The Specialty Court Program Advisory Committee was created by The Criminal Justice Reform Act of 2015.
The Specialty Court Program Advisory Committee (SCPAC) consists of the following members: the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts; three (3) circuit court judges who preside over an adult specialty court; one (1) circuit court judge who presides over a juvenile specialty court; three (3) district court judges who preside over a specialty court; the Director of the Department of Community Corrections; the Director of the Department of Human Services; the Director of the Division of Behavioral Health Services; a prosecutor; a public defender; a member of the Senate; a member of the House of Representatives; and the Arkansas Drug Director.
Committee Members
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or the Chief Justice’s designee who shall serve as chair;
- Chief Justice John Dan Kemp
The Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts or the director’s designee;
- Marty Sullivan
Three (3) circuit court judges who preside over a specialty court program as defined under §16-10-139 (a) to be appointed by the Arkansas Judicial Council;
- Hon. Melissa Richardson
- Hon. Thomas Smith
- Hon. Spencer Singleton
Three (3) district court judge who presides over a specialty court program as defined under §16-10-139 (a) to be appointed by the Arkansas District Judges Council;
- Hon. Chaney Taylor
- Hon. Milas ‘Butch’ Hale
- VACANT
One (1) circuit court judge who presides over a juvenile drug court program to be appointed by the Arkansas Judicial Council;
- Hon. Troy Braswell
The Director of the Department of Community Corrections or the director’s designee;
- Jim Cheek
The Director of the Department of Human Services or the director’s designee;
- Kristi Putnam
The Director of the Division of Behavioral Health Services or the director’s designee;
- Jay Hill
A prosecutor appointed by the Prosecutor Coordinator;
- Daniel Shue
A public defender appointed by the Executive Director of the Arkansas Public Defender Commission;
- Charlotte Bogan
A member of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
- Senator Ben Gilmore
A member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
- Representative Carol Dalby
The Arkansas Drug Director or the director’s designee.
- Thomas Fisher
The SCPAC meets quarterly and was established to promote collaboration and provide recommendations on issues involving adult and juvenile specialty courts. The committee is tasked with designing and completing comprehensive evaluations of the aforementioned programs as required by A.C.A. 16-10-139 and also evaluates and produces findings concerning all specialty courts operated by a circuit or district court in the state. Furthermore, the committee is responsible for the establishment, implementation, and operation of uniform specialty court evaluation processes to ensure resources are directed to high-risk, high-need offenders. These processes also certify that the specialty courts provide effective practices to reduce recidivism and unmanaged behavioral health disorders.
Chief Justice John Dan Kemp serves as the chair of the committee.