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1. What is the difference between the Washington County Prosecutor's Office and the Springdale City Attorney's Office?

The Springdale City Attorney's Office prosecutes all misdemeanor crimes which occur within the Springdale city limits, whereas the Washington County Prosecutor's Office prosecutes all felony crimes committed in Washington County.

2. I am a victim of domestic abuse. How do I get a protection order, and what is the difference between a protection order and a restraining order?

An Order of Protection may be sought in the Washington County Circuit Court or the Benton County Circuit Court, depending on which county in which the incident occurred. A citizen may use their private attorney to obtain an Order of Protection or may contact the Victim Advocate of the Washington County Prosecutor's office (if the incident occurred in Washington County) at 444-1570. If you need further information or assistance about obtaining an Order of Protection, you can also contact the City Attorney's Office at 479-750-8173.

A restraining order is different than an Order of Protection. Restraining orders are usually issued only in divorce cases. Violations of restraining orders are enforced by the issuing court rather than through criminal prosecution in District Court. However, a violation of an Order of Protection is a Class A misdemeanor in the State of Arkansas, and therefore, if an Order of Protection has been issued and served on a person who subsequently violates terms of the order, the police are allowed under Arkansas law to arrest that person if they have probable cause.

3. I got a traffic ticket. Can I keep it off my driving record?

Under certain circumstances, the City Attorney's Office will allow persons who receive traffic tickets (i.e., speeding, disobeying stop sign, careless driving, disobeyed traffic signal) to keep the ticket off their record. If a person desires to keep a traffic offense off their record, the person can call the City Attorney's Office at 479-750-8173 before their arraignment date, and see if the ticket has been booked into the City's computer system. If the ticket has been booked, the person can come in before arraignment and try to settle the ticket with an attorney within the office, or the person can plead not guilty at their arraignment date and try to settle the ticket with an attorney within the office before their trial date.

Persons are not allowed under Arkansas law to keep such offenses as DWI off their record, and under no circumstances will the City Attorney's Office take any action which is not allowed by Arkansas law.

4. I have a neighbor who has unlicensed or inoperative vehicles on his property, and he will not cut his grass. What can I do?

Complaints on unsanitary and unsightly conditions, or complaints about inoperative or unlicensed vehicles should be made directly to Code Enforcement, phone number 479-750-8154 or 479-756-7700.

5. Can I drop charges in a case for which I was the victim?

The prosecutor needs to know about the request, but whether or not the charges will be dropped is within the prosecutor's discretion. As already noted on this website, the City Attorney's Office has a no-drop policy on domestic abuse cases, but we always want to know the wishes and needs of the victim.

6. I am a victim of a crime and I want to know how I can find out information about the case?

If you call the City Attorney's Office at 479-750-8173, and give a description of the crime involved, including the approximate date of the incident, the City Attorney's Office will find out the status of your case for you.

7. Where do I get an order of protection?

You need to contact the Washington County Circuit Clerks office at 444-1538 and ask to speak with Kayle.