Arkansas criminal records are decentralized -- meaning police hold incident and arrest reports, prosecutors keep charging files, and courts maintain their own dockets. There is no single free statewide portal that combines all of it. But if you know which tool covers which piece of the system, finding arrest information in Arkansas is straightforward. This guide breaks down the state's arrest record system, where to search, and what you are actually looking at when you find a record.
What Makes Arkansas Arrest Records Public
The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, codified at Arkansas Code Annotated Section 25-19-101 and following, grants citizens the right to inspect and copy public records maintained by state and local agencies. Arrest records fall squarely within that definition. Booking logs, arrest reports, and court case files are accessible to the public through the appropriate agencies unless a specific exemption applies.
The Arkansas Crime Information Center, known as ACIC, is the central repository for criminal history information in the state under Arkansas Code Section 12-12-1001 through 12-12-1019. ACIC maintains the statewide database of arrests, charges, and dispositions submitted by law enforcement agencies, courts, and correctional facilities across Arkansas. One important limitation: ACIC itself does not provide background checks directly to individuals. The public-facing tool is a separate system called ARCH.
Exemptions from public access include juvenile records, which are generally automatically sealed, sealed or expunged adult records, active criminal investigation records, and victim and witness identifying information. Records in an ongoing case that could compromise a fair trial may also be withheld.
What an Arkansas Arrest Record Contains
An arrest record is a booking document, not a verdict. It captures what law enforcement knew and charged at the time of arrest. It does not mean the person was found guilty of anything.
A typical Arkansas arrest record includes the person's full legal name, date of birth, and physical description. It lists the arresting agency, the date and location of the arrest, the charges filed at booking, the booking number, and bond or bail information where applicable. Booking photographs are part of the record and are generally accessible through county sheriff rosters.
One feature worth knowing about Arkansas: a felony conviction will not appear in a person's ACIC criminal history unless the sentencing court has provided the disposition to ACIC. This means the statewide criminal history database may be incomplete for older cases where dispositions were never submitted. Court records -- which are maintained separately -- often provide a more complete picture of how a case resolved.
What the arrest record does not capture automatically is what happened in court afterward. Dismissed charges, acquittals, and amended pleas are in court records, not in the arrest entry. The arrest persists in public databases unless sealed by court order.
How to Search Arkansas Arrest Records
The primary public-facing tool for a statewide name-based criminal history search is the Arkansas Criminal History system, known as ARCH, at arch.ark.org. Anyone can use ARCH -- you do not need the subject's consent or fingerprints for a basic name-based search. Each search costs $24, payable per query regardless of whether results are returned. You enter the person's name, sex, and date of birth, and the system pulls from the ACIC database. Results are not certified and are name-based, so they may not be perfectly accurate for common names. If you need a certified copy, that goes through the Arkansas State Police Criminal Records Division by mail using form ASP-122 with a $25 fee by money order or check.
For court records -- which often provide a more complete picture than the ACIC criminal history, particularly for case dispositions -- the Arkansas Courts online system at arcourts.gov provides a free searchable database of case filings, dockets, charges, and outcomes. This is the tool most researchers reach for first because it is free, requires no account, and covers court activity statewide.
County sheriff offices are the right tool for recent arrests, particularly anything in the past 24 to 72 hours. Each of Arkansas's 75 counties operates its own jail and most publish free online booking rosters. If you do not know which county the arrest occurred in, starting with TruthFinder is a practical approach -- it aggregates public record data across multiple sources and jurisdictions without requiring you to search county by county.
VINELink at vinelink.com provides real-time custody tracking and connects to both the state DOC system and many county facilities. You can register for free notifications when an individual's status changes -- transfer, release, or court date. It is particularly useful when you know someone was arrested but are not sure which facility currently holds them.
County Jail Records in Arkansas
Arkansas has 75 counties and each county sheriff manages the local detention facility. County jails hold people awaiting trial, those being processed after a recent arrest, and individuals serving short misdemeanor sentences. State criminal history systems and the ADC inmate database will not reflect a recent arrest -- county is where you start for the first several days after someone is taken into custody.
Most county sheriff offices in Arkansas publish free online inmate rosters. Pulaski County, which includes Little Rock, and Benton County in the northwest are among the counties with searchable online booking systems. For misdemeanor arrests, the county roster may be the only record that surfaces readily -- the ARCH statewide search focuses on felony history and may not reflect misdemeanor arrests from county jails not reported to ACIC.
When someone is convicted of a felony and sentenced to more than a year, they move from county custody into the Arkansas Department of Corrections. The ADC Inmate Population Information Search is the right tool at that point. It is a free online database at apps.ark.org where you can search by name, ADC number, county, facility, gender, offense category, age, or race. Results show the inmate's current facility, custody status, offense category, and projected release date where available. The ADC database covers only state prison inmates -- not county jail detainees or federal prisoners.
Federal Arrests in Arkansas
Federal arrests in Arkansas are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations. After sentencing on federal charges, individuals enter the Bureau of Prisons rather than the Arkansas DOC.
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for finding anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. For case-level records -- charging documents, indictments, and sentencing information -- the PACER system at pacer.gov provides access to federal court filings with a registered account.
Federal arrest records are not part of the ACIC database or the ARCH search system. An ARCH search will not surface federal charges. If the person was arrested on federal charges in Arkansas, start with PACER and the BOP locator.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
An arrest record documents that law enforcement took someone into custody based on probable cause. A conviction record documents a court's finding of guilt. They are not the same document and they are maintained by different agencies in Arkansas.
Charges can be dropped, cases dismissed, and juries acquit. In all of those situations the arrest entry persists in public databases unless the person pursues sealing through the courts. Because Arkansas's ACIC database depends on courts submitting dispositions, it is also possible for a conviction to appear in ARCH without a subsequent disposition entry reflecting the case outcome -- which is why cross-referencing with the Arkansas Courts system is worth doing.
An arrest record alone does not indicate guilt. It reflects a law enforcement action at a specific moment. What the court decided afterward is in a separate system.
A Note on Sealing in Arkansas
Arkansas uses sealing rather than traditional expungement to restrict public access to eligible criminal records. Sealing means the record is hidden from public view but not destroyed. Once sealed, the record is restricted from public searches and generally does not need to be disclosed on most job applications. Law enforcement and certain licensing boards retain access to sealed records.
Eligibility depends on the offense type, whether there was a conviction, and applicable waiting periods. The process involves filing a petition and order to seal with the circuit or district court in the county where the offense occurred. The prosecutor and arresting agency receive copies and have 30 days to file an opposition. If no opposition is filed or the court approves the petition, the judge signs the sealing order.
Most juvenile records in Arkansas are automatically sealed. Adult sealing is available for qualifying cases. InmateAid's guides on record sealing cover the general framework in more detail. If your booking photograph appeared on a county sheriff roster or third-party site, mugshot removal is a separate process addressed in InmateAid's resources on that topic.
Frequently asked questions
Are Arkansas arrest records public?
Yes. Under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act at ACA Section 25-19-101, arrest records are public records. Booking logs, arrest reports, and court filings are accessible through state and county agencies. Exemptions apply to juvenile records, sealed records, active investigation materials, and victim and witness information.
How do I search Arkansas arrest records?
The ARCH system at arch.ark.org provides a statewide name-based criminal history search for $24 per query -- no fingerprints required. The Arkansas Courts system at arcourts.gov is free and covers court case filings statewide, often more completely than ARCH for dispositions. For recent arrests, check the relevant county sheriff's website. For multi-source results, TruthFinder aggregates public record data across jurisdictions. For real-time custody status, VINELink at vinelink.com provides free notification registration.
What does an Arkansas arrest record contain?
A typical Arkansas arrest record includes the person's full legal name, date of birth, physical description, the arresting agency, the date and location of the arrest, charges filed at booking, booking number, and bond information. Booking photographs are generally accessible through county sheriff rosters. Note that ACIC criminal history records may be incomplete if courts did not submit dispositions -- the Arkansas Courts system often provides a fuller picture.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in Arkansas?
No. An arrest documents that someone was taken into custody. A conviction reflects a court's finding of guilt. You can have an Arkansas arrest record with no accompanying conviction if charges were dropped, the case was dismissed, or you were acquitted. The arrest entry remains in public databases regardless of the outcome unless the record is sealed.
How do I find someone in an Arkansas county jail?
Check the sheriff's office website for the county where the arrest occurred. Most Arkansas county sheriffs publish free online inmate rosters. If you do not know the county, VINELink at vinelink.com connects to many county facilities statewide and allows real-time status tracking and notification registration. For someone already sentenced to state prison, use the ADC Inmate Population Information Search at apps.ark.org.
Can I search federal arrest records in Arkansas?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official tool. Federal arrests are not part of the ACIC database or ARCH search system, so an ARCH query will not surface federal charges.
How long does an arrest stay on record in Arkansas?
Adult arrest records remain in Arkansas public databases indefinitely unless sealed by court order. Juvenile records are generally sealed automatically. Adult sealing under Arkansas Code Section 16-90-901 through 16-90-906 is the legal process to restrict public access to qualifying records. Without sealing, the arrest record remains visible.
Can an Arkansas arrest record be sealed or expunged?
Arkansas uses sealing rather than expungement. Sealing restricts public access but does not destroy the record -- law enforcement and certain agencies retain access. Eligibility depends on the offense type, outcome, and applicable waiting periods. The process requires filing in the county circuit or district court where the offense occurred. Most juvenile records are automatically sealed. InmateAid's sealing guides cover the framework in more detail.
What is the ARCH system and how does it work?
ARCH stands for Arkansas Criminal History. It is the public-facing name-based search portal at arch.ark.org that pulls from the ACIC criminal history database. Anyone can use it -- no consent from the subject is required for a basic search. Each query costs $24 payable by credit card, and the fee applies whether or not results are found. Results are not certified. For a certified record, mail a request with form ASP-122 and a $25 fee to the Arkansas State Police Criminal Records Division.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
An arrest record is created at booking and reflects the charges filed at that time. If charges were later dropped, the case dismissed, or you were acquitted, the arrest entry still exists unless sealed. Arkansas criminal history records through ACIC may also be missing conviction data if courts never submitted the disposition -- meaning the record could show an arrest and charge with no resolution entry, even when the case was fully adjudicated. Checking the Arkansas Courts system at arcourts.gov against the ARCH result often clarifies what actually happened. ---
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