Criminal Department

The Criminal Justice Department of the Attorney General's Office consists of two sections: Criminal Appeals, and Habeas Corpus. The Criminal Appeals and Habeas Corpus sections work diligently and aggressively to keep violent criminals off our streets by fighting to uphold valid criminal convictions imposed by Arkansas judges and juries.

In a further effort to protect Arkansas citizens, the Criminal Justice Department strives to strengthen criminal laws by taking what we learn from each legal case and using that information to shape criminal legislation. For example, as the result of a troubling case in which a man's first-degree murder conviction for killing his eight-year-old son was reduced to a second-degree murder conviction, the Criminal Justice Department helped draft legislation allowing a charge of capital murder against a perpetrator over 18 who knowingly kills a child 14-years-old or younger under circumstances "manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life," such as by severe physical abuse.

In addition, the Criminal Justice Department notifies victims of crime of the status of cases being handled by the Office of the Attorney General. Arkansas utilizes the automated VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) system to notify victims of crime.

These are some of the primary ways that the Criminal Justice Department of the Office of the Attorney General is able to respond to the concerns and needs of Arkansas citizens.