Arkansas State Laws

Arkansas Law

America’s melting pot of diversity is also widely present in Arkansas. Arkansas may not be a state that is well-known for its wide demographics, but in fact it has a varied diversity. Like many states Arkansas does have a large White American population but also has various percentages of Black Americans, Pacific Islander Americans, Asian Americans, American Indians, and Latino Americans.

This state of many colors is governed by one government that holds many specific laws in regards to labor laws, divorce laws, felony incarceration laws, bankruptcy laws, DUI laws, and many others.

Felonies and Misdemeanors

Each state has the right to break its felony charges into any degree it likes. Arkansas breaks its felonies into alphabetical classes. Each class has a range of years in which an individual can be incarcerated, including a maximum and a minimum.

Felonies range from Class Y felonies to Class D felonies, with imprisonment terms from thirty years to three years in a state penitentiary. Misdemeanor classes range from Class A misdemeanors to Class C misdemeanors, with imprisonment terms ranging from one year to thirty days in a county or local jail.

Some misdemeanors and felonies of different classes can have the same crime but are separated by the number of previous offenses, the severity of the crime, and any other crimes that took place at the same time.

Maternity Laws

All maternity laws are governed by federal statues, but each state may choose to include more laws in regards to leave. Arkansas deems maternity leave as family leave and encompasses other family situations. Those needing to take leave to care for ill children, care for elderly parents, be hospitalized, or any other medical or psychological necessity can qualify for family leave.

Maternity leave and medical leave allows individuals to have a maximum of twelve weeks of unpaid leave that must be taken in a row. Family leave cannot be spread among several months in two- or three-week blocks. Laws state that no individual can be terminated because he or she chooses to take leave. When returning to work individuals are guaranteed their former jobs or jobs of the same salary and with the same benefits.

Drunk Driving Laws

Those who are arrested for driving under the influence are not necessarily charged with the same crime. Convictions for driving under the influence are based on prior offenses and the circumstances of the crime. The more prior driving under the influence charges an individual has, the longer the possible incarceration, probation, and driver’s license suspension will be.

If an individual is arrested for drunk driving and has a minor in the motor vehicle, he or she will have an aggravated charge. This is also possible if another individual was injured due to drunk driving, if another was killed, or if the driver was driving over the speed limit. Drunk driving charges are also divided into different categories and are also based on the amount of alcohol in an individual’s body. If an individual has a blood alcohol content that is double the legal limit of 0.08 percent, he or she will be charged with an aggravated offense.


Arkansas Law Articles

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