Arkansas Criminal Records

An Arkansas criminal record refers to the documents that describe the chronological history of an individual's interactions with the Arkansas criminal justice system and the details of such interactions. Criminal records typically include details about arrests and convictions, court proceedings, disposition of charges, and sentencing of the record subjects.

The Arkansas State Police (ASP) runs a central repository of criminal records in the state. However, the sources of the details found in Arkansas criminal records usually include the courts, law enforcement agencies, probation or parole officers, and other agencies in Arkansas.

Arkansas criminal records play a significant role in ensuring public safety and empowering individuals through transparency. For example, employers can use these records to conduct background checks on specific employees, ensuring reliability in the work environment. House owners may also depend on criminal records to ensure the satisfaction and safety of prospective tenants and residents.

**Are Criminal Records Public in Arkansas? **

It depends. According to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), certain criminal records are open to the public while others are restricted. Some of these records contain personal information that may endanger the defendant's safety and may only be available to local law enforcement officers.

For confidentiality purposes, only authorized custodians in the state can grant permission to view or copy certain criminal records. The public will be notified if a record is confidential, stating reasons for non-disclosure. Sealed records like juvenile records or criminal cases where the defendant was declared not guilty, dismissed, or not processed are not accessible to the public. Other criminal information that may not be disclosed to the public includes traffic records, warrants, and criminal history from other states.

Arkansas Crime Records by County

Arkansas crime data and records are essential to law enforcement agencies in making strategic decisions and operations. This has initiated the need to generate crime databases across various locations in the state.

The Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) is responsible for compiling crime data and statistics available to the public in Arkansas. This state system works with the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) to manage the crime victim notification system and the state sex offender registry.

In Arkansas, law enforcement agencies in various counties submit crime statistics using the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) within the Arkansas Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. However, crime statistics collected from these agencies do not include information about prosecution or corrections. Similarly, it does not draw any conclusions on the cause of any crime in the state.

Various cities and municipal governments in the state also provide crime databases for authorized and interested members to access. For instance, the Howard County Sheriff's Department maintains criminal records for individuals arrested or charged in Howard County.

Arkansas Criminal Record Check

The Arkansas State Police, under the Arkansas Department of Public Safety, provides an official online portal that allows individuals to perform a criminal background check. However, each check must be in compliance with Arkansas law on record disclosure. Inquirers can access criminal history information if they are legally required and authorized to perform a background check or have the subject's signed consent. The Department of Public Safety charges $22 per search for the aforementioned purposes. However, performing a personal search inquiry for any other purpose costs $24.

Authorized entities can also access the Online Criminal Background Check System through the State of Arkansas's official website. However, individuals must have an account with the Information Network of Arkansas (INA) to access this system.

Note that persons with written permission from the subject of the record may use the manual process of conducting an Arkansas criminal history record. Submit a completed Individual Record Check Request Form (ASP-122) with a signature from the subject and a $25.00 check or money payment order.

**Find Criminal Records Online in Arkansas **

The Arkansas Criminal History (ARCH) system was developed to help interested members obtain accurate criminal history information. However, the state allows limited access to criminal records. Searching the ARCH system requires the payment of a $24.00 non-refundable charge. Individuals are required to provide the following information to facilitate a search:

• Subject's last and first name
• Date of birth
• Sex.

Meanwhile, the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) provides a sex offender registry that allows persons to search offenders by name or location.

Free Criminal Record Search in Arkansas

Several third-party government-owned websites may provide free online searches for criminal records in Arkansas. Each search may only require information such as the requester's full name, age, and location address. Note that some of these websites may still require a fee at the end of the process of retrieving the record.

What Does it Mean if You Have a Criminal Record in Arkansas?

Having a criminal record in Arkansas may significantly affect a person's life beyond the penalties involved. This may involve their career, child custody rights, driving privileges, etc. Beyond the jail time or fine from the conviction of a crime, criminal records can also cause collateral damages like the loss of certain rights and privileges.

The consequences of criminal records can follow a person indefinitely, so the Arkansas law has made it possible for eligible persons to seal records. Once an Arkansas criminal record is sealed, it is closed from public review. The state authorities will not release any criminal record to a requester unless under a court order.

Does Your Criminal Record Clear After 7 Years in Arkansas?

It depends on the type of offense. If a person is eligible to clear an offense, it is possible to file a petition to seal or expunge records. For non-violent misdemeanor offenses, a person may be eligible to seal a record one year after the completion of the sentence. Offenses such as fraud, bribery, and DUI may require a waiting period of 5 years.

Arrest Record Vs Criminal Record

The notable difference between an arrest record and a criminal record is that the latter is broader and contains more information about criminal charges and convictions. An arrest happens when law enforcement agencies take an individual into custody. However, when this arrest is recorded into a public record, it becomes an arrest record. These records contain everything that concerns the individual's arrest, detention, or confinement. An arrest will either progress to the criminal justice system or the charges against the individual may be dropped. If the charges are dropped the case will be closed.

A criminal record is a record of the history and background of criminal charges and convictions, including arrest history. If the individual is convicted of a crime, the court records it in a separate individual file, which may or may not contain previous convictions. The State Police is in charge of maintaining the arrest and criminal records of individuals who committed crimes in the state.

Arkansas Police Records

Arkansas police records are official documents that hold information about an individual's criminal activity. Unlike criminal records, police records only show a part of a person's full criminal history. It does not include detailed information on court cases and convictions.

Arkansas Police records contain incident reports and arrest records, which include the defendant's name, charges, bail amount, court date, service logs, and complaints. According to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, such information may be publicly available. However, details about ongoing police investigations are exempt from public view and inspection in Arkansas. Disclosure of this information may disrupt ongoing investigations or cause harm to persons or law enforcement agencies involved.