Court announces ‘Amnesty Program’
Beginning Monday, Garland County District Court will implement a misdemeanor warrant “Amnesty Program” for people who have failed to appear in court or failed to comply with a court order.
“This program offers amnesty to individuals facing arrest and other penalties due to delinquent fines or missed court dates on misdemeanor offenses. If you have failed to appear to answer a charge in District Court and have been worried about being arrested for that failure to appear, now is the time to act,” the court said in a news release Friday evening.
The “Amnesty Program” is targeting more than 19,000 outstanding warrants covering more than 500,000 cases and around $18 million in outstanding fines dating back to 1991, the release said.
“The Amnesty Program is a win-win situation for everyone involved,” it said.
People who have delinquent fines or missed court dates on misdemeanor offenses can go to Room 150 of the Garland County district court clerk’s office, 607 Ouachita Ave., by 4 p.m. May 1 to receive a “citation for that failure to appear with a new court date to handle the failure to appear and underlying charge before the Court. You will not have to go to jail and make a bond for the failure to appear,” the release said.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported earlier this week that there had been a significant increase in failureto-pay warrants issued in Hot Springs — some dating back more than 20 years — compared to other Arkansas cities.
Over the past nine months, the court in this city of fewer than 38,000
residents has issued more than 3,600 of the warrants, including 1,140 in the first 14 days of April alone.
By comparison, according to records on the AOC Court Connect public website, Pulaski County District Court issued 491 failure-to-pay warrants on the Little Rock city docket from Jan.
1 to April 14, and Craighead County District Court issued 386 such warrants during the same time period on the Jonesboro city docket, for a combined 877 warrants. Little Rock has a population of 199,579, according to U.S. Census Bureau 2020 population estimates. Jonesboro’s population is an estimated 78,152.
The release said Garland County District Court has issued “many warrants for failure to pay old fines and costs as well.”
Anyone who thinks they may have a warrant for failure to pay old fines and costs can come to the Garland County district court clerk’s office during the normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and pay their outstanding balance, and the failure to pay case will be dismissed.
“If you cannot afford to pay your balance, you can present yourself and receive a citation with a court date to discuss payment or community service options,” the release said. Call the clerk’s office at 321-6765 with any questions about the amount of fines and costs owed.
The release also included the following information about the program in a question-and-answer format:
1. What is the Amnesty Program?
The one-time program is to “provide relief to individuals who have found themselves in violation of a court ordered obligation because they have been unable to pay. The amnesty program may provide increased revenue at a time when revenue is scarce by encouraging payment of old debts that has remained unpaid and will allow the court to resolve other delinquent cases. It is designed to enhance collections and minimize costs to the city and county.”
The program offers waivers of warrants to individuals upon payment of fines and costs in full. Amnesty will only apply to individuals who appear in person at 607 Ouachita Ave., Room 150, during regular business hours. The court will not accept payment by phone or online. “Provided an individual does not have another valid warrant for his/her arrest, the individual will not be arrested and jailed on a warrant,” it said.
Upon their appearance, the warrant will be recalled. The individual avoids going to jail; seizure of tax return, additional costs and fines/ fees; being turned over to a collection agency; and extended probation, which adds $25 per month until the individual has a zero balance.
“Upon conclusion of the amnesty period, no further consideration will be given. The Court intends to get tough with outstanding fines. Individuals with warrants need to come in and take care of their business so authorities do not have to come looking for you,” the release said.
2. When does the program begin and end? Monday, April 20, to Friday, May 1, 2020.
3. What violations are eligible?
All contempt failure to pay fines, contempt failure to comply with court order, failure to appear on traffic charges, and failure to appear on non-mandatory criminal. Call the clerk’s office at
321-6765 to check on eligibility for the program.
4. Will I be able to renew my driver’s license after I satisfy the amnesty process?
If an individual’s license has been suspended by Arkansas Driver Services for failure to appear, the suspension will be lifted upon payment in full. The individual is still required to pay any and all reinstatement fees charged by the State to reinstate the driver’s license.
5. Can I pay with credit card?
Payment by cash, credit card (with a valid ID matching name on card), cashier’s check and money order will be accepted.
6. Can I set up a payment plan?
No, all fines, costs, fees and restitution must be paid in full.
7. Who gets the money collected? “Collecting these much-needed dollars will have a significant impact on the revenue for the City of Hot Springs, Garland County and the State of Arkansas,” the release said.