Criminal Court Resources

Information about paying fines, sealing criminal records, and finding resources if you’ve been involved in the criminal court system.

These resources do not provide criminal defense services.
If you are facing criminal charges, you should contact a private attorney or public defender.

Criminal Fines & Fees

Fines and fees are often part of criminal sentences.

If you can’t pay because you’re poor or have a disability, tell the court right away. You can ask for something called an “Ability to Pay Assessment,” which will help the judge decide if you really can’t pay.

If the judge agrees, you can ask for:

  • Lower fines and fees,
  • Changing fines to community service, or
  • A payment plan.

Each court may have different ways to ask for an ability to pay assessment.

One way is to write down why you can’t pay and file it with the court. If your court allows this, make sure to include:

  • Your case number
  • Your name, address, and phone number, an
  • A request for a hearing with the judge.

Then, send a copy to both the court clerk and the prosecutor.

Some courts will let you ask for an ability to pay assessment by phone or in person. Check with your court for details.

Record Sealing

Arkansas law lets many criminal records be sealed.

When your record is sealed, most people can no longer see your conviction details.
But you can’t seal your record without finishing your whole sentence first.

This means:

  • Completing any prison time,
  • Finishing probation or parole,
  • Paying all fines and fees, and
  • Doing everything else the judge ordered.

Some records can only be sealed after waiting a certain period, which starts after you finish your sentence. Some criminal records can never be sealed at all. Check with the court, your probation officer, or an attorney to find out if your record can be sealed.

Finally, if you apply to seal your record, a judge will have to approve it. Without a judge’s approval, your record will still be visible.

Criminal History

Pardons & Commutations

A pardon is when the governor or president “undoes” a criminal conviction.

  • The Governor of Arkansas can pardon people convicted of breaking Arkansas law.
  • The President of the United States can pardon people convicted of breaking federal law.
  • The governor and president also have the power of commutation, which means lessening a sentence.
    • For example, a death sentence could become life in prison, or a 15-year sentence could be reduced to 5 years.
    • The governor can commute sentences for Arkansas crimes, and the president can do so for federal crimes.

No one has the right to a pardon or commutation.

If you ask for a pardon or commutation, you’re asking for mercy from the governor (for state crimes) or president (for federal crimes).

There is no appeal if your request is denied.

An application for pardon does not guarantee that a pardon will be granted. An applicant for Pardon is a lengthy process. The Parole Board must review all applications. After the Parole Board reviews your application and makes its recommendation, you will be notified.

Link to Application

Apply for the President’s Pardon or Commutation at the following:

Link to Application

Felony-Friendly Employers

If you have a felony on your record, finding a job can be stressful. We’ve compiled a list of all felony-friendly employers in Arkansas, updated as of 2025. You can search the list by county or city at the link below:

Employer List