More Felonies Added to Protect Arkansas Act start Jan 1, 2025

2025 brings new laws to the great state of Arkansas, including several significant legislative changes, notably the Protect Arkansas Act (Act 659), which introduces stricter sentencing laws for certain felonies. Under this act, individuals convicted of specific serious offenses will be required to serve 100% of their prison sentences, eliminating the possibility of early release for good behavior.

This list of felonies has been greatly expanded for 2025, they include:

• Capital murder
• First-degree murder
• Kidnapping (Class Y felony)
• Aggravated robbery
• Rape
• Trafficking of persons
• Causing a catastrophe
• Aggravated residential burglary (if a Class Y felony)
• Treason
• Fleeing (if Class B felony)
• Possession of firearms by certain persons (if Class B felony)
• Engaging children in sexually explicit conduct for use in visual or print medium
• Pandering or possessing visual or print medium depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child
• Transportation of minors for prohibited sexual conduct
• Internet stalking of a child
• Sexually grooming a child
• Producing, directing, or promoting a sexual performance by a child
• Computer exploitation of a child

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The act also highlights a category of "restricted release felonies," requiring offenders to serve at least 85% of their sentences before becoming eligible for parole. This category includes crimes such as second-degree murder, manslaughter, negligent homicide, and certain sexual offenses.

These legislative changes aim to enhance public safety by ensuring that individuals convicted of severe crimes serve the majority, if not all, of their imposed sentences. Governor Sanders and many other lawmakers advocate that these measures will strengthen the state's criminal justice system and deter violent crime.

Check out this video report from THV11:

Source Materials: THV11, FiveNewsOnline.com, Protect Arkansas Act