The General Assembly finds that:(1) In 2021, there was a clearance rate of thirty-nine percent (39%) for violent crimes reported in Arkansas, which means there were no arrests for sixty-one percent (61%) of reported violent crimes;(2) Low clearance rates undermine law enforcement efforts to hold perpetrators accountable, to disrupt cycles of violence, and to provide justice to victims;(3) Research shows that enhanced investigative resources, improved management structures, and oversight processes can increase clearance rates and improve the chances that perpetrators are apprehended in even the most difficult cases to clear; and(4) Law enforcement agencies need additional resources and support to strengthen investigations, apply community problem-solving approaches to violent-crime hot spots, and implement programs that blend law enforcement, social services, and community mobilization strategies.Added by Act 2023, No. 775,§ 1, eff. 4/12/2023.
Arkansas Legal Code