Arkansas Criminal Defense Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Arkansas criminal defense attorneys who understand the state’s six-class felony scheme, its habitual offender enhancements, and the comprehensive sealing statute under Act 1460.

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Matched with an Arkansas attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free Arkansas criminal defense case review

A Arkansas attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

How we match your Arkansas criminal defense case

When you submit a Arkansas criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Arkansas law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Arkansas who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Get started How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Exhibit A

What happens with a criminal defense claim in Arkansas

Day 0
Arrest or charge.
Say nothing beyond identifying yourself and ask for a lawyer. Do not consent to searches. Everything after this is built on what you did not say.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A Arkansas criminal defense attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Days 1–14
First appearance and bail.
Your attorney addresses release conditions and gets the charging documents. In Arkansas, this is where the tone of the case is set.
Weeks to months
Discovery and motions.
Police reports, video, lab work, witness statements. Motions to suppress or dismiss are filed where the evidence was obtained improperly.
Before trial
Negotiation or trial.
Most cases resolve by dismissal or plea; some go to trial. Your attorney advises on the risk of each with the actual evidence in hand.
Resolution
Outcome and record.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for capital murder, Class Y murder, or rape; 6 years for Class A and B felonies; 3 years for Class C, D, and unclassified (A.C.A. § 5-1-109)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 1 year
1 year for most misdemeanors (A.C.A. § 5-1-109(b)(3))
Sentencing Structure: Presumptive sentencing
Presumptive sentencing under A.C.A. § 16-90-803, with Arkansas Sentencing Commission guidelines and habitual offender enhancements under A.C.A. § 5-4-501
Expungement / Record Sealing: Comprehensive Criminal
Comprehensive Criminal Record Sealing Act of 2013, codified at A.C.A. § 16-90-1401 et seq. — broad eligibility for most misdemeanors and many felonies after waiting periods
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail set
Bail set under Ark. R. Crim. P. 8 and 9; constitutional right to bail with exceptions for capital offenses (Ark. Const. Art. II, § 8)
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Arkansas grades felonies in six classes (Y, A, B, C, D, and unclassified) under A.C.A. § 5-4-401, with Class Y felonies carrying 10 to 40 years or life and Class D felonies capped at 6 years. The Arkansas Sentencing Commission publishes presumptive sentences under A.C.A. § 16-90-803, and habitual offender enhancements under A.C.A. § 5-4-501 dramatically increase exposure — third-strike felons face mandatory extended sentences. The state legalized medical marijuana in 2016 (Amendment 98) but recreational use remains illegal, and possession is still actively prosecuted. Arkansas adopted the Comprehensive Criminal Record Sealing Act of 2013 (Act 1460), now codified at A.C.A. § 16-90-1401 et seq., which consolidated and expanded record-sealing options — making Arkansas one of the better states in the South for record relief. Arkansas plea-bargaining culture varies sharply by judicial circuit; Pulaski County’s practices differ from rural circuits.

Exhibit B

When to call a criminal defense attorney in Arkansas

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

Exhibit C

Criminal Defense cases we take in Arkansas

Which one is closest to yours?

DWI / DUI

Arkansas DWI under A.C.A. § 5-65-103 (.08 BAC, .04 commercial, .02 under-21). First offense: up to 1 year jail, 6-month license suspension, fines $150–$1,000. Fourth offense in 5 years is a Class D felony. Ignition interlock required for BAC ≥ .15.

Sound like yours? A Arkansas attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.

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Exhibit D

How much do Arkansas criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Arkansas · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in Arkansas are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in Arkansas bill hourly or charge flat fees — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Ark. R. Prof. Conduct 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Flat fees are typical for misdemeanors and most felonies; capital, federal, and lengthy trials usually use hourly billing. The Arkansas Public Defender Commission represents qualifying indigent defendants.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Get startedTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit E

What your Arkansas criminal defense compensation can include

A Arkansas criminal defense recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Charge Dismissal

Dismissal through motion to suppress, Rule 28 speedy trial violation (Ark. R. Crim. P. 28), insufficient evidence, or prosecutorial nolle prosequi.

DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Exhibit F

Arkansas criminal defense questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Arkansas attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

No. Politely decline and ask for a lawyer. Arkansas State Police and local agencies use waiver-of-rights forms aggressively, and once you sign one, anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment rights and your right to counsel under Edwards v. Arizona — police must stop questioning until counsel is present.

Yes. Arkansas Class A misdemeanors carry up to 1 year in county jail and a $2,500 fine under A.C.A. § 5-4-401. Many counties offer pretrial diversion or drug court alternatives that an attorney can negotiate. Convictions affect employment, professional licensing, and firearm rights — and DV misdemeanors trigger the federal § 922(g)(9) ban.

State charges are filed by elected prosecuting attorneys in Arkansas Circuit Court (felonies) or District Court (misdemeanors). Federal charges go to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District (Little Rock) or Western District (Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Hot Springs, Texarkana) of Arkansas and follow the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Federal drug trafficking (I-40 corridor), firearms (§ 922(g) felon-in-possession), and fraud cases are common.

Arkansas plea agreements under Ark. R. Crim. P. 25 are negotiated between the prosecutor and defense. The prosecutor recommends a sentence and the judge usually follows it — but isn’t required to. Plea offers often include charge reductions, dismissed counts, and recommended sentence concessions. Drug court, veterans court, and mental health court are available in many circuits.

Yes — Act 1460 of 2013 (A.C.A. § 16-90-1401 et seq.) created a unified sealing pathway. Most misdemeanors can be sealed immediately after sentence completion. Class C and D felonies are eligible after 5 years. Class B and A felonies have longer waiting periods and stricter eligibility. Some offenses (Class Y, sex offenses, repeat felonies) cannot be sealed.

Arkansas handles juveniles under 18 in juvenile court under the Arkansas Juvenile Code (A.C.A. Title 9, Chapter 27). Juvenile records are confidential and generally sealed at age 21 under A.C.A. § 9-27-309. But Extended Juvenile Jurisdiction (EJJ) and adult transfer for serious offenses (homicide, rape, aggravated robbery by 14+) can create permanent adult records.

Arkansas per se BAC is .08 (.04 commercial, .02 under-21) under A.C.A. § 5-65-103. Implied consent applies — refusal triggers 180-day administrative license suspension under A.C.A. § 5-65-205. Ignition interlock is required for first offense if BAC ≥ .15 and for all repeat offenses. Fourth DUI in 5 years is a Class D felony.

Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Arkansas

Same Arkansas rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.

Other case types in Arkansas

All Arkansas practice areas →

Animal Incident attorneysNo dog-bite statute here — Arkansas runs on the common-law one-bite rule, so the dog’s history and the owner’s knowledge make or break the case.

Business Dispute attorneysArkansas courts can trim an overbroad non-compete down to size instead of tossing it — signers have less escape room than they think.

Car Accident attorneysArkansas minimum liability coverage is $25K/$50K — far below what a real hospital stay costs — so underinsured-motorist fights are routine here.

Consumer Protection attorneysThe Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act covers deceptive sales statewide, but 2017 amendments tightened private suits — pleading it right matters more than it used to.

Defective Product attorneysArkansas holds manufacturers strictly liable for defective products — and with no constitutional path to damage caps, serious defect cases get tried at full value.

Employment attorneysThe Arkansas Civil Rights Act picks up at nine employees — smaller shops than federal law reaches, with familiar protected categories.

Family Law attorneysArkansas still requires proof of fault grounds or 18 months of separation to divorce — and it’s one of only three states offering covenant marriage.

Immigration attorneysArkansas removal cases are heard out of state, in Memphis — distance alone makes early lawyer involvement worth it for families in Little Rock and northwest Arkansas.

Lemon Law attorneysArkansas’s lemon law covers new vehicles for 24 months or 24,000 miles, and a winning claim puts your attorney fees on the manufacturer.

Medical Malpractice attorneysArkansas medical malpractice turns on expert proof of the standard of care, on a two-year clock that’s a full year shorter than ordinary injury claims.

Personal Injury attorneysThree years to file — one of the country’s more generous windows — but recover nothing if a jury puts you at 50% fault or worse.

Slip and Fall attorneysArkansas premises cases hinge on notice: proving the store knew, or should have known, the hazard was there before you hit the floor.

Social Security Disability attorneysArkansas disability hearings run through Little Rock, with federal appeals precedent for the region setting the standard on appeal.

Workers’ Compensation attorneysArkansas comp pays two-thirds of your average weekly wage through the state Workers’ Compensation Commission — and your employer picks the treating doctor first.

Arkansas Criminal Defense Attorneys

How we match your Arkansas criminal defense case

Case type

Size and complexity

Jurisdiction and licensing

Capacity and fit

What happens with a criminal defense claim in Arkansas

Arrest or charge.

Tell us what happened.

First appearance and bail.

Discovery and motions.

Negotiation or trial.

Outcome and record.

When to call a criminal defense attorney in Arkansas

Criminal Defense cases we take in Arkansas

DWI / DUI

Drug possession and trafficking

Assault and battery

Domestic violence

Theft and burglary

White-collar crimes

Gun and firearm charges

Sex offenses

Homicide

Juvenile offenses

Probation and parole violations

Federal crimes prosecuted in Arkansas

How much do Arkansas criminal defense attorneys cost?

What your Arkansas criminal defense compensation can include

Charge Dismissal

Charge Reduction

Act 346 Deferred Adjudication

Plea Agreement

Trial Acquittal

Post-Conviction Relief

Arkansas criminal defense questions, answered

Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Arkansas

Other case types in Arkansas

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