The bill amends existing Arkansas law to require courts to consider the impact of various factors, such as trauma and involvement with the child welfare system, during transfer or sentencing hearings for individuals who committed crimes as minors. Specifically, it modifies Arkansas Code 9-27-318(g) and 9-27-503(c)(9) to include considerations of a juvenile's mental, physical, educational, and social history, emphasizing exposure to adverse childhood experiences, childhood trauma, and status as a victim of human trafficking, sexual abuse, or rape. The language also removes the phrase "and other" from the list of materials the court should consider, replacing it with "and any other information."

Additionally, the bill introduces a new section to Arkansas Code Title 16, Chapter 90, Subchapter 1, which mandates that when sentencing a person convicted of an offense committed as a juvenile, the court must consider the impact of trauma on the juvenile's behavior and the differences between juvenile and adult offenders. This includes acknowledging the diminished culpability of juveniles compared to adults and the typical characteristics of youth. Overall, the bill aims to ensure that the unique circumstances and backgrounds of juvenile offenders are taken into account in the judicial process.

Statutes affected:
Old version SB458 V2 - 4-7-2025 04:41 PM: 9-27-318(g), 9-27-503(c)
Old version SB458 V3 - 4-9-2025 11:39 AM: 9-27-318(g), 9-27-503(c)
Old version SB458 Original - 3-13-2025 04:01 PM: 9-27-318(g)
SB 458: 9-27-318(g)
Act 988: 9-27-318(g), 9-27-503(c)