All Laws Decoded

Three Strikes and Habitual Offender Laws in Arkansas

How Arkansas law treats three strikes and habitual offender laws, from the state code and official state agencies.

Short answer: Arkansas's habitual offender law extends prison ranges based on prior felonies. With more than one but fewer than four priors, the ranges become Class Y 10 to 60 years or life, Class A 6 to 50 years, Class B 5 to 30 years, Class C 3 to 20 years and Class D up to 12 years; Ark. Code § 5-4-501(a)-(d)

Three strikes and habitual offender lawsArkansas's habitual offender law extends prison ranges based on prior felonies. With more than one but fewer than four priors, the ranges become Class Y 10 to 60 years or life, Class A 6 to 50 years, Class B 5 to 30 years, Class C 3 to 20 years and Class D up to 12 years; with four or more priors, Class Y 10 years to life, Class A 6 to 60, Class B 5 to 40, Class C 3 to 30 and Class D up to 15 years. A person convicted of a listed serious felony involving violence with a prior such conviction faces 40 to 80 years or life (life without parole for rape or first-degree sexual assault of a victim under 14), and a felony involving violence after two or more such priors brings ranges up to life (Class Y: not less than life).
Read on codes.findlaw.com (a public copy of the official code); check against the official code. Mirror pages state they are current as of March 28, 2024. Class ranges (Ark. Class A felony 6-30 years, fine up to $15,000; Class B 5-20 years, up to $15,000; Class C 3-10 years, up to $10,000; Class D up to 6 years, up to $10,000; Class A misdemeanor up to 1 year, up to $2,500; Class B misdemeanor up to 90 days, up to $1,000.
Source: Ark. Code § 5-4-501(a)-(d)

More Arkansas criminal law

FAQ

Does Arkansas have a three strikes law?
Arkansas's habitual offender law extends prison ranges based on prior felonies. With more than one but fewer than four priors, the ranges become Class Y 10 to 60 years or life, Class A 6 to 50 years, Class B 5 to 30 years, Class C 3 to 20 years and Class D up to 12 years; with four or more priors, Class Y 10 years to life, Class A 6 to 60, Class B 5 to 40, Class C 3 to 30 and Class D up to 15 years. A person convicted of a listed serious felony involving violence with a prior such conviction faces 40 to 80 years or life (life without parole for rape or first-degree sexual assault of a victim under 14), and a felony involving violence after two or more such priors brings ranges up to life (Class Y: not less than life).

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.