District courts exercise county-wide jurisdiction over misdemeanor cases, preliminary felony cases and civil cases in matters of less than $5,000. A small claims division of district court provides a forum in which citizens represent themselves to resolve minor civil matters.

The Arkansas District Judges Council is made up of all district court judges in the state. The council acts as the general body representing the state’s limited jurisdiction courts.

DEPARTMENTS

Traffic Department:
For questions concerning traffic violations call (501) 340-6832.

Criminal/Hot Checks Department:
For questions concerning misdemeanors and hot checks call (501) 340-6845.

Small Claims/Civil Department:
Small Claims Court is designed to allow individuals to settle certain disputes in court with relaxed rules of procedures and without attorneys. Call (501) 340-6830 for questions.

Special Services Department:
Special Services assigns community service work, jail commitments, domestic violence classes and defensive driving/DWI school and monitors each assignment until its completion. Call (501) 340-6836 for questions concerning the Special Services Office.

PULASKI COUNTY DISTRICT COURT – PROGRAMS

Traffic Probation:
Probation is a special program for individuals who have had spotless or near spotless driving records in the past and seek to keep their driving record clean.

In order to qualify for the First Offender Program the following requirements must be met:

1. No traffic tickets within the last three years.
2. No probation in this court before.
3. No DWI/DUI.

The First Offender Program consists of:

1. Attendance at a defensive driving school on a Saturday and costs $35.00.
2. Paying a $100.00 monitoring fee.
3. Receiving no moving violation tickets during a six-month probation period.

Call (501) 340-6836 for questions concerning probation.

Youth Accident Prevention Program:
The Youth Accident Prevention Program (Y.A.P.P.) of the Pulaski County District Court is a five-day program taught in every junior and senior high school in Pulaski County. The focus of the program is on safety issues and includes DWI, DUI, alcohol and club drugs, seatbelt safety, railroad safety, gun violence and conflict resolution. The program began in 1988 as a federal grant program funded by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. It became self-sufficient in 1993 through monies collected from legislation passed allocation of fine money from moving traffic violations, a monthly DDI/DWI school conducted by the staff on Saturdays and donations from the Pulaski County School Districts.

The motto of the program is “It’s all about choices”. The speakers strive to give young people the tools to help make the right choices. The Y.A.P.P. was honored as The Best Youth Program in the Nation in Washington in 1993. For information, please call (501) 340-6829 or email us.