News Flash

STATE OF ARKANSAS

Garland County District Court

GARLAND COUNTY COURTS BUILDING 607 OUACHITA, ROOM 150

HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS 71901 

PHONE (50]) 321-6765 

FAX (501) 321-6764

The Garland County District Court is announcing 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. If you present yourself to the Garland County District Court Clerk’s Office, located at 607 Ouachita Ave., Room 150, in Hot Springs by 4 p.m. on May 1, 2020, you will 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 Garland County District Court has issued many warrants for failure to pay old fines and costs as well. If you think you may have a warrant for failure to pay old fines and costs, you can come to the Garland County District Court Clerk’s Office during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and pay your 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. If you have any questions about the amount of fines and costs you owe, you can call the Clerk’s Office at 501-321-6765.

•  What is the Amnesty Program? Is a 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, 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.

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
• Extended probation which adds $25 per month until the individual has a O 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.

Targeted in this program are more than 19,000 outstanding warrants covering more than 500,000 cases and around $18 million in outstanding fines dating back to 1991.

The Amnesty Program is a win-win situation for everyone involved.

• When does the program being and end? Monday, April 20, to Friday, May 1, 2020
• 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. You can contact the clerk’s office at 501-321-6765 to find out if you are eligible for the amnesty program.
• 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.
• 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.
• Can I set up a payment plan? No, all fines, costs, fees and restitution must be paid in full.
• 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.