Arkansas Code Title 9. Family Law § 9-15-101. Purpose

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an adequate mechanism whereby the State of Arkansas can protect the general health, welfare, and safety of its citizens by intervening when abuse of a member of a household by another member of a household occurs or is threatened to occur, thus preventing further violence. The General Assembly has assessed domestic abuse in Arkansas and believes that the relief contemplated under this chapter is injunctive and therefore equitable in nature. The General Assembly hereby finds that this chapter is necessary to secure important governmental interests in the protection of victims of abuse and the prevention of further abuse through the removal of offenders from the household and other injunctive relief for which there is no adequate remedy in current law. The General Assembly hereby finds that this chapter shall meet a compelling societal need and is necessary to correct the acute and pervasive problem of violence and abuse within households in this state. The equitable nature of this remedy requires the legislature to place proceedings contemplated by this chapter under the jurisdiction of the circuit courts.