Arkansas Domestic Violence Law
Arkansas Domestic Violence Defense
What you're facing under Ark. Code Ann. § 5-26-305, how the penalties scale, and the questions your attorney needs to answer, specific to Arkansas (AR) domestic violence law.
Offense Class
Class A Misdemeanor (third degree); Class C Felony (second degree); Class B Felony (first degree)
Maximum Penalty
1 year (third degree); 10 years (second degree); 20 years (first degree)
Maximum Fine
$2,500 (third degree); $10,000 (second degree); $15,000 (first degree)
Federal Firearms Prohibition (Lautenberg Amendment)
A conviction for misdemeanor domestic violence in Arkansas carries a federalfirearms-possession ban under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9). This consequence is collateral to Arkansas state penalties and applies regardless of the state sentence imposed.
Penalty Range in Arkansas
Charge Enhancements
These factors can elevate the charge or penalty in Arkansas:
- Serious physical injury (first degree, § 5-26-303)
- Use of a deadly weapon
- Prior domestic battering convictions (§ 5-26-303(b))
Arkansas-Specific Detail
Arkansas uses 'domestic battering' rather than 'domestic violence.' Family or household member includes spouses, former spouses, cohabitants, and parents of a common child.
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Important: This page provides legal INFORMATION about Arkansas domestic violence law as of the date of publication. Laws change frequently. This is not legal advice. The analysis draws on methods developed by defense attorneys, applied to public data. Your attorney remains the final authority on defense direction.