Arkansas VINE Program

The Arkansas VINE Program is a free, 24-hour service that can alert you when someone is released from jail or is moved. If you sign up for VINE, you will receive a notification call within 30 minutes of an inmate’s release. You can choose to be notified by phone, email, or both. VINE is confidential.

Persons arrested by the Bentonville Police Department are housed at the Benton County Jail.

To register, contact the Victim Assistance Program at 800-501-4105, or visit Vinelink.

Laura’s Law 

Laura’s Law requires Arkansas police officers responding to domestic violence incidents to ask victims a set of questions to evaluate their risk of being killed by abuse, such as whether the offender has ever used a weapon against the victim or controls most of the victim’s daily activities. The assessment aims to help identify victims in severe danger needing intervention. Police will also present victims with a “Laura’s Card,” a document listing their rights and contact information for local prosecutors and shelters.

A copy of the Bentonville Police Department’s “Laura’s Card” can be found here .

 Protection Orders 

An Order of Protection is issued by a Circuit Court Judge when a Petitioner (the person filing the petition) has been threatened or harmed by a Respondent (the person being filed against) and is in immediate and present danger of domestic abuse. If you have recently been a victim of domestic abuse and need immediate protection you may qualify for an Order of Protection. 

Please see the state’s definition of Domestic Abuse and qualifying relationships below. 

• Domestic abuse defined by the State of Arkansas is: Physical harm, bodily injury, assault or the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault between family or household members. You do not have to actually be physically hurt to be the victim of domestic abuse. If someone makes you afraid that you are going to be hurt or assaulted, that could be considered domestic abuse too.) 
• Domestic abuse is also defined as any sexual conduct between family or household members (whether minors or adults) that constitutes a crime in the State of Arkansas. 
• It is against the law to abuse someone who is a family member or who lives or used to live in the same house. The State of Arkansas defines a household or family member as: 
  • Husband or wife (present or former)  
  • Boyfriend or girlfriend 
  • Parent and Child 
  •  People related by blood  
  • Reside together or cohabitate (currently or formerly)
  • People who have a child or children together 
  • Current or prior dating relationship 
•  A family or household member may petition on behalf of another family or household member who is a minor or who has been adjudicated by a judge as incompetent You cannot file an Order of Protection petition against a minor.

 To acquire a protection order, please contact the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office by clicking here.