(a) Except as provided by subsection (c) of this section, a communication relating to the subject matter of any civil or criminal dispute made by a participant in a dispute resolution process, whether before or after the institution of formal judicial proceedings, is confidential and is not subject to disclosure and may not be used as evidence against a participant in any judicial or administrative proceeding.
(b) Any record or writing made at a dispute resolution process is confidential, and the participants or third party or parties facilitating the process shall not be required to testify in any proceedings related to or arising out of the matter in dispute or be subject to process requiring disclosure or production of information or data relating to or arising out of the matter in dispute.
(c) If this section conflicts with other legal requirements for disclosure of communications or materials, the issue of confidentiality may be presented to the court having jurisdiction of the proceedings to determine in camera whether the facts, circumstances, and context of the communications or materials sought to be disclosed warrant a protective order of the court or whether the communications or materials are subject to disclosure.
Structure Arkansas Code
Title 16 - Practice, Procedure, And Courts
Subtitle 1 - General Provisions
Chapter 7 - Dispute Resolution
Subchapter 2 - Dispute Resolution Processes
§ 16-7-201. Legislative purpose and intent
§ 16-7-202. Duty and authority of the courts
§ 16-7-203. Duty and authority of state and local officers and agencies and governments
§ 16-7-204. Counseling by attorneys
§ 16-7-205. Duty to keep records of dispute resolution efforts and to file annual reports
§ 16-7-206. Confidentiality of communications in dispute resolution procedures