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Victims of Violent Crimes

Ark. Code Ann. tit. 20, ch. 82
in effect

Ark. Code Ann. § 20-82-201 Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission — Creation — Members.

(a) There is created the Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission, to be composed of twenty-two (22) persons appointed by the Governor for five-year staggered terms and until the successor is appointed and qualified. (b) The membership of the commission shall consist of the following: (1) A representative of domestic violence programs or domestic violence service providers in Arkansas; (2) A representative of the Department of Arkansas State Police; (3) A physician specializing in the treatment of child abuse; (4) A prosecuting attorney; (5) A defense attorney; (6) A representative of the Division of Children and Family Services of the Department of Human Services; (7) A representative of a parents' group; (8) A mental health professional specializing in the treatment of child abuse or domestic violence or rape; (9) A representative of city or county law enforcement; (10) A representative of children with disabilities; (11) A judge involved in criminal court proceedings related to child abuse and neglect; (12) A judge involved in civil court proceedings related to child abuse and neglect; (13) A representative of the State Crime Laboratory; (14) A representative of the Department of Health; (15) A representative of rape crisis centers; (16) A representative of the office of the Attorney General; (17) Three (3) members at large; (18) A court-appointed special advocate representative; (19) An attorney ad litem; and (20) A faculty member from a four-year college or university with experience in the study of human trafficking or a closely related area of study. (c) Members of the commission may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with § 25-16-901 et seq.

Ark. Code Ann. § 20-82-202 Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission — Powers and duties.

The Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission shall be an advisory body only and shall act in an advisory capacity to the Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Section of the office of the Chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Ark. Code Ann. § 20-82-204 Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission — Costs and expenses.

The administrative and associated operating costs and expenses of the Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission may be paid from and administered through the normal contractual processes of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Ark. Code Ann. § 20-82-205 Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Section — Creation.

There is hereby created the Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Section within the office of the Chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Ark. Code Ann. § 20-82-207 Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Section — Budget — Staff.

The Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Section shall consist of such staff and shall operate within such budget as may be authorized by the appropriation of federal funds by the General Assembly.

Ark. Code Ann. § 20-82-208 Community Grants for Child Safety Centers Program — Findings — Purpose.

(a) Findings and Purpose. (1) The General Assembly finds and determines that: (A) Abused children often have to describe their sexual or physical abuse several times to different professionals at different locations; (B) Many child abuse investigations are conducted with little collaboration between the agencies involved in the cases; (C) Each agency's child abuse professionals are housed in different facilities and, as a result, interface during the investigation and management of cases is limited; (D) Sexual and physical abuse medical examinations are commonly performed in hospital emergency rooms and other sites that are frightening to children, lack the proper equipment, and often are staffed by physicians uncomfortable with these exams; and (E) Child safety centers provide: (i) A more child-friendly atmosphere; (ii) Reduced trauma to the children and their families; (iii) Improved investigations and management; (iv) More effective utilization of multiagency information; (v) Greater protection of children; (vi) Increased prosecution of perpetrators; and (vii) Less unnecessary family intervention. (2) The purpose of this section is to encourage the use of existing child safety centers and the development of new centers providing the benefits under one roof. (b) Establishment and Authority. (1) There is established the Community Grants for Child Safety Centers Program. (2) The Department of Finance and Administration shall administer and monitor the grant program for the operation of existing child safety centers and the development of new child safety centers in this state through an annual grant with the Children's Advocacy Centers of Arkansas. (3) On July 31 of each year, the Administrative Office of the Courts shall submit an annual report to the Legislative Council showing the number of persons charged in circuit court for each criminal offense classification, comparing the state and each judicial district.

Ark. Code Ann. § 20-82-209 Multidisciplinary teams — Protocols created — Responsibilities — Definition.

(a) As used in this section, “multidisciplinary team” means a local team operating under a statewide model protocol developed by the Multidisciplinary Team Oversight Committee . (b) The committee shall: (1)(A) Prepare and issue a statewide model protocol for multidisciplinary teams regarding cases of child abuse and the provision of safety and services to victims of child abuse, who may include child victims of human trafficking. (B) The statewide model protocol shall describe coordinated investigation or coordinated services, or both, of state and local law enforcement, the Department of Human Services, and medical, mental health, and child safety centers; and (2) Review and approve a protocol prepared by each multidisciplinary team. (c) Each multidisciplinary team shall: (1) Develop a protocol consistent with the statewide model protocol issued by the committee; (2) Submit the protocol to the Children's Advocacy Centers of Arkansas for review and approval; and (3) Ensure the timely exchange of relevant information. (d) The Department of Finance and Administration shall contract with the Children's Advocacy Centers of Arkansas to provide support, training, and funding to the multidisciplinary team facilitators. (e)(1) A multidisciplinary team shall have the majority consent for hiring and terminating the multidisciplinary team's multidisciplinary team facilitator. (2) A multidisciplinary team shall consult with the Children's Advocacy Centers of Arkansas concerning the hiring or termination of the multidisciplinary team's multidisciplinary team facilitator.

Ark. Code Ann. § 20-82-210 Multidisciplinary Team Oversight Committee — Members — Duty to assess statewide multidisciplinary teams and the response to child abuse.

(a) The Children's Advocacy Centers of Arkansas shall establish the Multidisciplinary Team Oversight Committee . (b) The committee shall include the following members: (1) The Commander of the Crimes Against Children Division or his or her designee; (2) The Director of the Division of Children and Family Services of the Department of Human Services or his or her designee; (3) The Executive Director of the Arkansas Prosecuting Attorneys Association or his or her designee; (4) A mental health provider with specialized training in trauma-focused evaluation or treatment of child abuse issues; (5) A medical provider with specialized training in the evaluation or treatment of child abuse issues; (6) The Executive Director of the Arkansas Sheriffs' Association or his or her designee; (7) The Executive Director of the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police or his or her designee; (8) The President of the Board of Directors of the Children's Advocacy Centers of Arkansas or his or her designee; (9) A representative of the juvenile justice system; (10) The Executive Director of the Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission or his or her designee; and (11) The Chair of the Child Maltreatment Investigations Oversight Committee who shall be a nonvoting ex officio member of the Multidisciplinary Team Oversight Committee. (c) The committee shall assess the operations of the multidisciplinary teams statewide with regard to responses to alleged child abuse.

Ark. Code Ann. § 20-82-212 Administrative contracts — Contracts with the Children's Advocacy Centers of Arkansas — Eligibility for contracts.

(a) The Children's Advocacy Centers of Arkansas may contract with a statewide organization as necessary to fulfill the duties of the Children's Advocacy Centers of Arkansas described in § 9-5-104. (b) The Children's Advocacy Centers of Arkansas may enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Crimes Against Children Division of the Division of Arkansas State Police, the Division of Children and Family Services of the Department of Human Services, and any other agency as necessary.

Ark. Code Ann. § 20-82-301 Awareness program established.

The Department of Health shall: (1) Develop and administer a program of community education, prevention, and outreach activities to address the health risks and emotional trauma inflicted by the practice of unlawful female genital mutilation and to inform communities of the criminal penalties for committing unlawful female genital mutilation; (2) Develop and disseminate information regarding unlawful female genital mutilation, recognizing the risk factors associated with unlawful female genital mutilation, and the signs that a person may be a victim of unlawful female genital mutilation, and the criminal penalties for committing unlawful female genital mutilation to teachers, and law enforcement personnel, and ensuring their awareness and compliance with the provisions of this section; (3) Develop policies and procedures to promote partnerships between departments, agencies, and political subdivisions, including without limitation the Department of Human Services and Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, and other governmental entities and nongovernmental organizations to prevent unlawful female genital mutilation and to protect and provide assistance to victims of unlawful female genital mutilation; (4) Outline best practices for responses to victims of unlawful female genital mutilation; and (5) Develop policies and procedures for the training of providers of health services: (A) Regarding best practices for responses to victims of unlawful female genital mutilation; and (B) To recognize: (i) The risk factors associated with unlawful female genital mutilation; (ii) The signs that an individual may be a victim of unlawful female genital mutilation; and (iii) The criminal penalties for committing unlawful female genital mutilation.

Ark. Code Ann. § 20-82-302 Statistics required.

(a) Healthcare practitioners of each county shall keep annual statistics and report to the Department of Health cases of unlawful female genital mutilation. (b) The department shall thereafter compile an annual report of the incidents reported, which will be published with no personal identifying information.
Source: Public.Resource.Org / UniCourt, Official Code of Arkansas Annotated, Release 78 (2020) (unicourt.github.io/cic-code-ar)URL: https://unicourt.github.io/cic-code-ar/transforms/ar/ocar/r78/gov.ar.code.title.20.htmlFetched: 11/8/2026

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