“Character is developed through comebacks,” Judge Sarah Capp shared about the need for change in Arkansas’ judicial approach at the official launch of the Smart Justice District Court Initiative (SJDCI) in Johnson County. The launch marks a powerful commitment to rehabilitation, prevention, and second chances for individuals navigating the justice system.
"New beginnings," stated Capp, "often need supportive individuals, and that's what creates strong foundations. We all need someone to lean on when things get tough.”
Judge Capp emphasized that district courts see more cases than any other type of court in Arkansas., from traffic violations to low-level drug offenses. Yet, many of the individuals who appear before her are struggling with poverty, mental health issues, addiction, unemployment, and a lack of support systems.
“They needed that extra hand to hold,” Judge Capp said. “They needed that extra person to look into what's going on in their family life, to help them break that cycle, to prevent them from coming back to court over and over again. So by this initiative, we have been able to truly break the cycles that caused people to continue to commit criminal acts, make bad decisions and feel like they're hopeless.”
The Smart Justice District Court Initiative seeks to intervene at the district level—before individuals escalate into felony-level offenses—and provide coordinated support through family advocates, probation officers, clerks, and community partners.
Zac George of Restore Hope echoed the urgency of the initiative. “There is a real crisis in district court. They're stuck in a cycle of fine payments and license suspensions and more charges and reinstatement fees that they have no idea, no hope to get out of," he said. “But when all of this comes together, what you get is hope.”
George praised Judge Sarah Capp and the Johnson County team for their compassion and commitment to change.
“Thank God for someone who sits on that bench in that robe and says, I see a person and not a defendant, not just a defendant."
His remarks emphasized that meaningful change begins with leadership willing to see the humanity in every individual who enters the courtroom—something he described as rare and deeply impactful in the justice system.
The launch was held during Second Chance Month and to further recognize how lives can be transformed when communities and courts work together, Mayor David Rieder of Clarksville signed a Second Chance proclamation. This proclamation recognizes the societal barriers faced by individuals with criminal records and the importance of redemption.
“Wouldn't it be a scary thought if you only got one shot at life?" Mayor Rieder shared. "That’s a tough standard for anybody.”
The proclamation highlighted that over 70 million Americans have a criminal record and face more than 44,000 collateral consequences, including limited access to housing, employment, and education. It called on communities to reduce stigma and promote reintegration.
The success of the launch was made possible through the vision and hard work of local leaders including Paul Chapman, Judge Sarah Capp, Zac George, Kerry Bewley, and Nikki Stone, who were all recognized for their contributions to building a more compassionate and effective court system.
“There’s no such thing as a throwaway person,” Judge Capp concluded. “By granting second chances to people who’ve earned them, we restore families, we restore communities, and we impact our state and our nation as a whole.”
The Smart Justice District Court Initiative is now positioned to make a lasting impact on Johnson County—breaking cycles, restoring hope, and proving that with the right support, second chances can lead to lifelong change.
Smart Justice is a magazine, podcast, and continuing news coverage from the nonprofit Restore Hope and covers the pursuit of better outcomes on justice system-related issues, such as child welfare, incarceration, and juvenile justice. Our coverage is solutions-oriented, focusing on the innovative ways in which communities are solving issues and the lessons that have been learned as a result of successes and challenges.
The podcast is available on all major podcasting platforms.
Subscribe to the Smart Justice newsletter.
