Hempstead County District Court Public Announcement

Then please read this.

            You can get up to $250.00 of your fines completely charged off. The Hempstead County District Court is offering incentives for people who have been or get fully vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus. This virus is causing so many deaths and permanent damage to so many people, and we are weary of reading the Obituaries about our friends and family members who have died as a result of this disease. So many Arkansans remain unvaccinated. Arkansas has the fourth-highest number of new cases per 100,000 people in the United States, and only 21% of Hempstead County residents are vaccinated, which makes us second from the bottom. This has created a dangerous and scary situation.

            There is so much false and misleading information on the internet about the vaccination, and too many people are only paying attention to this information to make their decision not to get vaccinated. Please read this excellent information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) about the myths and misinformation about the Covid-19 vaccination here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html. Also read information from the Arkansas Department of Health about Covid-19 in Arkansas here: https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/novel-coronavirus. We encourage you to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The vaccination is completely free to all people. Call your pharmacy or Hempstead County Health Unit to get an appointment to get your vaccination now.

            As an incentive to get the vaccination, if you currently owe fines to the City of Hope or to Hempstead County, we will charge off $250.00 of your fines if you show us proof that you have been fully vaccinated (received both of the Moderna or Pfizer shot, or the single Johnson & Johnson shot). Or, if you have received a Citation and will be coming to Court or wish to pay your fine before your Court date, call the Court Clerk's office at (870)777-7813 for information about what you need to do to get this incentive. When you have sent your proof of having been vaccinated to the Clerk's office, we will write off one half of your potential fines up to $250.00.

            In order to receive this incentive, you can do one of these things:

            (a)        Take a picture of your vaccination card with your cellphone and email it to [email protected] or [email protected]. Include your full name as it appears on your driver's license, along with your telephone number and date of birth, in the email.  

            (b)       Take your vaccination card to the Hempstead County District Court's office, which is located on the third floor of the Hempstead County Courthouse, and show it to one the Clerks.

            (c)        Fax a copy of your vaccination card to (870)777-7830. Include your full name as it appears on your driver's license, along with your telephone number and date of birth, in the fax.

            (d)       Mail a copy of your vaccination card to Hempstead County District Court, P. O. Box 1420, Hope, AR 71801, along with your full name as it appears on your driver's license, your telephone number and date of birth.

            This incentive will begin immediately and will continue indefinitely while Covid-19 remains a problem and so many of our Hempstead County residents remain unvaccinated. If you have questions about this incentive program, call the Hempstead County District Court at. (870)777-7813. Please get vaccinated and help save your life and the lives of your loved ones!

                                                                                    TONY YOCOM

                                                                                    HEMPSTEAD COUNTY DISTRICT JUDGE