Arkansas Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find Arkansas criminal records, arrest records, court records, inmate information, and the public sex offender registry, and how Arkansas background-check and record-sealing laws work. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official Arkansas sources, and it points you to the state and county agencies that hold each type of record. You can also start a name search using the tool on this page.

Are criminal records public in Arkansas?

Most adult criminal records in Arkansas are public under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Arkansas Code § 25-19-101 et seq. Court case records, arrest records, and inmate information are generally open to any member of the public. Important exceptions apply: records that have been sealed under the Comprehensive Criminal Record Sealing Act of 2013 are shielded from public view, juvenile records are generally confidential, and the detailed statewide criminal history file maintained by the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) is restricted to criminal justice agencies and authorized purposes, not released to the general public on demand.

How do I look up a criminal record in Arkansas?

There are three practical ways to look up an Arkansas criminal record:

• Online Open Criminal History search (ARCH). The Arkansas State Police offers an Open Criminal History (ARCH) name search for personal inquiries and other non-mandated purposes, for a fee of $24 per name. This returns conviction and other publicly available history statewide. The search is available through the Arkansas State Police Criminal Background Checks page.
• Court case search. The Arkansas Judiciary's Search ARCourts portal (which replaced the older CourtConnect system) lets you search public case information by name or case number for courts using the Contexte case management system. Some courts provide additional case detail; others provide statistical information only.
• A name-search tool like the one on this page, which compiles public-record data from court, county, and statewide sources into one report. These tools are for personal knowledge only and are not a substitute for an official state record review or an FCRA-compliant background check.

The ACIC also offers a consent-based Criminal Background Check ($22 per search) for mandated or consent-based searches. A fingerprint-based check is the only way to confirm a record truly belongs to a specific person; a name search can return results belonging to someone else.

Are arrest records public in Arkansas?

Yes, arrest records are public in Arkansas under FOIA. They include booking information, the arresting agency, charges filed, date of arrest, and basic identifying details. Arrest records are kept by the arresting agency, such as the local police department or a county sheriff's office. An arrest record documents that a person was taken into custody; it is not proof of guilt or conviction. Under federal law (the FCRA), a background-check company that serves employment or housing purposes generally may not report an arrest that did not result in a conviction after seven years.

How do I find court records in Arkansas?

The starting point for statewide court records is the Arkansas Judiciary's Search ARCourts portal. It covers courts using the Contexte case management system and allows searches by name or case number. For courts not yet on Contexte, the older Public CourtConnect system at caseinfo.arcourts.gov remains available. To obtain actual case documents or certified copies, contact the circuit court clerk in the county where the case was filed. Under Administrative Order 8, all Arkansas circuit courts must provide at least statistical case information through Search ARCourts.

How do I look up warrants in Arkansas?

Warrants in Arkansas are issued by circuit courts or district courts. The easiest places to check for an outstanding warrant are the county sheriff's office or the clerk of the court where charges would be filed. Many county sheriffs post warrant information on their websites. The Search ARCourts portal may also reflect open cases connected to an active warrant. Active warrants can surface on third-party background reports, but the issuing court or county is the authoritative source.

Do arrests show up on background checks in Arkansas?

It depends on the type of check. For employment, tenant, and credit screening run through a consumer reporting agency, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) controls what can be reported. Under the FCRA, arrest records that did not result in a conviction generally cannot be reported once they are more than seven years old. Arkansas has not enacted a state-level "ban the box" law restricting when employers may ask about criminal history, so Arkansas employers may inquire at any point in the hiring process, subject to FCRA requirements if they use a consumer reporting agency.

How far back does a criminal background check go in Arkansas?

Arkansas does not have a state law limiting how far back a background check may go beyond the federal FCRA baseline. Under the federal FCRA, consumer reporting agencies generally may not report non-conviction information (such as arrests that did not lead to conviction) older than seven years; however, convictions may be reported without a time limit. Because Arkansas has not added a stricter state rule, a background-check company can report a conviction from any year. The seven-year federal limit applies to non-convictions only, not to convictions.

How do I find someone in jail or prison in Arkansas?

It depends on where the person is held:

• State prison (Arkansas Division of Correction). Use the Arkansas Department of Corrections Inmate Search to look up someone in state custody. You can search by name, ADC number, county, facility, offense category, age, gender, or race. The site also allows download of the full inmate database.
• County jail. People awaiting trial or serving shorter sentences are held in a county jail. Check the relevant county sheriff's online jail roster.
• Federal custody. For federal cases, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator rather than the state system.

How do I find out if someone is on probation or parole in Arkansas?

Parole and post-release supervision in Arkansas are managed by the Arkansas Department of Corrections Division of Community Correction. A person's supervision status may appear in the state inmate search or through the Arkansas VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) system at VINELink.com, which also covers county jail offenders. Probation is imposed and overseen by the sentencing court through the local probation office, so the court's case records are the most direct source. Probation allows a person to serve their sentence in the community under court-set conditions rather than in custody.

What crimes are felonies in Arkansas?

A felony is the most serious category of crime in Arkansas, generally punishable by more than one year in prison. Arkansas uses five felony classes under Arkansas Code § 5-4-401:

• Class Y felony (most serious): 10 to 40 years or life in prison. Examples include capital murder and rape.
• Class A felony: 6 to 30 years in prison and a fine up to $15,000.
• Class B felony: 5 to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $15,000.
• Class C felony: 3 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
• Class D felony (least serious): up to 6 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Some offenses are unclassified felonies with sentences set in the specific statute. Prior conviction enhancements can significantly increase these ranges.

What crimes are misdemeanors in Arkansas?

Misdemeanors are less serious offenses tried in district or circuit court and punishable by county jail time rather than state prison. Arkansas Code § 5-4-401 establishes three classes:

• Class A misdemeanor (most serious): up to one year in county jail and a fine up to $2,500. Examples include third-offense DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) and certain assault offenses.
• Class B misdemeanor: up to 90 days in jail and a fine up to $1,000.
• Class C misdemeanor (least serious): up to 30 days in jail and a fine up to $500.

Some misdemeanors are unclassified; for those, the penalty is set in the individual statute.

Are traffic violations crimes in Arkansas?

Many routine traffic violations in Arkansas are infractions punishable by a fine only, with no jail time. More serious driving offenses are treated as misdemeanors or felonies. DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) in Arkansas can be a misdemeanor for a first offense and escalates to a felony for repeat offenders. A DWI conviction creates a criminal record and will appear on background checks. Minor speed and equipment infractions generally do not create a criminal record.

Is the sex offender registry public in Arkansas?

Yes. The Arkansas Sex Offender Registry, maintained by the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC), is public and searchable online. Under Arkansas law, Level 3 and Level 4 offenders are publicly listed, as are Level 2 offenders who were 18 or older and had a victim aged 14 or younger at the time of offense. As of June 2026, there are approximately 20,400 registered sex offenders in Arkansas. You can search the registry by name or address through the Arkansas.gov Sex Offender Registry Search. Level 1 offenders are generally not shown on the public-facing portal.

Can someone be removed from the Arkansas sex offender registry?

Yes, under certain conditions. Under Arkansas Code § 12-12-919, a registered sex offender who is not subject to lifetime registration may apply to the sentencing court for termination of the registration obligation after 15 years from the date the person first registered in Arkansas, provided they have not been convicted of another sex offense during that period and can show they are not likely to pose a threat to the safety of others. Lifetime registration is required for aggravated sex offenders, Level 4 sexually dangerous persons, repeat sex offenders, and those convicted of rape by forcible compulsion. If a petition is denied, the person must wait three years before filing again.

How do I seal or expunge my criminal record in Arkansas?

Arkansas uses a record sealing process rather than traditional expungement. Sealing shields the record from public view but does not destroy it; law enforcement and certain agencies retain access. The governing law is the Comprehensive Criminal Record Sealing Act of 2013, codified at Arkansas Code § 16-90-1401 et seq. Key points:

• Eligible felonies (after completing the sentence): Class C and Class D felonies, certain drug-related Class A and Class B felony offenses under § 5-64-401 et seq., unclassified felonies with a maximum sentence of 10 years or less, and felonies committed before age 18 that did not involve violence. The petitioner generally must have no more than one prior felony conviction.
• Ineligible felonies: Class Y felonies, most Class A and Class B felonies (except drug offenses), manslaughter, any felony sex offense, felonies involving violence under § 5-4-501(d)(2), and felonies for which any prison time was served in the Department of Correction.
• Misdemeanor waiting periods: Most misdemeanors can be petitioned for sealing immediately after sentence completion. A 5-year wait applies to specific offenses including third-degree battery, negligent homicide (Class A misdemeanor), indecent exposure, and fourth-degree sexual assault. A 10-year wait applies to misdemeanor DWI convictions.
• Petition process: File in the court that handled the original case. You will need your Judgment and Commitment Order from the court clerk. There is a filing fee; the court reviews and decides the petition.

Do I need a lawyer to seal my record in Arkansas?

You are not legally required to hire an attorney to petition for record sealing in Arkansas, and the court clerk can provide the relevant forms. However, the eligibility rules are detailed, some offenses have layered requirements, and a procedural error can delay or defeat your petition. Many people work with an attorney or a free legal-aid clinic, particularly for felony-level cases, to improve the likelihood of success. The Arkansas Legal Aid organization publishes self-help guidance on record sealing for those who prefer to proceed on their own.

How long does a felony stay on your record in Arkansas?

An Arkansas felony conviction stays on your record permanently unless you successfully petition for it to be sealed under the Comprehensive Criminal Record Sealing Act. There is no automatic erasure after any set period. For eligible Class C and Class D felonies, a sealing petition can be filed once the sentence is complete. For ineligible felonies (Class Y, most Class A/B, violent offenses), the record is permanent. Note that the federal FCRA seven-year rule limits what a consumer reporting agency may report for certain non-conviction items, but it does not erase the underlying conviction record.

Are juvenile records private in Arkansas?

Juvenile records in Arkansas are generally confidential and not available to the general public. They are accessible to the courts, law enforcement, prosecutors, and certain authorized agencies. Most juvenile adjudications are automatically shielded from public access, and a juvenile tried within the juvenile system is not treated as a convicted criminal. The main exception is when a juvenile is tried as an adult, in which case the adult court's records are treated as adult criminal records. Eligible sealed juvenile records may also be subject to further expungement proceedings under separate provisions of Arkansas law.

Pulaski County criminal records

Pulaski County, home to Little Rock, is the most populous county in Arkansas. Pulaski County court records are public and can be searched through the statewide Search ARCourts portal. You can also contact the Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk directly at 401 West Markham Street, Suite 103, Little Rock, AR 72201. The clerk's office provides certified copies of court documents for $5.00 each. The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office Records Division at 2900 S. Woodrow in Little Rock maintains arrest records, incident reports, and police reports; call (501) 340-6600 to request records.

Official Arkansas criminal record sources

• Arkansas State Police: Criminal Background Checks - consent-based ($22) and open criminal history ($24) searches through the Arkansas State Police.
• Arkansas Judiciary Search ARCourts - statewide public case information portal for courts using the Contexte case management system.
• Arkansas Department of Corrections Inmate Search - look up people in Arkansas state prison by name, ADC number, county, facility, or offense.
• Arkansas Sex Offender Registry Search (Arkansas.gov) - free public search of the ACIC sex offender registry by name or address.
• Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC): Sex Offender Information - registry statistics, level definitions, and registration requirements.
• Pulaski County Circuit Clerk: County Records - court record search and certified copy requests for Arkansas's most populous county.
• Arkansas Code § 16-90-1401 et seq. (Comprehensive Criminal Record Sealing Act of 2013) - the statute governing record sealing for convictions.
• Arkansas Code § 5-4-401 (Sentences) - official felony and misdemeanor penalty ranges.

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). An arrest record or mugshot is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about Arkansas public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.