Sexual Assault Attorneys in Arkansas: Your Complete Legal Guide
If you or someone you love has survived sexual assault in Arkansas, this guide explains your legal rights, the key laws that protect survivors, and profiles five law firms that handle civil sexual assault and abuse cases across the state.
Introduction
Arkansas has one of the highest rates of sexual violence in the nation. Despite this, civil law provides survivors with meaningful tools to pursue justice and financial compensation, independent of the criminal justice system. A perpetrator who is never criminally charged, acquitted, or convicted can still be held accountable in a civil lawsuit. Arkansas has made significant legislative strides in recent years, dramatically extending civil filing deadlines for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. If you are a survivor, the most important first step is understanding your rights and speaking with an attorney – time limits apply in most cases.
Arkansas Sexual Assault Laws
Definitions and Criminal Offenses
Arkansas organizes its sexual offense statutes in Title 5, Chapter 14 of the Arkansas Code.
Rape (§ 5-14-103) is defined as sexual intercourse or deviate sexual activity with another person by forcible compulsion, or with someone who is physically helpless, mentally incapacitated, or a minor under 14. Rape is a Class Y felony – Arkansas’s most serious crime category – carrying sentences ranging from 10 years to life in prison. Conviction also requires lifetime registration as a sex offender.
Sexual Assault in the First Degree (§ 5-14-124) is a Class A felony carrying up to 30 years in prison. This offense covers sexual intercourse or deviate sexual activity with a minor who is not the actor’s spouse when the offender is employed with the Division of Correction, Department of Human Services, or a jail or juvenile detention facility while the victim is in custody. It also covers a teacher engaging in sexual activity with a student under 21.
Sexual Assault in the Second Degree (§ 5-14-125) is a Class B felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. This offense covers non-consensual sexual contact by forcible compulsion, abuse of authority, or with someone unable to consent.
Sexual Assault in the Third Degree (§ 5-14-126) is a Class C or D felony covering sexual intercourse with a person under 16 by an offender who is 20 or older, among related offenses. Maximum sentence is 10 years.
Sexual Assault in the Fourth Degree (§ 5-14-127) is a Class D felony or Class A misdemeanor depending on circumstances. It covers sexual contact with a minor under 16 by an offender 20 or older.
Arkansas’s age of consent is 16 for most purposes, though special rules apply when the offender is in a position of authority or trust.
Statutes of Limitations
Criminal SOL
Under Ark. Code § 5-1-109, there is no criminal statute of limitations for rape and first-degree sexual assault. These offenses may be prosecuted at any time. For sexual assault in the third or fourth degree committed against a minor, prosecution may be commenced at any time as long as the crime was not previously reported and the victim has not yet turned 28. For other felony sex crimes, SOL periods range from 3 to 6 years depending on class. Misdemeanor offenses carry a 1-year SOL.
Civil SOL
Arkansas’s civil SOL for sexual assault cases has changed significantly in recent years and is currently in a state of legal uncertainty.
For adult survivors (18 or older at the time of the assault), the general civil SOL is 3 years from the date of the incident under Arkansas’s standard personal injury statute. Courts are generally conservative about extending this deadline through discovery arguments for adult assault claims.
For childhood sexual abuse survivors, Arkansas passed the Justice for Vulnerable Victims of Sexual Abuse Act (SB 676) in April 2021, which extended the civil SOL from age 21 to age 55, or 3 years from discovery of the injury’s connection to the abuse – whichever is later. A 2023 amendment removed the age cap entirely, giving survivors of childhood sexual abuse an unlimited time to file under Ark. Code § 16-118-118. The 2021 law opened a lookback window from February 1, 2022 to January 31, 2024. A second lookback window was opened by the 2023 amendment, running through January 31, 2026.
Important legal caveat: In February 2025, the Arkansas Court of Appeals ruled in H.C. v. Nesmith that the legislature cannot revive expired civil claims, effectively blocking cases already time-barred under prior law. The Arkansas Supreme Court is currently considering the issue. Survivors with potentially time-barred claims should consult an attorney immediately about how this developing case law affects their specific situation.
For claims under the discovery rule (Ark. Code § 16-56-130), a survivor may file within 3 years of discovering that a physical or emotional injury is attributable to childhood sexual abuse.
Top 5 Sexual Assault Attorneys in Arkansas
1. Taylor King Law
Phone: 1-800-305-0529
Website: https://taylorkinglaw.com
Offices: Little Rock, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Springdale, Conway, Rogers, Hot Springs, Arkadelphia
Taylor King Law is a statewide Arkansas plaintiff firm with a dedicated sexual assault practice. The firm handles civil lawsuits on behalf of survivors of assault, harassment, and abuse regardless of whether criminal charges have been filed. Attorneys pursue damages from perpetrators as well as third parties – including employers, schools, hospitals, hotels, and nursing homes – whose negligence enabled the abuse. Taylor King Law operates on a no-fee-until-we-win basis and is available 24/7.
2. McMath Woods P.A.
Phone: (501) 530-4320
Website: https://www.mcmathlaw.com
Address: Little Rock, AR
McMath Woods is a Little Rock firm with a strong commitment to representing survivors of sexual abuse in Arkansas. The firm commits the full extent of its attention, diligence, and legal expertise to each survivor it represents, and has been actively involved in advocating for survivors affected by Arkansas’s evolving SOL legislation. Attorneys at the firm include Samuel Ledbetter, Will Bond, Neil Chamberlin, Charles Harrison, Carter Stein, Sarah Jewell, Tim Giattina, Grayson Hinojosa, and David Wells. The firm offers free case evaluations and is available 24/7 for attorney referrals.
3. Greer Injury Lawyers, PLLC
Phone: (501) 213-1512 | Toll Free: 877-819-4414
Website: https://www.greerinjurylawyers.com
Address: Little Rock, AR
Greer Injury Lawyers is a Little Rock personal injury firm that represents survivors of sexual assault in civil claims throughout Arkansas. The firm pursues compensation from perpetrators and any other legally culpable party, including institutions that failed to prevent the abuse. Attorneys Thomas Greer, Nora Alhussaini Taube, Jodi Black, Eric Espey, Andrew Clarke, Ronald Young, and R. Sadler Bailey collectively bring broad plaintiff-side experience. The firm offers free consultations, takes cases on a no-fee-unless-we-win basis, and provides bilingual services in Spanish.
4. Levy Konigsberg LLP
Phone: 800-315-3806
Website: https://www.levylaw.com
Levy Konigsberg is a nationally recognized trial firm with more than three decades of experience representing survivors of sexual abuse, having recovered over $3 billion in sexual abuse compensation for clients. The firm represents Arkansas survivors in civil claims against abusers and the institutions – including prisons, clergy, schools, and juvenile detention centers – that failed to protect them. Levy Konigsberg specializes in complex institutional abuse litigation and has extensive experience navigating lookback window claims and statute of limitations issues in Arkansas. The firm works on contingency – no cost to hire, no fee unless compensation is recovered.
5. Gates Law Firm, PLLC
Phone: (501) 779-8091
Website: https://www.gateslawpllc.com
Address: Little Rock, AR
Gates Law Firm is a Little Rock plaintiff firm with a dedicated sex abuse practice led by attorney Joseph Gates. The firm handles civil claims arising from clergy and religious institution abuse, school and coach misconduct, daycare and youth organization abuse, employer and workplace sexual assault, healthcare facility abuse, family or trusted adult abuse, and online exploitation. Gates Law Firm assists clients with court filings under anonymized or sealed records to protect survivor privacy during litigation. The firm offers free, confidential consultations and operates on a no-win, no-fee basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still file a civil lawsuit if the criminal case was dropped or the perpetrator was acquitted?
Yes. A civil lawsuit is completely separate from the criminal case. The burden of proof in civil court is “more probable than not” – significantly lower than the criminal standard of “beyond a reasonable doubt.” A perpetrator can be held civilly liable even if never criminally charged or after being acquitted.
Can I sue an institution, not just the individual who assaulted me?
Yes. Arkansas civil law allows survivors to hold third parties liable when their negligence enabled the abuse. Schools, churches, hospitals, nursing homes, employers, and hotels can all be sued if they failed to adequately screen, supervise, or protect against a known or foreseeable risk of abuse.
What damages can I recover?
Economic damages include medical bills, therapy and counseling costs, and lost wages. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving egregious or malicious conduct, punitive damages may also be available.
How do I know if the lookback window applies to my childhood abuse case?
The lookback window situation in Arkansas is currently complex and subject to ongoing litigation at the Arkansas Supreme Court. Consult an attorney as soon as possible to evaluate how current law applies to your specific facts and timeline.
Closing
Arkansas law has expanded significantly in favor of survivors, but the civil SOL landscape remains in flux due to ongoing court decisions. Time limits are strict and vary by case type, age at time of abuse, and when the abuse was reported or discovered. The firms listed above offer free, confidential consultations.
For immediate crisis support, contact the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.