Arkansas Criminal Records
Arkansas criminal records are public documents that track a person's interactions with the state's criminal justice system. These records come from multiple agencies, including the Arkansas State Police, the Arkansas Crime Information Center, county circuit courts, and county sheriff's offices. Anyone can search court case records through the state's CourtConnect portal or request background check information from the Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau. Each of Arkansas's 75 counties handles arrest records and court filings separately. Knowing which agency holds what you need is the first step to finding the right information in Arkansas.
Arkansas Criminal Records at a Glance
Where Arkansas Criminal Records Come From
Arkansas criminal records are held by several different state and county agencies. The Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau is the primary source for formal background checks and statewide criminal history reports. The Arkansas Crime Information Center, known as ACIC, serves as the central repository for criminal history data and maintains the statewide sex offender registry. The Arkansas Department of Corrections tracks individuals sentenced to state prison. County circuit courts and sheriff's offices handle arrest records and case files for everything that happens at the local level.
ACIC operates under A.C.A. §§ 12-12-203(a) and provides criminal history records to authorized agencies and the public under A.C.A. § 12-12-1506(d). That statute allows any person to get conviction records and felony arrest records by paying the required fee without needing written consent from the subject. Misdemeanor arrests that did not lead to conviction are not available to the general public. The Arkansas Crime Information Center handles the sex offender registry and criminal history data for law enforcement agencies across the state.
The Arkansas State Police Online Criminal Background Check System lets authorized users request name-based criminal history. A standard check costs $22. Volunteer organizations pay $11. The system requires an account through the Information Network of Arkansas. Misuse of the system is a Class A misdemeanor under Arkansas law. For those who cannot use the online system, the Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau accepts mail-in requests on form ASP-122 with a $25 fee. The bureau is at 1 State Police Plaza Drive, Little Rock, AR 72209. Phone: 501-618-8500.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections Inmate Search is free and open to anyone. It shows the inmate's current facility, sentence details, release dates, and prior prison history. Out-of-state inmates housed under the Interstate Compact Agreement will not appear. Inmates still on the ADC waiting list at county jail also won't show until they are transferred to a state facility. For community supervision, contact the Division of Community Correction at 501-682-9510.
The ACIC Sex Offender Registry is maintained under the Sex Offender Registration Act of 1997. The registry includes anyone convicted of a sexually violent offense or sex offense, those on probation or parole, and out-of-state offenders who work or attend school in Arkansas. Risk levels run from Level 1 (Low) to Level 4 (Sexually Dangerous Person). Offenders must report to the local law enforcement agency within ten days of any address change or release from custody. Contact ACIC at 501-682-7441 for registry questions.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections Inmate Search is a free public tool for locating anyone currently in state custody, including sentence history and facility location.
The ADC search shows ADC number, physical description, custody classification, good time class, total sentence, and detainer information for current and former state prisoners.
Searching Criminal Court Records in Arkansas
Arkansas uses a statewide court case search system called CourtConnect. The main access point is caseinfo.arcourts.gov. It lets you search by name, case number, organization, case description, judgment, or filing date. Results show case status, hearing dates, party names, attorney information, and docket entries. The system is free to use. Technical support is available through the Administrative Office of the Courts at 501-410-1900 or toll-free at 866-823-5778.
Not every county is fully integrated into the Contexte case management system. Records created before a county joined the system may not appear online. Under Administrative Order 19, some sensitive details are restricted from the online search. Records from before January 1, 2009 may have redacted information. In those cases, you need to visit the circuit clerk's office in the county where the case was filed. The Arkansas Judiciary website has a complete directory of circuit clerks with addresses and contact numbers.
Plain copies of court documents from the circuit clerk cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5 per document. Fees vary slightly by county. In-person requests are usually handled the same day. Mail requests may take one to two weeks. Some counties accept FOIA requests by email or fax.
The Arkansas Judiciary CourtConnect provides free public access to criminal case dockets, party information, and case status for courts across the state.
CourtConnect uses the Contexte Case Management System and allows searches by name, case number, or date range across all participating circuit and district courts in Arkansas.
The Arkansas Judiciary Homepage is the central hub for all court-related resources, including the CourtConnect portal, court rules, and judge and clerk contact information.
The Administrative Office of the Courts manages all non-judicial court operations statewide and provides technical support for the online case management systems used by circuit and district courts.
What Arkansas Criminal Records Contain
Arkansas criminal records pull data from multiple sources. The specific contents depend on the type of record and which agency holds it. A county arrest record is different from a statewide background check run through the Arkansas State Police.
A typical arrest record from a county sheriff's office includes: full legal name and aliases, date of birth, physical description, booking photograph, state identification number, date and time of arrest, arresting agency and booking number, charges filed with Arkansas statute citations, bail or bond amount and bond type, and the case number assigned by the circuit court. If a warrant led to the arrest, the warrant number and issuing agency are also listed. Bond types include cash, surety, and personal recognizance.
A background check from the Arkansas State Police under A.C.A. § 12-12-1501 can include conviction records for all felonies and misdemeanors, felony arrest records, pending felony charges from the last five years, and sex offender registration status. Under A.C.A. § 12-12-1504, records that are sealed or expunged under A.C.A. § 16-90-901 are removed from the public record and won't appear on these reports. Juvenile arrest records are also exempt in most cases under A.C.A. § 9-27-309.
Inmate records from the Arkansas Department of Corrections contain ADC number, name, race, sex, hair color, eye color, height, weight, birth date, initial receipt date, facility, custody classification, good time class, projected release date, total sentence, prior prison sentences, aliases, and detainer information. Physical description may include tattoos and identifying marks.
Arkansas FOIA and Criminal Record Access
The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, codified at Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq., gives citizens the right to inspect and copy most public records. It was established in 1967. Arkansas law defines public records as writings, recorded sounds, films, tapes, electronic or computer-based information, or data compilations in any medium required by law to be kept. Criminal records that are public include adult conviction records, completed criminal case files, and arrest records where charges were filed.
When you submit a FOIA request to a county sheriff's office or circuit clerk, the agency has 24 hours to determine eligibility and three days to assemble records. You can request records in person, by mail, or in any written form. Fees for copying are allowed, but agencies cannot charge on a man-hour basis for search or retrieval time. The Arkansas Attorney General's Office at 800-482-8982 handles FOIA enforcement and can assist with denied requests. The State Supreme Court case of Bryant v. Weiss (1998) affirmed the Attorney General can file and litigate FOIA claims on behalf of citizens.
Not all criminal records are open. Records that are exempt include: arrests that were dismissed or resulted in acquittal, juvenile records in most cases, sealed or expunged records, records from ongoing investigations, records sealed by court order, and information about undercover law enforcement officers. Also exempt are grand jury minutes, on-going investigation files, and certain personal information about non-elected employees.
The Arkansas State Police Online Criminal Background Check System is the official state portal for authorized name-based criminal history checks, available to entities with proper authorization.
The system operates under Arkansas law and requires users to acknowledge they are accessing a restricted information system. Usage is monitored and subject to audit. Unauthorized use may result in criminal or civil penalties.
Arkansas Criminal Record Laws and Statutes
Arkansas has a clear set of statutes that govern how criminal records are created, maintained, and shared. A.C.A. § 12-12-1501 through § 12-12-1510 establish the Arkansas State Police Criminal History Information System. The state police maintain and distribute criminal history data to authorized parties under this framework. A.C.A. § 12-12-211 gives ACIC the authority to make criminal history available to the public in line with §§ 12-12-1008 through 12-12-1011.
Under A.C.A. § 12-12-1506(d), anyone can get conviction records and felony arrest records by paying the fee, without written consent from the subject. This is different from most other states. The statute also allows access to pending felony arrests within the last five years if the person has not yet gone to trial. Records that are not public under A.C.A. § 12-12-1504 include arrests that ended in dismissal, not-guilty verdicts, expunged records, and records that were never processed. Most juvenile records are also off-limits except where the juvenile was tried as an adult or a court order permits release.
A.C.A. § 12-12-1013 gives individuals the right to see and challenge the contents of their own criminal history record at ACIC under controlled administrative procedures. If you believe your record is inaccurate, you can complete an Authorization for Review of Criminal History form and submit it to ACIC. The center must respond within 30 days. For further challenges to FBI records, procedures are in Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations § 16.34.
Note: A non-criminal justice organization or individual who receives criminal history information and uses it for any purpose not stated in the request commits a Class A misdemeanor under Arkansas law.
Sealing and Expunging Arkansas Criminal Records
Arkansas allows certain records to be sealed under the Arkansas Uniform Expungement Act of 1995, found at A.C.A. § 16-90-901. When a court enters an expungement order, the records are sealed and segregated from public access. Only the offender, their legal counsel, or authorized criminal justice agencies can view sealed records. A.C.A. § 16-90-1417 governs the sealing of records more broadly. ACIC allows 30 days to process an Order to Seal from the date it is received.
Several misdemeanor offenses carry a five-year waiting period before they qualify for sealing. These include Class A misdemeanor Negligent Homicide, Battery in the 3rd Degree, Indecent Exposure, Public Sexual Indecency, Sexual Assault in the 4th Degree, Domestic Battering in the 3rd Degree, and misdemeanor Driving or Boating While Intoxicated. ACIC cannot advise you on which Order to Seal form applies to a specific situation. If you're unsure, Arkansas Legal Aid at 1-800-952-9243 can provide guidance.
The Arkansas Secretary of State maintains official government records and provides access to business filings, notary information, and other public documents subject to Arkansas FOIA.
While the Secretary of State office does not handle criminal records directly, it provides official records about state agencies and entities whose documents fall under Arkansas public records law.
Legal Help and Additional Resources
Several organizations provide legal help related to criminal records in Arkansas. Legal Aid of Arkansas serves low-income residents outside of central Arkansas at 870-972-9224. The Center for Arkansas Legal Services covers central Arkansas at 501-376-3423. Both organizations can help with questions about accessing records, expungement, and challenging inaccurate criminal history. The State Bar of Arkansas runs a lawyer referral service at 501-375-4606 for those who need private counsel.
The Arkansas VINE system, reachable at 1-800-510-0415, provides victim notification about custody status changes for inmates. Users can register online to receive automatic alerts when a specific person's custody status changes. This is a free service run through the state's criminal justice network.
CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is the official statewide case search system, covering all circuit and district court filings across Arkansas's 75 counties at no charge.
Note: For the most accurate and current criminal history information, verify records through official state sources like the Arkansas State Police or the Arkansas Judiciary CourtConnect system rather than relying solely on third-party aggregators.
Browse Arkansas Criminal Records by County
Each of Arkansas's 75 counties maintains criminal records through the circuit clerk and county sheriff's office. Select a county below to find local contact information, online search tools, and resources for criminal records in that area.
Find Criminal Records in Arkansas Cities
Residents of major Arkansas cities file cases at the circuit court in their county. Select a city below to find out which agencies hold criminal records for that area and how to access them.