Cite as 2023 Ark. 114

SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS

Opinion Delivered June 22, 2023

IN RE ARKANSAS SUPREME 

COURT COMMITTEE ON 

CRIMINAL PRACTICE

PER CURIAM

In response to developments in modern video- and audio-transmission technology, 

members of the bench and bar requested that the Supreme Court Committee on Criminal 

Practice consider the circumstances under which the use of video conferences could be 

expanded in criminal proceedings. The proposed amendment to Rule 8.7 of the Arkansas 

Rules of Criminal Procedure, as well as proposed Rule 20.5, concerns the use of video 

conferences in pretrial proceedings, omnibus hearings, and pretrial conferences. 

Additionally, the Supreme Court Committee on Criminal Practice recommended 

amendments to Rules 8.5 and 9.2 of the Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure and Rule 

404 of the Arkansas Rules of Evidence.

We express our gratitude to the members of the Criminal Practice Committee for 

their work. The amendments are set out below in “line-in, line-out fashion”––new material 

is underlined, and deleted material is lined through. 

Today we solicit your comments. Comments should be made in writing on or before 

August 15, 2023, addressed to Kyle E. Burton, Clerk of the Arkansas Supreme Court and 
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Court of Appeals, 625 Marshall Street, Suite 130, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201, or by email: 

rulescomments@arcourts.gov

Rule 8.5. Pretrial release inquiry: when conducted; nature of.

(a) A pretrial release inquiry shall be conducted by the judicial officer prior to or at the first 

appearance of the defendant.

(b) The inquiry should take the form of an assessment of factors relevant to the pretrial 

release decision, such as:

(i) the defendant’s employment status, history and financial condition;

(ii) the nature and extent of his family relationships;

(iii) his past and present residence;

(iv) his character and reputation;

(v) persons who agree to assist him in attending court at the proper times;

(vi) the nature of the current charge and any mitigating or aggravating factors that 

may bear on the likelihood of conviction and the possible penalty;

(vii) the defendant’s prior criminal record, including history of violence, if any, and, 

if he previously has been released pending trial, whether he appeared as required;

(viii) any facts indicating the possibility of violations of law if the defendant is released 

without restrictions;, including the risk that the defendant will commit a serious 

crime, intimidate witnesses, harass or take retaliatory action against any witness, or 

otherwise interfere with the administration of justice or pose a danger to the safety 

of any other person; and

(ix) any other facts tending to indicate that the defendant has strong ties to the 

community and is not likely to flee the jurisdiction.

(c) The prosecuting attorney should make recommendations to the judicial officer 

concerning:

(i) the advisability and appropriateness of pretrial release;

(ii) the amount and type of bail bond;

(iii) the conditions, if any, which should be imposed on the defendant’s release.
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Rule 8.7. Use of video conferences in pretrial proceedings.

(a) If the defendant is confined in a jail, prison, or other detention facility, a first appearance 

as provided in Rules 8.1 and 8.3 or a pretrial release inquiry as provided in Rule 8.4 The 

following proceedings may be conducted by video conference as provided in this rule.:

(1) First appearance as provided in Rules 8.1 and 8.3, or a pretrial release inquiry as 

provided in Rules 8.4 and 8.5; and

(2) Arraignments of defendants and other pretrial motions, hearings, or other 

nonadversarial matters.

(b) Upon the motion, express waiver by the defendant, agreement of all parties, and approval 

of the court, any adversarial or contested hearing may be held by video conference.

(b) (c) Any video conferencing system used under this rule must meet all the following 

requirements:

(1) All participants in the proceeding must be able to see, hear, and communicate 

with each other simultaneously during the proceeding.

(2) All participants in the proceeding must be able to see and hear any witnesses who 

may testify in the proceeding.

(3) All participants in the proceeding must be able to see, hear, and otherwise observe 

any physical evidence or exhibits presented during the proceeding, either by video 

facsimile, or other method.

(4) The video quality of the video conferencing system must be adequate to allow 

the participants to observe each other’s demeanor and nonverbal expressions as well 

as the demeanor and nonverbal expressions of any witnesses who testify in the 

proceeding.

(5) If the defendant is represented by an attorney, the attorney shall, upon request, 

be provided with the opportunity for confidential communication with the 

defendant.

(6) All video conferences must be on record. 

(c) (d) As used in this rule, the “participants in the proceeding” mean the judicial officer 

conducting the proceeding, the prosecuting or deputy prosecuting attorney, the defendant, 

and , if the defendant is represented by an attorney, the his or her attorney.

(d) (e) An attorney representing a defendant during a video conference may elect to be 

present either in the courtroom with the presiding judicial officer or in the place where the 

defendant is confined. With the approval of the court, an attorney may represent a defendant 

during a video conference from a location other than the courtroom or the place of 

detention.
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Rule 9.2. Release on money bail.

(a) The judicial officer shall set money bail only after he determines that no other conditions 

will reasonably ensure the appearance of the defendant in court.

(b) If it is determined that money bail should be set, the judicial officer shall require one (1) 

of the following:

(i) the execution of an unsecured bond in an amount specified by the judicial officer, 

either signed by other persons or not;

(ii) the execution of an unsecured bond in an amount specified by the judicial officer, 

accompanied by a deposit of cash or securities equal to ten per cent (10%) of the face 

amount of the bond. Ninety per cent (90%) of the deposit shall be returned at the 

conclusion of the proceedings, provided the defendant has not defaulted in the 

performance of the conditions of the bond; or

(iii) the execution of a bond secured by the deposit of the full amount in cash, or by 

other property, or by obligation of qualified sureties.

(c) In setting the amount of bail the judicial officer should take into account all facts relevant 

to the risk of willful nonappearance including:

(i) the length and character of the defendant’s residence in the community;

(ii) his employment status, history and financial condition;

(iii) his family ties and relationship;

(iv) his reputation, character and mental condition;

(v) his past history of response to legal process;

(vi) his prior criminal record, including history of violence, if any;

(vii) the identity of responsible members of the community who vouch for the 

defendant’s reliability;

(viii) the nature of the current charge, the apparent probability of conviction and the 

likely sentence, insofar as these factors are relevant to the risk of nonappearance;, 

including the risk that the defendant will commit a serious crime, intimidate 

witnesses, harass or take retaliatory action against any witness, or otherwise interfere 

with the administration of justice or pose a danger to the safety of any other person; 

and

(ix) any other factors indicating the defendant’s roots in the community.
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(d) Nothing in this rule shall be construed to prohibit a judicial officer from permitting a 

defendant charged with an offense other than a felony from posting a specified sum of money 

which may be forfeited or applied to a fine and costs in lieu of any court appearance.

(e) An appearance bond and any security deposit required as a condition of release pursuant 

to subsection (b) of this rule shall serve to guarantee all subsequent appearances of a 

defendant on the same charge or on other charges arising out of the same conduct before 

any court, including appearances relating to appeals and upon remand. If the defendant is 

required to appear before a court other than the one ordering release, the order of release 

together with the appearance bond and any security or deposit shall be transmitted to the 

court before which the defendant is required to appear. This subsection shall not be 

construed to prevent a judicial officer from:

(i) decreasing the amount of bond, security or deposit required by another judicial 

officer; or

(ii) upon making written findings that factors exist increasing the risk of willful 

nonappearance, increasing the amount of bond, security, or deposit required by 

another judicial officer.

Upon an increase in the amount of bond or security, a surety may surrender a defendant.

Proposed Rule 20.5 - Use of video conferences in omnibus hearings and pretrial 

conference proceedings.

(a) The following proceedings may be conducted by video conference as provided in this 

rule:

(1) Omnibus hearings as provided in Rules 20.2 and 20.3; and

(2) Pretrial conferences as provided in Rule 20.4.

(b) Upon the written motion, and express waiver by the defendant, agreement of all parties, 

and approval of the court, any adversarial or contested hearing may be held by video 

conference.

(c) Any video conferencing system used under this rule must meet all the following 

requirements:

(1) All participants in the proceeding must be able to see, hear, and communicate 

with each other simultaneously during the proceeding.

(2) All participants in the proceeding must be able to see and hear any witnesses who 

may testify in the proceeding.

(3) All participants in the proceeding must be able to see, hear, and otherwise observe 

any physical evidence or exhibits presented during the proceeding, either by video 

or other method.
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(4) The video quality of the video conferencing system must be adequate to allow 

the participants to observe each other’s demeanor and nonverbal expressions as well 

as the demeanor and nonverbal expressions of any witnesses who testify in the 

proceeding.

(5) If the defendant is represented by an attorney, the attorney shall, upon request, 

be provided with the opportunity for confidential communication with the 

defendant.

(6) All video conferences must be on record.

(d) As used in this rule, the “participants in the proceeding” mean the judicial officer 

conducting the proceeding, the prosecuting attorney, the defendant, and his or her attorney.

(e) An attorney representing a defendant during a video conference may elect to be present 

either in the courtroom with the presiding judicial officer or in the place where the 

defendant is confined. With the approval of the court, an attorney may represent a defendant 

during a video conference from a location other than the courtroom or the place of 

detention.

Rule 404. Character evidence not admissible to prove conduct, exceptions --

other crimes.

(a) Character Evidence Generally. Evidence of a person’s character or a trait of his character is 

not admissible for the purpose of proving that he acted in conformity therewith on a 

particular occasion, except:

(1) Character of accused. Evidence of a pertinent trait of his character offered by an 

accused, or by the prosecution to rebut the same;

(2) Character of victim. Evidence of a pertinent trait of character of the victim of the 

crime offered by an accused, or by the prosecution to rebut the same, or evidence of 

a character trait of peacefulness of the victim offered by the prosecution in a homicide 

case to rebut evidence that the victim was the first aggressor;

(3) Character of witness. Evidence of the character of a witness, as provided in Rules 

607, 608, and 609.

(b) Other Crimes, Wrongs, or Acts. Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible 

to prove the character of a person in order to show that he acted in conformity therewith. 

It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, 

intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.

(1) Notice in a Criminal Case. In a criminal case, the proponent must in writing:
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(A) provide reasonable notice of any such evidence that the proponent intends 

to offer at trial, so that the respondent has a fair opportunity to meet it; and

(B) articulate in the notice the permitted purpose for which the proponent 

intends to offer the evidence and the reasoning that supports the purpose.

Reporter’s Note: 

The addition of subdivision (b)(1) was made in response to the revisions made to Rule 404 

of the Federal Rules of Evidence, which was effective December 1, 2020.