General Information
Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

What are court costs and why do I have to pay them if I did not appear in court?

The court cost is not a fee for appearing in court, it is a fee that the Court has been mandated by the State of Arkansas to collect upon each conviction. There are no additional fees for appearing in court. The court costs are collected by the Court and forwarded to the State of Arkansas’s Administrative Justice Fund to support various agencies, pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated §16-10-305.

 

 

What happens if I do not make a plea or ignore my ticket?

If you fail to make a plea on each violation shown on your citation, a warrant will be issued for your arrest. For more information on warrants and how to resolve them, please contact the District Court Business Office.

 

 

When will I receive my refund check?

The refunds checks are processed on a monthly basis. The process begins the 15th of each month and takes approximately five (5) business days to prepare all refund checks.

 

 

When can I expect a restitution check?

The restitution checks are processed on a monthly basis. The process begins the 15th of each month and takes approximately five (5) business days to prepare all restitution checks. Restitution checks are due to the victim as long as the defendant is making payments toward the restitution. If the defendant fails to pay restitution as ordered, a warrant will be issued for his/her arrest.

 


Can I have a Public Defender appointed to represent me in District Court?


The services of the public defender are appointed to indigent individuals charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense in peril of serving time in jail. Indigence is determined by the Judge.

 

 

Can the City or County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office give me personal legal advice?

No. The Prosecuting Attorney serves solely as the legal counsel to the City of Fort Smith or Sebastian County.

 

 

Must I appear in court if I was served with a subpoena?

Yes. A subpoena constitutes an Order of the Court, which citizens must obey or be subject to possible punishment of a fine or a jail sentence.

 

 

How much is my traffic ticket?

Penalties for traffic and parking violations vary. Please contact the District Court Business Office for more information.


 

How can I research the statute or ordiance I was charged with?

You can click on the links below for online research sites. You may want to contact an attorney for more information or advice.

Arkansas Code Annotated Online

City of Fort Smith Ordinances

 

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District Court of Sebastian County maintains this Web site in order to increase public access to district court information. The information is not intended to be a source of legal advice. This web site is not sponsored or associated with any other linked entity. The existence of any link is simply intended to make other resources available to the reader. This Court does not guarantee the accuracy or sources of any information found on any such web sites. While the Web site is constantly updated and revised in an effort to provide timely and accurate information, we make no guarantees. We will make every attempt to correct errors as they are brought to our attention.

This Web site contains information originating from other organizations and departments, both public and private. While every attempt is made to ensure that all information is accurately referenced on our site, we do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness or quality of the content of every source.

Content authored by Rachel Sims, District Court Clerk. Site designed by Laurie Hinton, Senior Deputy Clerk/Webmaster.
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