Protect Arkansas Children: Strengthen Sentencing Laws for Sexual Crimes Against Minors
Protect Arkansas Children: Strengthen Sentencing Laws for Sexual Crimes Against Minors
The Issue
Petition to the Arkansas Legislature
To the Arkansas General Assembly,
We, the undersigned citizens of Arkansas, are calling on our legislators to strengthen Arkansas sentencing laws for crimes involving the sexual assault of children and minors.
When a child is sexually assaulted, the consequences do not end when the criminal case is over. The victim may carry the effects of that trauma for years—or for the rest of their life.
Yet Arkansas law currently allows sentencing language that can result in a serious felony conviction being accompanied by a monetary penalty rather than requiring meaningful incarceration. For crimes involving the sexual assault of a minor, we believe the law should make it unequivocally clear that a financial penalty must never be treated as an adequate substitute for accountability through incarceration.
We are asking Arkansas lawmakers to:
1. Remove the “or” structure that permits a monetary fine to substitute for imprisonment when sentencing qualifying sexual offenses against minors.
2. Establish a meaningful mandatory minimum term of incarceration for qualifying sexual offenses against children, while preserving appropriate judicial discretion for circumstances specifically provided by law.
3. Review Arkansas sentencing laws involving sexual crimes against minors to ensure that penalties reflect the seriousness of the offense and the lifelong impact on victims.
4. Put the protection of children and the rights of victims at the center of sentencing policy.
This petition is not about revenge.
It is not about targeting a particular defendant.
It is not about telling judges or prosecutors how to handle an individual case.
It is about changing the law so that future victims are not left wondering whether justice for what happened to them can simply be measured in dollars.
A child’s safety should never have a price tag.
A felony conviction for sexually assaulting a child should carry consequences that reflect the seriousness of the crime.
We are asking our elected representatives to listen to the people they serve.
If you believe Arkansas can—and should—do better when it comes to protecting children and holding offenders accountable, sign this petition.
But don’t stop there.
Contact your Arkansas state representative and senator.
Tell them that you support stronger sentencing laws for sexual crimes against minors. Ask them to support or introduce legislation that would eliminate the ability for a monetary fine to substitute for incarceration in qualifying cases.
One signature is a voice.
One phone call is a voice.
One email is a voice.
Thousands of voices become a movement.
We are not asking for mob justice.
We are asking for accountability, consistency, transparency, and stronger protections for Arkansas children.
Arkansas can do better.
Our children deserve better.
And we are asking our lawmakers to make it happen.
22
The Issue
Petition to the Arkansas Legislature
To the Arkansas General Assembly,
We, the undersigned citizens of Arkansas, are calling on our legislators to strengthen Arkansas sentencing laws for crimes involving the sexual assault of children and minors.
When a child is sexually assaulted, the consequences do not end when the criminal case is over. The victim may carry the effects of that trauma for years—or for the rest of their life.
Yet Arkansas law currently allows sentencing language that can result in a serious felony conviction being accompanied by a monetary penalty rather than requiring meaningful incarceration. For crimes involving the sexual assault of a minor, we believe the law should make it unequivocally clear that a financial penalty must never be treated as an adequate substitute for accountability through incarceration.
We are asking Arkansas lawmakers to:
1. Remove the “or” structure that permits a monetary fine to substitute for imprisonment when sentencing qualifying sexual offenses against minors.
2. Establish a meaningful mandatory minimum term of incarceration for qualifying sexual offenses against children, while preserving appropriate judicial discretion for circumstances specifically provided by law.
3. Review Arkansas sentencing laws involving sexual crimes against minors to ensure that penalties reflect the seriousness of the offense and the lifelong impact on victims.
4. Put the protection of children and the rights of victims at the center of sentencing policy.
This petition is not about revenge.
It is not about targeting a particular defendant.
It is not about telling judges or prosecutors how to handle an individual case.
It is about changing the law so that future victims are not left wondering whether justice for what happened to them can simply be measured in dollars.
A child’s safety should never have a price tag.
A felony conviction for sexually assaulting a child should carry consequences that reflect the seriousness of the crime.
We are asking our elected representatives to listen to the people they serve.
If you believe Arkansas can—and should—do better when it comes to protecting children and holding offenders accountable, sign this petition.
But don’t stop there.
Contact your Arkansas state representative and senator.
Tell them that you support stronger sentencing laws for sexual crimes against minors. Ask them to support or introduce legislation that would eliminate the ability for a monetary fine to substitute for incarceration in qualifying cases.
One signature is a voice.
One phone call is a voice.
One email is a voice.
Thousands of voices become a movement.
We are not asking for mob justice.
We are asking for accountability, consistency, transparency, and stronger protections for Arkansas children.
Arkansas can do better.
Our children deserve better.
And we are asking our lawmakers to make it happen.
The Decision Makers
Petition Updates
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Petition created on September 18, 2026