Independent institutions that check this jurisdiction's own power — audit, ombudsman, inspector general, civilian review, ethics, and grand-jury bodies established by statute.
Arkansas Legislative Audit is headed by the Legislative Auditor, who is appointed by and reports to the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee. The office audits state agencies, school districts,...
Read scorecard → 02 AuditThe Arkansas Board of Corrections is the constitutional governing board of the Department of Corrections under Amendment 33, with general supervisory authority over the Division of Correction...
Read scorecard → 03 AuditThe Arkansas State Police Commission provides governance and oversight exclusively over the Division of Arkansas State Police. Its seven members are appointed by the Governor with Senate advice...
Read scorecard → 04 AuditCLEST establishes minimum selection and training standards for all Arkansas law enforcement officers, and may revoke or suspend officer certification after written notice and a hearing. The...
Read scorecard → 05 Ethics CommissionThe Arkansas Ethics Commission enforces ethics, campaign finance, and lobbying laws for all state and local public officials, candidates, and lobbyists. Commissioners are appointed by the...
Read scorecard →Arkansas law enforcement oversight relies on three state-level bodies. CLEST (Ark. Code §12-9-101 et seq.) sets certification standards and holds binding decertification authority over all law enforcement officers statewide but does not independently investigate use-of-force incidents. The Arkansas State Police Commission (§12-8-103 et seq.) governs the Division of Arkansas State Police specifically, hears disciplinary appeals with binding effect, and holds subpoena power. The Board of Corrections (§12-27-104–105, Amendment 33) is the governing board over state prisons and community corrections but lacks explicit investigative or subpoena powers. No statewide civilian review board exists for local law enforcement agencies; sheriff and municipal LE discipline remains internal absent CLEST decertification.