The District Court of Greene County, Arkansas handled 13,433 cases in the year 2000. As Greene County grows, so does the Court's docket. Since 1995 the Court's docket has increased approximately 50%. The Court has jurisdiction over all traffic offenses and misdemeanors committed within Greene County. In January of 2001, when I took office, we instituted a program allowing persons charged with minor traffic offenses to set up payments on their fines and costs anytime before their Court date (between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Clerk's office) without having to appear in Court and wait for their names to be called from the Docket alphabetically. In addition, we have expanded our First Offender's Program to allow eligible persons to fill out a simple form at the Clerk's office anytime before their Court date to participate in this program which allows them to keep their ticket off their driving record without having to appear in Court. These changes have made our District Court more efficient and more accommodating to the public.

In January of 2001, we also instituted a tougher new sentencing guideline for Hot Check Offenders in Greene County. This program, which has garnered headlines in a national legal publication (see the "District Court News" section of our website) has resulted in the District Court being able to triple the amount of restitution recovered for Greene County area merchants on bad checks. The Court, in January, also established some tougher bond and sentencing guidelines for drug related cases. This to address Greene County's ever increasing illegal drug problem. Tougher penalties for Liability Insurance violations were also initiated by your District Court.

By all accounts, these new guidelines are having a direct and positive impact on the quality of life for the people of Greene County. These tougher sentencing guidelines are a reflection of our communities stance on crime and are always subject to review by you, the people of our community.

The District Court is not my Court. It belongs to you, and is the "Peoples Court." If any person has any questions, comments or general ideas concerning the administration of the Court, they are encouraged to share them with me, or one of the District Court clerks. However, it is not proper for me to discuss any specific cases pending before the Court.

Dan Stidham
Greene County District Court Judge
November 14, 2001