Arkansas Arrest Records Search | Criminal Records

Arkansas statewide · Arrest, jail, court and criminal-history guide

Search Arkansas Arrest Records Without Confusing a Booking With a Conviction

Arkansas does not place every criminal record in one free search. A recent arrest may appear in a county jail roster, a paid ARCH history, an arresting agency’s report, an Arkansas court case or the state-prison inmate database.

This guide routes each task to the correct system and explains what the record includes, what it leaves out, how much a search costs, how to confirm identity and where to request corrections, certified records or sealing.

Arrest does not mean conviction. An arrest or jail booking records an allegation and custody event. Charges may be declined, amended, dismissed or resolved without a conviction. Verify identity and read the final court disposition before drawing a conclusion.
Current county jail

Use Arkansas VINE and the county sheriff’s roster.

State history

ARCH costs $24 for each nonrefundable search.

Court outcome

Use the new Search ARCourts portal.

State prison

Use the Arkansas DOC inmate search.

Official review

Procedures checked July 29, 2026.

Start with the task

Which Arkansas record should you search first?

JAIL OR VINE Is the person in custody now?

Use Arkansas VINE and the official county sheriff roster. Record the booking number, jail, arrest date, charges, bond information and arresting agency.

Best for: recent arrests, current county-jail custody, transfer status and release alerts.
ARCH OR ASP Do you need a statewide history?

Use ARCH for a public name-based Arkansas history. Use the separate State Police background-check process when consent, statutory authorization or certified results are required.

Best for: statewide convictions, qualifying open felony arrests and authorized background checks.
SEARCH ARCOURTS What happened after the arrest?

Search the criminal court case for formal charges, filings, hearings, warrant events, plea, judgment, sentence and disposition.

Best for: filed charges, dismissal, acquittal, conviction and certified court documents.
Most reliable sequence: Find the custody or arrest event, save the official identifiers, search the court case, compare the disposition and purchase a statewide history only when it adds information you still need.

Go directly to the Arkansas record task you need

The links below lead to instructions, field explanations, limitations and practical next steps.

Statewide record router

Arkansas arrest and criminal-record systems compared

Choose the source that actually controls the information
Source Use it for What it includes Main limitation
County sheriff roster Current local jail custody and booking details. Booked name, booking number, charges, bond and housing fields vary by county. It normally covers only that county jail.
Arkansas VINE Statewide custody status and notification. Participating county jails, ADC custody, supervision and court-event information. It is a notification service, not a complete police or court file.
ARCH Public paid Arkansas criminal-history search. Convictions, qualifying open felony arrests and qualifying sex-offender information. Name-based, noncertified and limited to Arkansas information.
ASP background check Consent-based or legally authorized criminal-history checks. The Arkansas response authorized for the requester’s lawful purpose. Requires consent or legal authority and the correct State Police process.
Search ARCourts Filed criminal charges and case outcomes. Parties, judge, filings, charges, disposition, events and judgments. Some district courts or documents may not be available online.
Arresting agency Incident or arrest narrative. Releasable report, officer narrative, call records and attachments. Investigative and protected information may be withheld or redacted.
ADC inmate search Arkansas state-prison custody. ADC number, facility, convictions, sentences and incarceration history. It does not cover every county-jail detainee.
ACIC review Reviewing and challenging your own state criminal history. The person’s ACIC-maintained criminal-history record. The court must provide corrected disposition documentation when court data is wrong.
ACIC and NCIC are not public search portals. ACIC states that protected ACIC/NCIC criminal-justice information cannot be released to the public and is not available through an Arkansas FOIA request.
Current arrest and jail search

How to find a person recently arrested in Arkansas

Identify the county where the arrest occurred Search the location of the arrest rather than the person’s home address. A traveler or out-of-county resident may be held where the incident happened.
Check Arkansas VINE Search by legal name, booking number, case number or ADC number. VINE monitors participating county jails and can provide custody location and status.
Open the county sheriff’s official roster Search the sheriff or detention center website for the county identified in VINE or the arrest information.
Begin with the legal last name Test a maiden name, hyphen variation, suffix, alias or alternate spelling when the initial search fails.
Open every plausible booking Compare the full name, date of birth or age, arrest date, booking number and arresting agency.
Read every charge and hold A person may have several charges, warrants, probation matters or holds from another county.
Save the arresting agency The jail may house someone arrested by city police, a sheriff’s deputy, Arkansas State Police or another agency.
Continue to Search ARCourts The jail charge records intake information. The court case shows what was formally filed and resolved.
VINE update schedule: Arkansas DOC states that participating county-jail information is transferred about every 15 minutes, ADC custody about every hour, and court and supervision information about once each day.
Public statewide history

How to use Arkansas Criminal History—ARCH

ARCH is the public Arkansas State Police name-search system created to provide limited criminal-history information without requiring the subject’s written consent.

$24 per search

The charge is nonrefundable even when no subject is identified.

Online only

ARCH results cannot be ordered by mail or in person.

Age 18+

The person must be over 18 to be included in ARCH.

Not certified

Use the State Police process when certification is required.

Prepare the exact legal identity ARCH requires the person’s first name, last name, sex and complete date of birth.
Avoid nicknames Enter William rather than Bill, for example, unless the nickname is the person’s legal first name.
Enter payment information ARCH accepts debit or credit card payment and charges $24 for the search process.
Review the search criteria before submitting A single incorrect birth-date digit or misspelled name may exclude the correct person.
Examine the possible matches Use race, ZIP code or other displayed information to distinguish candidates with identical names and birth dates.
Select one result carefully One selected result is included. Opening an additional possible match costs another $24 for each result.
Download the PDF promptly ARCH provides a result link and sends a time-limited download link to the email entered during payment.
Verify important findings elsewhere Compare an arrest with the county jail or agency record and compare a conviction with the sentencing court.
Name-search limitation: ARCH states that fingerprint verification is required to definitively connect a criminal history to one individual. A person with the same name and birth date may otherwise be mistaken for the subject.
ARCH coverage

What an ARCH result includes—and what it omits

ARCH can include
  • Arkansas felony convictions
  • Arkansas misdemeanor convictions
  • Open Arkansas felony arrests less than three years old
  • Qualifying Arkansas sex-offender registration information
ARCH does not include
  • Juvenile records
  • Dismissed arrests or charges
  • Unresolved misdemeanor arrests
  • Felony arrests more than three years old
  • Not-guilty charges
  • Active warrants
  • Sealed or pardoned records
  • Federal or other-state histories
  • Traffic citation or arrest history
  • Arrests where the person was not fingerprinted
“No subject identified” is not the same as “no record.” ARCH may return no subject when the name or birth date is wrong, the person has no Arkansas driver record, the person was never fingerprinted after an Arkansas arrest or relevant court data has not reached ACIC.
Consent-based checks

When to use the Arkansas State Police background-check system

The separate Arkansas State Police Criminal Background Check System is designed for authorized entities that have signed consent from the subject or statutory authority to conduct the check.

ARCH and Arkansas State Police background checks compared
Feature ARCH public search ASP consent-based check
Written consent Not required for the public ARCH search. Required unless another law provides authority.
Standard price $24 for each search or additional result opened. $22 online for a standard Arkansas name check; $25 by mail.
Volunteer price No separate public volunteer price. $11 for an eligible Arkansas volunteer name check.
Fingerprint check No; ARCH is name-based. Available only for legally authorized state/FBI purposes.
Certified result Not available through ARCH. Contact the Identification Bureau for the correct certified-result process.
Best use General public Arkansas history research. Employment, licensing, volunteer or other authorized checks.
Ask the requesting organization which check is required A licensing board, school, employer or government agency may require its own purpose code, form or fingerprint method.
Do not substitute ARCH for a mandated check A public ARCH result may not satisfy employment, licensing, immigration or professional requirements.
Use Form ASP-122 for a standard mailed Arkansas check Include the completed form and a $25 check or money order payable to Arkansas State Police. Do not send cash.
Use the online subscriber system for authorized checks An entity must register and maintain the subject’s signed consent as required.
Follow the licensing agency’s fingerprint instructions State and FBI checks are available only when authorized by law. Arkansas residents may be directed to an approved Live Scan provider.
Review every identifier before submitting State Police fees are nonrefundable when incorrect information or the wrong search type is selected.
Record decoder

What Arkansas arrest and court fields actually prove

Common record fields, limitations and next actions
Field What it identifies What it does not prove Next step
Booking number One county-jail intake or custody episode. That every booking charge became a court charge. Use it to obtain jail information and distinguish arrests.
Arresting agency The police, sheriff or state agency responsible for the arrest. That the jail or court owns the incident report. Send the police-report request to this agency.
Booking charge The allegation or hold entered during intake. Guilt or the prosecutor’s final filing decision. Compare it with the court’s offense section.
Court charge The offense formally filed in the criminal case. A conviction occurred. Read the plea and disposition for that charge.
Plea A response such as guilty, not guilty or no contest where recognized. The final sentence or whether another count remained. Review the judgment and sentencing entries.
Disposition How a charge was resolved. Every charge in the case ended the same way. Read each offense and obtain the final order.
Judgment The court’s formal decision and resulting legal status. All later probation, appeal or sealing events. Review sentence and later docket entries.
Sentence The penalty or supervision ordered by the court. The person remains incarcerated today. Check ADC, county custody, parole or supervision status.
Case closed The case is no longer listed as active. Dismissal, acquittal or conviction by itself. Locate the actual final disposition.
Warrant event A warrant was addressed in the docket. The warrant remains active now. Confirm with the issuing court or agency.
Identity protection

Use this test before connecting an Arkansas record to a person

Legal first and last names match
Middle name, suffix and aliases are consistent
Date of birth or age is consistent
Arrest or offense date matches the event
County and arresting agency match
Booking, ADC or case number matches another source
Use two or more independent identifiers. Do not send money, make an employment accusation, contact a landlord or publish a record based only on a matching name.
Same name, different birth date Treat the results as different people unless the maintaining agency confirms an error.
Same person, multiple arrests Separate each event by county, date, booking number and court case.
ARCH has several candidates Use race or ZIP code to narrow the result before paying another $24.
Photograph appears similar Visual resemblance is weaker than fingerprints, a birth date or an official identifying number.
Troubleshooting

No Arkansas arrest or criminal record found?

The arrest is very recent Booking, fingerprinting, medical screening and data entry may still be underway.
You searched the wrong county Search where the arrest occurred rather than where the person lives.
The person was cited and released Not every arrest results in a county-jail booking.
The person is in a city jail A municipal facility may hold the person before transfer or release.
The person is waiting for ADC transfer ADC states that people on its waiting list may remain in county jail and will not appear in the ADC inmate search yet.
The ARCH identity is entered incorrectly A nickname, misspelling or one-day birth-date error can prevent a match.
ARCH intentionally excludes the event Dismissed charges, old felony arrests, unresolved misdemeanors, warrants and sealed records are excluded.
The court is not fully online Some district courts or documents require contact with the local clerk.
The record is restricted Juvenile, sealed, protected-victim and other confidential records may not appear.
The event occurred outside Arkansas ARCH does not report federal cases or criminal histories from another state.
Call script for a missing custody record
“I am trying to confirm the custody or booking status of [full legal name], date of birth [date]. The arrest may have occurred on [date] in [county/city] through [agency]. Can you confirm whether the person is still being processed, held locally, released, transferred or listed under another identifier?”
Police and arrest reports

How to request Arkansas law-enforcement records

Request the report from the agency whose employee created it. A county jail may hold the person without possessing the city police or State Police investigative report.

Identify the arresting or investigating agency Copy the agency name from the jail booking, citation, probable-cause filing or court docket.
Find the agency’s records custodian Use the official police, sheriff, city, county or Arkansas State Police website.
Describe the exact record Request the incident report, arrest report, booking sheet, probable-cause statement, call log, photographs or releasable video by name.
Include useful identifiers Provide the incident date, approximate time, location, names, report number, booking number and court case number.
Request electronic delivery Ask for searchable electronic copies where available to reduce reproduction and mailing costs.
Ask for releasable portions When part of a record is exempt, ask the custodian to redact protected material and release the remainder.
Request a cost estimate Arkansas FOIA generally limits charges to actual reproduction costs and mailing expenses.
Track the response date Arkansas agencies generally have up to three business days to provide an available public record, although circumstances and exemptions may affect the response.
Arkansas FOIA request template
“Under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, please provide an electronic copy of the releasable [incident report, arrest report, booking sheet, probable-cause record, call log or other record] concerning [name], incident date [date], location [location], report or booking number [number]. If any portion is exempt, please redact only the exempt material, release the remainder and identify the basis for each withholding. Please provide an estimate before incurring charges above $[amount].”
Do not request an ACIC or NCIC printout under FOIA. ACIC states that protected information from those systems is not publicly releasable through the Arkansas FOIA.
Warrant safety

How to check an Arkansas warrant safely

Arkansas does not provide unrestricted public access to ACIC or NCIC warrant information. County and city practices differ, so warrant confirmation must be routed through the issuing court or law-enforcement agency.

Search the related court case Review docket entries for an arrest warrant, bench warrant, failure to appear, recall, cancellation or service.
Identify the issuing court Save the court name, county, case number, judge and warrant-entry date.
Check for later entries A newer order may have recalled, quashed or resolved the warrant.
Contact the court clerk or agency Ask whether the warrant remains active and what identity information is required for confirmation.
Use legal advice for your own status A person checking their own warrant should consider contacting an Arkansas criminal-defense attorney before appearing unexpectedly.
Never confront or attempt to detain anyone. A warrant may involve a person with a similar name or may have been served, recalled or corrected after the online entry.
State-prison search

How to find an Arkansas Division of Correction inmate

The ADC inmate search covers people in the Arkansas state-prison population. It is different from a county-jail roster and should usually be searched after a conviction or transfer.

Open the official ADC inmate search Confirm that the service is hosted on the Arkansas state portal.
Use the ADC number when known The ADC number is more precise than a name and remains useful across facility transfers.
Otherwise search the legal name Add age, sex, race, county, facility or offense-category filters only as needed.
Review current and historical information separately The result may include current facility, incarceration history, sentence history, county and court case numbers.
Use the case number to return to court records Search ARCourts can provide the related judgment, filing and disposition context.
Check county custody when no ADC result appears A person waiting for state transfer may remain in a county jail and not yet appear in ADC search results.
Check Community Correction when appropriate A person may be in a residential center or under supervision rather than in a Division of Correction prison.
Database limit: ADC guidance states that out-of-state prisoners housed in Arkansas under an interstate agreement may not appear, and county detainees do not appear until ADC receives them.
Custody notifications

How Arkansas VINE helps after an arrest

County jails

Participating county-jail custody data is transferred about every 15 minutes.

State prison

Arkansas DOC custody information is transferred about every hour.

Court and supervision

Court and probation, parole or post-release information is generally transferred daily.

Search by a strong identifier VINE accepts a name, offender or booking number, court case number, ADC number or supervision PID.
Review the current status Available information may include custody location, release date, court event and supervision status.
Register for notifications Victims and concerned citizens may register for telephone, email or text alerts.
Keep contact information current Update the registered telephone number or email address when it changes.
Do not rely on VINE as the only safety plan Contact law enforcement or emergency services when there is an immediate threat.
Arkansas VINE

800-510-0415

Free, anonymous information and notification service.

Information to prepare

Legal name, booking number, ADC number, court case number or supervision PID.

Official court documents

How to obtain Arkansas criminal court copies

Search ARCourts may provide a document link for some public filings, but certified and unavailable records must be requested from the clerk of the court where the case was filed.

Save the full case number Include the county and court designation shown in Search ARCourts.
Identify the filing court Determine whether the matter is in circuit court or a participating district court.
Name the exact document Request the criminal information, disposition, dismissal, plea, judgment, sentencing order or warrant-related order.
Choose plain or certified copies Ask the receiving organization whether a certification or raised seal is required.
Ask about local fees Arkansas trial-court clerks may have document, certification, archive, research, payment and mailing procedures that differ by court.
Keep the certified disposition It may be needed to correct ACIC data, satisfy licensing requirements or support a sealing petition.
Court-copy request wording
“Please provide one [plain/certified] copy of the [criminal information, final disposition, dismissal, judgment or sentencing order] in case number [case number], State of Arkansas v. [defendant]. Please confirm the copy, certification, archive and mailing charges before processing.”
Search ARCourts support: For portal assistance, Arkansas Judiciary lists 501-410-1900, option 1, and 866-823-5778. Questions about a particular record should go to the court where the case was filed.
Separate registry search

When to use the Arkansas Sex Offender Registry

ARCH may report qualifying sex-offender status, but the ACIC public registry is the better tool for address-based community searches and currently public offender profiles.

Public levels

The public search includes Level 3, Level 4 and qualifying Level 2 offenders under Arkansas law.

Address research

Use the registry to check public offender information in a particular area.

Not a conviction decoder

Use the criminal court case to understand the offense, judgment and sentence.

Do not use registry information to threaten or harass anyone. Report an immediate safety concern to law enforcement.
Correcting errors

How to challenge inaccurate Arkansas criminal-history information

Identify which system is wrong Determine whether the error appears in a jail roster, police report, court case, ARCH result, ACIC history or ADC record.
Obtain the source record Save the booking, report, court docket, judgment and certified disposition.
Request your ACIC review Complete the Authorization for Review of Criminal History Information when you need to examine your own ACIC record.
Contact the court when the disposition is wrong ACIC instructs the person or attorney to obtain the correct court documentation and have the court provide it to ACIC.
Contact the arresting agency for agency-data errors Use identity documents, fingerprints, report numbers and certified orders to explain the mistake.
Keep proof of the update Save correspondence, certified documents and a new criminal-history result after correction.
Correction-request wording
“I am requesting review of an apparent error in [record or case number]. The record currently states [incorrect information]. The attached [certified disposition, identity document or agency record] shows [correct information]. Please identify the correction procedure and any additional documentation required.”
Arkansas Crime Information Center
322 South Main Street, Suite 615
Little Rock, AR 72201
Criminal-history questions

Phone: 501-682-2222

Use the Criminal History forms page for the current review form.

Record sealing

How Arkansas record sealing is routed

Arkansas uses different petitions and orders for different legal situations. Selecting the wrong form can delay the case, so start with the disposition and the statute under which relief is requested.

Common Arkansas sealing categories
Record situation Possible form category Evidence to gather Important caution
Arrest that did not produce a conviction Petition and order to seal an arrest. Arrest report, booking number and certified disposition. Confirm the current statutory eligibility requirements.
First-offender disposition Petition to dismiss and seal under the applicable first-offender law. Probation order, completion proof and case disposition. The original sentencing order and compliance matter.
Drug-court proceeding Drug-court dismissal and sealing forms where applicable. Program completion, court orders and related cases. Separate prior offenses may require separate analysis.
Pardoned offense Petition and order for a pardoned offender. Pardon documents and certified criminal case records. A pardon and sealing are separate legal actions.
Eligible conviction Uniform petition and order applicable to that conviction. Judgment, sentence completion and financial-obligation status. Not every offense or sentence qualifies.
Search every related court case Record the case number, court, charge, disposition, sentence and completion status.
Obtain certified dispositions Request the judgment, final order and proof of dismissal or sentence completion.
Choose the matching ACIC form set ACIC publishes separate petitions and proposed orders for arrests, first offenders, drug court, pardons and other situations.
File in the court that handled the case Ask the clerk about filing, service, prosecutor notice, hearing and copy procedures.
Attend a hearing when required Bring the supporting records and be prepared to address eligibility and any objection.
Obtain a signed order A submitted petition does not seal the record until the court grants relief.
Verify agency updates Keep certified copies and confirm that the court and relevant criminal-history systems process the order.
Form-selection warning: ACIC states that it cannot determine which sealing form a particular person should use. Obtain legal advice when eligibility or the correct statutory form is unclear.
Legal-help contact: ACIC directs people who need assistance to Arkansas Legal Aid at 800-952-9243.
Key contacts

Arkansas criminal-record office and phone guide

Contact the office that controls the task
Office or service Contact Use it for Prepare first
Arkansas State Police 501-618-8000 Background-check routing, State Police records and general assistance. Purpose of check, consent status and required certification.
Arkansas Crime Information Center 501-682-2222 Personal criminal-history review, correction routing and forms. Identity details, case numbers and certified dispositions.
Search ARCourts support 501-410-1900, option 1
866-823-5778
Technical help with the statewide public court portal. Browser details and the search problem.
Arkansas VINE 800-510-0415 County jail, ADC, court and supervision notifications. Name, booking number, ADC number or case number.
Arkansas DOC central office 870-267-6200 ADC facility and state-prison service routing. Inmate name and ADC number.
Arkansas Attorney General 501-682-2007
800-482-8982
Arkansas FOIA guidance and published resources. The type of public record and agency involved.
Arkansas Legal Aid 800-952-9243 Possible legal help with sealing and record-related issues. Court cases, dispositions and income or eligibility details.
State Police location

Arkansas State Police Headquarters and Identification Bureau

Arkansas State Police
One State Police Plaza Drive
Little Rock, AR 72209
Main telephone

501-618-8000

Call before traveling to confirm the correct unit, accepted request method and public access.

Fingerprinting warning: Arkansas State Police states that civil-applicant fingerprinting is no longer provided at State Police Headquarters. Use the current approved Live Scan or harvester instructions when fingerprints are required.
Source verification

How this Arkansas guide was checked

The article was built from current Arkansas State Police background-check and fingerprinting pages; the ARCH public criminal-history service; Arkansas Judiciary Search ARCourts instructions; Arkansas VINE and Department of Corrections inmate services; ACIC criminal-history, public-access and sealing materials; and Arkansas Attorney General FOIA guidance.

Live status

Custody, charges, warrants, hearings and correctional placement must be rechecked because they can change after publication.

Published procedures

Search fees, identity requirements, system limits, update schedules and contacts are explained directly in the article.

Legal safeguards

Arrest and booking information is treated as allegation and custody data rather than proof of guilt.

Frequently asked questions

Arkansas arrest and criminal-record questions answered

How do I search Arkansas arrest records?

Check Arkansas VINE and the arresting county sheriff for current jail custody. Use ARCH for a paid statewide history and Search ARCourts for filed charges and final case outcomes.

Is there one statewide Arkansas county jail roster?

County sheriffs maintain their own jail systems, but Arkansas VINE combines custody information from participating county jails. VINE reports that county-jail data is transferred approximately every 15 minutes.

What appears in an ARCH criminal-history result?

ARCH includes Arkansas felony and misdemeanor convictions, open Arkansas felony arrests less than three years old and qualifying sex-offender information.

How much does an ARCH search cost?

Each search costs $24 and the fee is nonrefundable even when no subject is identified. Opening more than one possible result costs an additional $24 for each extra result.

What is the difference between ARCH and an ASP background check?

ARCH is a public, noncertified name search that does not require consent. The State Police background-check system is for authorized consent-based or legally mandated checks and currently lists a standard price of $22 online or $25 by mail.

How do I search Arkansas criminal court cases?

Use Search ARCourts and search by defendant name or case number. Review the charges, docket entries, disposition, judgment and sentence. Contact the filing clerk for official copies.

How do I check an Arkansas warrant?

Search the related court docket, then confirm with the issuing court, sheriff or police department. Protected ACIC and NCIC warrant information is not an unrestricted public search.

How do I request an Arkansas arrest report?

Send an Arkansas FOIA request to the agency that created the report. Include the incident date, location, names, report or booking number and exact record requested.

How do I find an Arkansas state-prison inmate?

Search the Arkansas Division of Correction inmate database by name, ADC number, county, facility or offense category. County-jail detainees may not appear until transferred to ADC.

How do I correct or seal an Arkansas record?

Request an ACIC review for an inaccurate state criminal history and obtain corrected documents from the court. For sealing, choose the official petition and order matching the case type, file in the court that handled the case and retain the signed order.

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