- Sharon Smith - Hot Springs