Arkansas Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records
Arkansas Criminal Records Search: Free Court Cases, Criminal Dockets, Arrest Records and Background Checks
To search Arkansas criminal records, start with the official Search ARCourts portal operated by the Arkansas Judiciary. This free service provides available criminal case information from Arkansas Circuit Courts and participating District Courts, including charges, dispositions, court events and some public documents.
For a statewide criminal-history report rather than a court docket, the Arkansas State Police offers two different services: Arkansas Criminal History (ARCH) for qualifying public searches and the Criminal Background Check (CBC) system for authorized searches involving written consent or statutory screening requirements.
Where Can I Search Arkansas Criminal Records Online?
The best official website depends on whether you need a specific court case, criminal-history information, an arrest record or an inmate’s current location.
Search ARCourts
Search available Circuit and participating District Court cases by participant name, case number or other supported criteria.
Open Case SearchArkansas Criminal History – ARCH
Request qualifying public Arkansas criminal-history information without the subject’s written consent. The fee is $24 per search.
Open ARCHArkansas State Police CBC
Use the authorized criminal-history system when legally required or when you have the subject’s signed written consent.
Open CBCCircuit and District Court Clerks
Request certified judgments, sentences, dispositions or available filings from the court where the criminal case was handled.
Find Circuit ClerkArkansas Department of Corrections
Find available information about people held in Arkansas state correctional facilities using the department’s inmate search.
Find an InmateACIC Sex Offender Registry
Search publicly reportable Arkansas sex offender registration information by name, address, county or other geographic criteria.
Open Official RegistryHow to Search Arkansas Criminal Court Records for Free
The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts introduced Search ARCourts as the modern replacement for Public CourtConnect.
The system is designed to make publicly available court information easier to find through name searches, case-number searches, advanced filtering and links to certain public documents.
Search Arkansas criminal cases by a person’s name
- Open Search ARCourts. Visit the official Arkansas Judiciary portal at caseinfonew.arcourts.gov/opad.
- Select Participants. The public search supports finding cases through participant information, including an individual’s name.
- Enter the person’s name. Use the First Name and Last Name fields. Add a middle name when available to narrow common-name results.
- Use advanced search if needed. The judiciary provides additional search controls for narrowing results, including available county, court or case-related filters.
- Run the search. Review the returned cases and identify the court location, participant, case type and other available information.
- Open the matching case. Select the correct record and review the available case details, docket entries, charges and disposition.
- Check for public documents. Some cases include links to available filings and orders. Not every document or case will be accessible online.
- Contact the filing court when necessary. If the online information is incomplete or you need certification, request the record from the appropriate court clerk.
Search by Arkansas criminal case number
If you already have a case number, use the Cases search option instead of the participant-name search.
The judiciary’s Search ARCourts instructions explain that the case search supports case-number and citation-number lookups, with additional filters for filing date, case type, county and court location.
When available, entering the complete case number is usually more accurate than trying multiple variations of a person’s name.
How to narrow a broad Arkansas court search
| Search Filter | When to Use It | Practical Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Participant Name | Case number unknown | Use the correct legal first and last name |
| Case Number | Court papers identify the case | Enter the complete number from the document |
| County | You know where the prosecution was filed | Distinguish the filing county from the person’s residence |
| Court Location | Multiple courts operate in the county | Choose the specific court when known |
| Case Type | Search returns civil and criminal records | Narrow to the available criminal case classification |
| Filing Date Range | You know the approximate year | Use a realistic interval rather than only one date |
Which Arkansas Criminal Courts Are Included in Search ARCourts?
The statewide search has broad coverage, but that does not mean every Arkansas courthouse provides identical public information.
The judiciary explains that all Circuit Courts provide required case statistical information, while most provide additional case details through the Contexte case-management system. Only some District Courts currently provide case information through that platform.
Arkansas Circuit Courts
Circuit Courts are general-jurisdiction trial courts. They handle felony prosecutions and certain other criminal matters, as well as civil, probate, domestic relations and juvenile divisions.
For an Arkansas felony conviction or sentencing judgment, Circuit Court is normally the principal court record source.
Circuit Court InformationArkansas District Courts
District Courts handle traffic offenses, misdemeanors, ordinance violations and preliminary proceedings in felony matters.
Some District Court cases can be found through Search ARCourts; others require contacting the specific court.
District Court InformationWhy Circuit and District Court records may differ
An Arkansas felony allegation may begin with a preliminary proceeding in District Court and later move to Circuit Court for prosecution.
As a result, the same incident can generate more than one court record. A District Court docket may show the original criminal complaint, while Circuit Court contains the later felony proceedings and final judgment.
A dismissal or transfer recorded in one court should not automatically be treated as the outcome of every related charge.
What if your District Court does not appear in the statewide portal?
Arkansas’s court technology modernization is ongoing. The Administrative Office of the Courts reported additional District Court criminal and traffic functionality in beta development during 2026.
If the District Court you need is not represented in Search ARCourts, contact that court’s clerk directly rather than assuming the criminal case does not exist.
How to Read Arkansas Criminal Case Dockets and Dispositions
A criminal court docket records the progress of a prosecution. Search ARCourts can display available parties, judicial officers, filings, criminal charges, future events, dispositions and judgments.
These entries help distinguish a criminal accusation from a conviction.
| Docket Entry | Meaning | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Complaint | A formal accusation of criminal conduct | Whether charges were prosecuted or dismissed |
| Information | A formal charging document filed by a prosecutor | Final charges and disposition |
| Arraignment | A proceeding addressing the charge and plea | Subsequent hearings and case outcome |
| Preliminary Hearing | A proceeding related to whether felony allegations should move forward | Whether the matter proceeded to Circuit Court |
| Motion | A request for the court to make a legal ruling | Whether the request was granted or denied |
| Nolle Prosequi | The prosecutor declines to continue a charge under applicable procedure | Exact final court entry and other charges |
| Dismissed | A charge or case was dismissed | Which counts were dismissed and whether any remain |
| Guilty Plea or Verdict | A plea or adjudication concerning guilt | Formal judgment and sentence |
| Judgment and Commitment Order | A formal record of conviction and sentence when applicable | Whether a later modification or appeal affected it |
| Order to Seal | An order restricting public access under Arkansas law | Scope of the order and affected records |
What counts as an Arkansas criminal conviction?
The legal effect of a plea, judgment or diversion program depends on the applicable Arkansas statute and the court’s actual order.
Do not assume that an arrest, citation, initial criminal charge or preliminary hearing establishes guilt.
When an official outcome is required, obtain the court’s final judgment or dismissal order rather than relying only on the opening docket description.
Why some court documents cannot be viewed online
Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order 19 governs access to court records. Some information is excluded from ordinary public Internet access, including certain confidential, sealed or protected records.
Search ARCourts may provide a docket entry for a document without giving public access to the document itself.
When you need an actual filing, ask the responsible court clerk whether it is public and available for inspection or copying.
Arkansas Criminal Records by County: Official Circuit Clerk Contacts
Arkansas has 75 counties, and criminal case files remain associated with the court where they were filed. A statewide search can help locate a case, but the local court clerk is often needed for certified documents, old files and record corrections.
The following contacts are listed in the Arkansas Judiciary’s official Circuit Clerks directory.
| County | City and Clerk Address | Telephone | Judicial Circuit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pulaski County | 401 West Markham, Suite 100 Little Rock, AR 72201 |
501-340-8500 | Sixth Judicial Circuit |
| Benton County | 102 NE A Street Bentonville, AR 72712 |
479-271-1015 | Nineteenth West Judicial Circuit |
| Washington County | 280 N. College Avenue, Suite 302 Fayetteville, AR 72701 |
479-444-1538 | Fourth Judicial Circuit |
| Sebastian County | P.O. Box 1179 Fort Smith, AR 72901 |
479-782-1046 | Twelfth Judicial Circuit |
| Garland County | 501 Ouachita Avenue, Suite 207 Hot Springs, AR 71901 |
501-622-3630 | Eighteenth East Judicial Circuit |
| Faulkner County | P.O. Box 9 Conway, AR 72034 |
501-450-4911 | Twentieth Judicial Circuit |
| Craighead County | 511 S. Main Street Jonesboro, AR 72401 |
870-933-4530 | Second Judicial Circuit |
| Saline County | 200 North Main Street Benton, AR 72015 |
501-303-5615 | Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit |
Common county-search situations
Little Rock or North Little Rock criminal case
Begin with Search ARCourts and identify whether the case is filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court or a local District Court.
For a Pulaski County Circuit Court judgment, contact the Circuit Clerk in Little Rock.
Fayetteville or Springdale criminal case
Use Washington County as an initial county filter for a qualifying Circuit Court criminal case.
For misdemeanor or traffic proceedings, identify the specific District Court that handled the charge.
Bentonville or Rogers criminal case
Start with the statewide portal and Benton County. Felony cases may be maintained by the Benton County Circuit Clerk.
District Court matters may require a separate local clerk request if they are not included in the portal.
Fort Smith criminal case
Search Sebastian County and check the court location. Do not assume that every misdemeanor or traffic case appears in the Circuit Court record.
The Sebastian County Circuit Clerk can assist with qualifying Circuit Court criminal documents.
How to Obtain Certified Arkansas Criminal Court Records
An online criminal docket is useful for research, but an employer, court, immigration authority or licensing organization may require an official certified judgment or another document issued by the original court.
For felony Circuit Court cases, contact the county Circuit Clerk. For District Court misdemeanor or traffic files, contact that particular District Court’s clerk.
Requesting a certified Arkansas criminal disposition
- Find the case number. Search the official Arkansas Judiciary portal and record the full number, filing county and court.
- Identify the final outcome. Review the publicly available docket to determine whether you need a conviction judgment, sentence, dismissal or another order.
- Find the correct records custodian. Use the Circuit Clerks directory for Circuit Court files or the District Court directory for the lower-court record.
- Ask what the institution requires. A certified copy of the judgment is different from an ordinary docket printout or court-record search.
- Submit the records request. Provide the court, case number, name, document requested and contact information using the clerk’s accepted process.
- Confirm fees and payment. Ask for the applicable copying, search or certification charges before paying.
- Review the certified document. Check the defendant, docket number, order date and certification before using it for an official purpose.
What are Arkansas criminal court copy fees?
Copy and certification charges vary by the service requested. Arkansas Code §21-6-402 establishes several Circuit Clerk fees, including a statutory charge for a certificate and seal.
However, the statute distinguishes certification, authentication, preparation of transcripts and other services. There is not one statewide flat price covering every ordinary copy of every criminal case document.
For a specific request, obtain the fee directly from the filing court.
What if the Arkansas criminal case is very old?
Older case files may be stored in archives, maintained outside the electronic case-management system or indexed differently from recent filings.
If Search ARCourts returns no result, ask the relevant court clerk about historical criminal docket books, archived judgments and the court’s records-retention practices.
Provide the person’s legal name, approximate filing or conviction year and as much case information as available.
Arkansas ARCH Criminal History Search: $24 Public Background Check
The Arkansas State Police provides the Arkansas Criminal History (ARCH) system for qualifying public criminal-history searches.
ARCH was established under Arkansas Code §12-12-1501 and related provisions. It allows a person to search available Arkansas criminal-history information without obtaining the subject’s written consent, subject to the system’s lawful-use rules.
How to search ARCH criminal records
- Open the ARCH website. Visit arch.ark.org and review the system’s official instructions and fees.
- Enter payment and contact details. ARCH accepts credit or debit cards. Provide the email address needed for the receipt and downloadable result link.
- Enter the subject’s information. The system requires the person’s legal first name, last name, sex and complete date of birth.
- Check the identifying details. An incorrect legal name or date of birth can cause the search to miss the correct person or return unrelated matches.
- Confirm the $24 charge. The fee is nonrefundable, including when the search returns no record.
- Review potential matches. The system can return more than one possible candidate for common identifying information.
- Choose the correct result. One result can be viewed as part of the initial search. Opening additional individual results incurs an additional $24 charge per result.
- Download the PDF. Keep the receipt and use the available download link to save the result.
What criminal records does ARCH show?
ARCH’s published scope is narrower than a complete law-enforcement or court file.
| Record Category | ARCH Availability | Important Note |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas felony convictions | Included when reported and disclosable | Depends on accurate state criminal-history reporting |
| Arkansas misdemeanor convictions | Included when reported and disclosable | Not every local court entry necessarily appears in ARCH |
| Open Arkansas felony arrests | Included if less than three years old | An unresolved arrest is not a conviction |
| Qualifying sex offender registration status | Included | Subject to the system’s public reporting rules |
| Juvenile records | Not included | Separate confidentiality laws apply |
| Dismissed arrests and charges | Not included in the ordinary ARCH result | Some related public court information may still exist |
| Unresolved misdemeanor arrests | Not included | Use the relevant court or authorized record process |
| Sealed records | Not included | Authorized agencies may have separate lawful access |
| Federal or out-of-state history | Not included | ARCH searches Arkansas information only |
What do the three ARCH outcomes mean?
The system can report that the submitted subject was identified with criminal history, identified without criminal history, or could not be identified.
A No Subject Identified result is different from an identified person having no reported history.
For example, a person who has never held an Arkansas driver’s license and has never been fingerprinted for an Arkansas arrest might not be found in the databases queried by ARCH.
Does ARCH provide certified criminal histories?
No. ARCH specifically states that certified criminal-history results are not issued through this online public search.
For a certified state criminal-history request, contact the Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau:
Arkansas State Police – Identification Bureau
Address: One State Police Plaza Drive, Little Rock, AR 72209
Main telephone: 501-618-8000
Official service information: Arkansas State Police Criminal Background Checks
Arkansas State Police CBC: Authorized Criminal Background Checks
The State Police operates a separate Online Criminal Background Check (CBC) system for authorized criminal-history requests.
This system is intended for persons or organizations legally permitted or required to perform a check, including qualifying requests made with signed written consent from the subject.
National/FBI fingerprint-based checks are restricted to persons and entities specifically authorized by state or federal law.
Current Arkansas CBC fees
| Service | Published Fee | Who Can Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Online Arkansas name-based criminal-history check | $22 | Authorized users with required consent or statutory authority |
| Qualifying volunteer Arkansas check | $11 | Qualifying volunteer screening requests |
| National/FBI fingerprint-based check | $16 | Entities specifically authorized for FBI information |
| Qualifying volunteer National/FBI check | $14 | Eligible volunteer-related authorized checks |
| Mail-in Arkansas background check | $25 | Qualifying applicants using the proper State Police request form |
These are the amounts published by the Arkansas CBC website in October 2026. Account-related charges, fingerprint collection costs or agency-specific screening arrangements may add other expenses.
How to perform an authorized online background check
- Determine your legal authorization. Confirm whether the check is required by law or supported by the subject’s signed written consent.
- Open the official CBC website. Use cbc.ark.org rather than the public ARCH search.
- Register or sign in. The online CBC service requires a Tyler Arkansas account.
- Choose the authorized search category. Select the correct state, volunteer or FBI-related service for the permitted purpose.
- Enter the individual’s identifying details. Follow the system’s data requirements and confirm accuracy before submitting.
- Submit payment and the request. Review the fee and applicable account or processing charges.
- Handle the returned information lawfully. Use the results only for the authorized purpose and under any applicable privacy or screening laws.
Arkansas background check by mail
State Police provides Form ASP-122 for qualifying individual record-check requests.
The published instructions require a properly completed form and a $25 check or money order payable to the Arkansas State Police. Do not send cash.
For an Arkansas-only check under this process, the State Police says a fingerprint card is not required.
If the screening is mandated for licensing, education, nursing, childcare or another regulated purpose, use the exact form specified by the responsible authority.
Arkansas Prison Inmate Search and County Jail Records
The Arkansas Department of Corrections provides public inmate information through the Division of Correction.
The official search can help locate qualifying individuals held in Arkansas state correctional facilities.
How to search Arkansas state inmates
- Open the Department of Corrections Online Services Center. Choose the Inmate Search service from the official website.
- Enter the inmate’s name or other identifier. Use the available search criteria, including an ADC number when known.
- Apply additional filters where available. The department provides options involving county, facility, offense category and other inmate information.
- Review possible matches. Compare identifying information rather than relying solely on a name.
- Open the inmate details. Review publicly displayed facility, custody or sentence-related information.
- Verify time-sensitive details. Contact the Department of Corrections when an exact release or current-custody status is important.
Does the statewide inmate search include county jails?
Not as a complete statewide county-jail directory.
People arrested recently may be held in a county detention facility before transfer to a state prison or while awaiting trial.
For a county jail booking, contact the sheriff or detention center in the county responsible for the arrest or custody.
For example, jail records in Pulaski, Benton, Washington, Sebastian or Garland County may be maintained through separate county-operated inmate systems.
Arkansas Sex Offender Registry Search
The Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) maintains the official public Sex Offender Registry Search.
The service supports available searches by name and geographic information, including address, city, county and ZIP code.
How to search the Arkansas registry
- Open the official ACIC registry website.
- Read and accept the public-access disclaimer.
- Choose name or location search.
- Enter the relevant name, address, city or ZIP code.
- Review the listed registration details and community-notification information.
- Contact ACIC if you believe public registration data is inaccurate.
Why the registry may not list every registered offender
Arkansas uses community-notification levels, and not every registrant appears in the public online system.
The registry includes publishable Level 3 and Level 4 offenders and certain Level 2 offenders under the statute’s specific conditions.
People awaiting final assessment may also be absent from the public website.
Arkansas Criminal Record Sealing and Expungement Procedures
Arkansas commonly uses the legal term sealing rather than expungement for adult criminal-record relief.
Under the Comprehensive Criminal Record Sealing Act of 2013 and other applicable provisions, qualifying arrests, dismissals, misdemeanors and certain felony convictions may be sealed through a petition and court order.
Sealing generally restricts public access rather than physically destroying every underlying record.
Which Arkansas records may qualify for sealing?
| Record Situation | General Rule | Important Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying dismissed or acquitted case | Potential sealing relief | Use the form applicable to the exact disposition |
| Eligible misdemeanor or violation | Many can be petitioned after completion of statutory conditions | Certain listed offenses have additional waiting periods |
| Specified misdemeanor violent or sexual offenses | Five-year waiting period can apply | Includes particular offenses listed in Arkansas Code §16-90-1405 |
| Misdemeanor DWI or boating while intoxicated | Special timing rules apply | Check the applicable lookback period under current law |
| Eligible nonviolent Class C or D felony | May qualify after completion of the sentence | Statutory exclusions and other requirements apply |
| Certain first-offender or diversion cases | Special dismissal-and-sealing provisions may apply | Use the specific first-offender or program-related forms |
How to seal an Arkansas criminal record
- Obtain your judgment or case disposition. Use Search ARCourts and the responsible court clerk to identify the conviction, dismissal and sentence details.
- Review eligibility. Check the specific misdemeanor, felony, nonconviction or first-offender sealing law.
- Download the official ACIC forms. The Arkansas Crime Information Center provides separate petitions and proposed orders for different record categories.
- Complete the correct petition. Include the case number, arrest and offense information required by the form.
- File with the appropriate court. For qualifying convictions, the petition is generally filed with the Circuit or District Court in the county where the conviction occurred.
- Serve the required parties. Follow the statute’s prosecutor notice and any other service requirements. Arkansas Code §16-90-1413 includes a three-day service requirement for specified petitions.
- Allow the statutory response process. The prosecuting attorney has a defined period to oppose eligible misdemeanor or felony petitions. The court may hold a hearing when required.
- Obtain the uniform signed Order to Seal. The uniform order must be entered for the covered sealing process to become effective.
- Confirm the state record update. The clerk forwards qualifying certified orders to the required criminal-justice agencies. ACIC’s published guidance allows it 30 days from receipt to complete an order.
Is there an Arkansas criminal record sealing filing fee?
Legal Aid of Arkansas explains that under Act 680 of 2019, no filing fee is required for the qualifying petitions it discusses.
Obtaining certified judgments, criminal-history information or legal assistance can still involve separate costs.
Ask the court clerk whether any other expense applies to your particular proceeding before filing.
How long does the prosecutor have to object?
Arkansas Code §16-90-1413 provides a 30-day period for the prosecutor to file opposition in the specified misdemeanor and felony sealing procedures, calculated according to the statute.
If opposition is filed, a hearing or additional judicial consideration may be required.
Do not assume a petition is granted automatically once the response period passes. The required uniform order must still be entered.
What if the sealed criminal record still appears?
Confirm that the uniform Order to Seal was signed and entered, that the clerk transmitted the necessary certified copies, and that ACIC received the order.
ACIC provides instructions for reviewing inaccurate criminal history and submitting completed sealing orders.
Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC)
Address: 322 S. Main Street, Suite 615, Little Rock, AR 72201
Telephone: 501-682-2222
Official criminal-history and sealing forms: ACIC Criminal History Forms
Arkansas Criminal Traffic Cases and eTraffic Payments
Traffic citations and related criminal charges may appear in participating Arkansas District Courts.
The Arkansas Judiciary operates a separate eTraffic service for paying qualifying tickets and payment plans.
How to pay a qualifying Arkansas citation
- Open the judiciary’s eTraffic payment website.
- Enter the citation number or payment-plan number.
- Confirm that the ticket belongs to a participating court.
- Review the amount due and processing fee.
- Submit payment only when the violation is eligible for online payment.
Why a traffic ticket may be missing
Arkansas Judiciary states that some courts are not participating in eTraffic. It may also take up to a week for the court to receive a citation from law enforcement.
Certain violations, including Driving While Intoxicated, require a court appearance and cannot simply be resolved through online ticket payment.
Arkansas Criminal Records Search Problems and Solutions
A search returning no record does not establish that a person has never been arrested or prosecuted in Arkansas.
| Problem | Likely Explanation | What to Do Next |
|---|---|---|
| Old Public CourtConnect link is not working | Arkansas is moving users to Search ARCourts | Use the official Judiciary Search ARCourts gateway |
| Misdemeanor not shown in the statewide search | Some District Courts are not included at the same level of detail | Contact the specific District Court clerk |
| Felony appears as a preliminary District Court matter | The case may have proceeded to Circuit Court | Search the corresponding Circuit Court criminal record |
| Docket entry appears but document cannot be viewed | Not every public document is published online | Request the document from the court clerk |
| ARCH returns No Subject Identified | Incorrect identity data or no match in the queried state databases | Check spelling and birth date; verify through an authorized process |
| ARCH lists several possible matches | Name and birth-date searches can be ambiguous | Verify identifiers before paying for additional reports |
| ARCH shows no conviction but a court case exists | Different disclosure scope, an unreported disposition or an ineligible case category | Review the final court judgment and reporting status |
| A sealed record cannot be found | The court or state repository may restrict public access | Follow lawful authorized access or correction procedures |
| Person is absent from state inmate search | They may be held in county custody or another corrections system | Check the relevant county jail or custodial authority |
| Federal criminal charge not in Arkansas court search | Federal cases are maintained in a separate court system | Search PACER |
Correcting an inaccurate Arkansas criminal-history record
The Arkansas Crime Information Center provides an Authorization for Review of Criminal History form for individuals who believe their state record may be inaccurate.
ACIC explains that it does not issue public background checks and that, when a court disposition is incorrect or missing, the individual or attorney should contact the responsible court and arrange for correct documentation to be provided to ACIC.
Examples of issues that may need review include an incorrectly reported dismissal, a missing final judgment, an inaccurate charge or a sealed record not yet updated.
How to avoid unofficial records websites
When researching Arkansas records, be careful with websites that appear to use official-sounding names but are not operated by a state agency.
The Arkansas Judiciary’s primary domain is arcourts.gov. Its official case-search application is on an arcourts.gov subdomain. State Police criminal-history services are linked through dps.arkansas.gov, arch.ark.org and cbc.ark.org.
Federal Criminal Records and Arkansas Appellate Cases
Federal criminal cases in Arkansas
Federal criminal prosecutions are handled separately from Arkansas Circuit and District Courts.
Arkansas has two federal judicial districts: the Eastern District of Arkansas and the Western District of Arkansas.
Use the federal judiciary’s PACER Case Locator to find publicly accessible federal criminal cases when you do not know the precise federal court.
Arkansas criminal appeals
Criminal cases appealed from Arkansas trial courts may proceed to the Arkansas Court of Appeals or Arkansas Supreme Court, depending on jurisdiction and appellate procedure.
Appellate decisions and case information are available through the judiciary’s official resources.
Do not confuse a trial court judgment with a later appellate opinion. If a conviction was reversed, remanded or otherwise modified, both the appellate decision and subsequent trial court proceedings may be relevant.
Arkansas Criminal Records Search FAQs
How do I search Arkansas criminal records for free?
Use Search ARCourts, the Arkansas Judiciary’s official public case-search portal. Search by participant name or case number for publicly available Circuit Court and participating District Court cases. Court document and coverage availability varies.
What happened to Arkansas Public CourtConnect?
The Arkansas Judiciary is replacing Public CourtConnect with Search ARCourts. The new platform provides a modern interface, additional filters and public access to qualifying case information. Start from the Judiciary’s official Search ARCourts webpage.
Does Arkansas Search ARCourts include every District Court?
No. The Judiciary says all Circuit Courts provide required case statistical information, but only some District Courts provide information through Search ARCourts. If your misdemeanor or traffic case is missing, contact the filing District Court.
How much does an Arkansas criminal background check cost?
The public ARCH name-based criminal-history search costs $24. The authorized State Police CBC system lists $22 for a standard Arkansas state name-based check, while qualifying mail-in State Police requests cost $25.
Can I look up someone’s Arkansas criminal history without their consent?
The public ARCH system allows qualifying Arkansas criminal-history searches without written consent, subject to the state’s authorized-use rules. The separate CBC system requires written consent or statutory authority. Neither is a general nationwide background-check service.
What information does Arkansas ARCH include?
ARCH reports qualifying Arkansas felony and misdemeanor convictions, open Arkansas felony arrests less than three years old, and specified sex offender registration information. It excludes juvenile records, sealed convictions, certain nonconvictions and out-of-state records.
What does No Subject Identified mean on ARCH?
It means the search could not identify a person using the submitted information and the state databases queried. It is different from identifying a person who has no reported criminal history. Check identifying details before submitting another paid request.
How do I obtain a certified Arkansas criminal court record?
Contact the Circuit Clerk or District Court clerk where the case was filed. Provide the complete case number and request the certified judgment, dismissal order, disposition or other specific document needed. Copying and certification fees may apply.
Can I search Arkansas prison inmates online?
Yes. The Arkansas Department of Corrections provides an official state inmate search through its Online Services Center. County jail inmates may be held under separate sheriff or detention-center systems.
Where can I search Arkansas sex offenders?
Use the Arkansas Crime Information Center public Sex Offender Registry Search at sexoffenderregistry.ar.gov. It supports name and geographic searches for publishable offender information under Arkansas registration laws.
Can an Arkansas criminal record be expunged or sealed?
Some eligible criminal records can be sealed under Arkansas’s record-sealing laws. The Arkansas Crime Information Center provides uniform petitions and orders for qualifying misdemeanors, felonies, dismissals, arrests and special proceedings. Eligibility depends on the offense, disposition and statutory requirements.
What should I do when an Arkansas criminal case does not appear online?
Confirm the person’s legal name, filing county and court. If the case is from a District Court not fully included in Search ARCourts, or if it is older or otherwise restricted, contact the appropriate clerk directly. No online result is not proof that no case exists.
Official Arkansas Criminal Records Links and References
The following Arkansas Judiciary, State Police, ACIC and correctional resources support the search instructions and record-access details in this guide.
- Arkansas Judiciary – Official Search ARCourts Gateway
- Search ARCourts – Public Court Case Search
- Arkansas Judiciary – Search ARCourts Navigation Tips
- Arkansas Judiciary – Online Court Services
- Arkansas Judiciary – Circuit Court Jurisdiction
- Arkansas Judiciary – District Court Jurisdiction
- Arkansas Judiciary – Circuit Clerks for All Counties
- Arkansas Judiciary – Official Court Directories
- Arkansas Judiciary – eTraffic Instructions
- Arkansas Official Traffic Payment System
- Arkansas State Police – Criminal Background Check Options
- Arkansas Criminal History – ARCH Public Search
- Arkansas State Police – Authorized Criminal Background Check System
- Arkansas State Police – Background Check Forms and Mail Requests
- Arkansas Crime Information Center – Record Review and Sealing Forms
- Arkansas ACIC – Official Sex Offender Registry
- Arkansas Department of Corrections – Inmate and Online Services
- Legal Aid of Arkansas – Criminal Record Sealing Instructions
- Arkansas Code §16-90-1413 – Record Sealing Procedures
- Arkansas Code §16-90-1405 – Misdemeanor Sealing Eligibility
- Arkansas Code §16-90-1406 – Felony Sealing Eligibility
- PACER – Federal Criminal Court Records