Victim Information

Your Rights as a Victim Under Arkansas Law

·    As a victim, you or your representative have a right to be present whenever the defendant charged in your case has a right to be present during a court proceeding concerning the crime charged, other than a grand jury proceeding. This right may not apply if the court determines that your presence will interfere with the defendant's right to a fair trial, or the confidentiality or fairness in a juvenile proceeding.

·    You have a right to request the presence of an individual to provide support to you during a court proceeding, unless the court determines that exclusion of the individual is necessary to protect the defendant's right to a fair trial.

·    Neither you, nor a member of your family, will be compelled to disclose your residential address or place of employment while testifying in a criminal justice proceeding, on the record in open court, unless the court finds that disclosure of the information is necessary.

·    If you are a victim of a sex crime, the Fort Smith Police Department will not disclose information that directly or indirectly identifies you.

·    Your employer may not discharge nor discipline you for participation at the prosecuting attorney's request in preparation for a criminal justice proceeding, nor for attendance at a criminal justice proceeding if your attendance is reasonably necessary to protect your interests.

·    Any personal property that the Fort Smith Police Department takes from you as evidence will promptly be returned to you when it is no longer needed as evidence, unless that property is contraband and subject to seizure. The Fort Smith Police Department will take reasonable care of any property we take from you.

You may be entitled to benefits under the Arkansas Crime Victims Reparation Act. The Arkansas legislature intended this act to provide a method of compensating and assisting certain persons who are victims of criminal acts and who suffer physical injury or death. To determine if you qualify, informational brochures and applications are available from the Office of the Attorney General, 323 Center Street in Little Rock, Arkansas at 1-800-448-3014, from the Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney's Office in the Sebastian County Courthouse at 35 South 6^th Street in Fort Smith, Arkansas at 479-783-8976, or from the Fort Smith Police Department Detective Division, 100 South 10^th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas at 479-709-5117.

If you are a victim of domestic abuse, it may be necessary for a court to issue an "order of protection or a "no contact order". These are documents that serve several purposes, but which also gives law enforcement agencies the power to arrest your abuser should he or she contact you after the crime. The Fort Smith Police Department will assist you with this process.

As a victim, you will be granted access to public records pertaining to your case. You should contact the criminal investigator assigned your case with this request. When practicable, the investigator assigned your case will provide you information as to the suspect's identity, and let you know whether or not the suspect is in custody, has escaped, or has been released. The investigator will also provide you with his or her name and office telephone numbers to assist you in making contact should you desire to do so. 

The Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) program monitors information about persons incarcerated in the Arkansas prison system and in county jails and makes that information available on a twenty four hour basis to victims of crimes. The toll free telephone number for the Arkansas VINE Hotline is 1-800-510-0415.

Victim Contact Information

The Fort Smith Police Department maintains a twenty four hour hotline that offers information about available assistance. This hotline's telephone number is 709-5199, and then follow the system's directions.

The following agencies can provide information and assistance to you:

·    Law Enforcement Agencies

Fort Smith Police Department, 100 South 10^th Street, 785-4221

FSPD Detective Division, 100 South 10^th Street, 709-5117

Sebastian County Sheriff's Office, Fort Smith, 783-1051

Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney, County Courthouse, 783-8976

Sebastian County Detention Center, Fort Smith, 783-4988

Sebastian County Juvenile Intake Center, Fort Smith, 783-3532

·    Housing

Community Rescue Mission, 518 North 3^rd 782-1443

Salvation Army, 301 North 6^th, 783-2340, 783-6145 or 783-4938

Allied Garden Estates, 5221 Johnson, 782-3611

Ft Smith Housing Authority , 4201 Kinkead, 785-4881

·    Medical

AHEC Family Medical Center, 612 South 12^th, 785-2431

      Community Health Center, 3202 North 6^th, 782-1456

      Sebastian County Health Department, 3112 South 70^th, 452-8600

·    Transportation

Fort Smith Public Transit, 783-6464 or 782-9833

·    Utilities Assistance

Community Services Clearinghouse, 300 South 11^th, 782-5074 or 782-7801

Crawford-Sebastian Community Development Council, 785-2303

·    Women's Assistance-Domestic Abuse or Sexual Assault

Crisis Center for Women, 401 Lexington Avenue, 782-4956

·    Children's Assistance

Fort Smith Children's Emergency Shelter, 3015 South 14^th, 783-0018

Suspected Child Abuse & Neglect, 1-800-482-5964

Comprehensive Juvenile Services 785-4031

·    Department of Human Services

Children and Family Services; Elderly Services; Developmental Disabilities Services; Child Medical Services

Day Care; Aid to Family with Dependent Children; Food Stamps; Medicaid

Protective Services; Child Support Enforcement Unit; Services for the Blind

782-4555

·    Clothing

Ft Smith Adult Education, 785-1232

Community Rescue Mission, 310 N F St, 782-1443

The Golden Rule Clothes Closet & More, 212 North 3^rd, 783-8150

·    Food and Meals

American Red Cross, 1709 South Greenwood, 785-5582

Community Rescue Mission, 518 North 3^rd, 782-1443

Community Services Clearinghouse, 300 South 11^th, 782-5074 or 782-7801

Sebastian Community Development Council, 4831 Armour, 785-2303

Salvation Army, 301 North 6^th, 783-2340, 783-6145 or 783-4938