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 the importance of 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 previous text, 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 courts consider the unique circumstances of juvenile offenders when imposing sentences. This includes evaluating the impact of trauma on the juvenile's behavior and recognizing the differences between juvenile and adult offenders, particularly regarding their diminished culpability and typical characteristics of youth. Overall, the bill aims to ensure that the legal system takes into account the complex backgrounds of minors when determining their legal outcomes.

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)