Search Arkansas Felony Records

Arkansas felony records are public criminal history documents kept by the Circuit Clerk in the county where each case was heard and by state agencies including the Arkansas Crime Information Center. You can search for Arkansas felony records online through the ARCH system, look up cases for free on CourtConnect, or contact any of the state's 75 Circuit Court Clerks directly. This guide covers where to find felony conviction records, how to search open arrest files, what each system costs, and what Arkansas law says about public access to criminal history.

Where to Find Arkansas Felony Records

The Circuit Clerk's office is the main place to find felony records in Arkansas. Every county has one, and each keeps the full case file for every felony filed locally. Files hold charging documents, arrest warrants, plea agreements, judgment and commitment orders, and sentencing data. You can go in person, send a written request by mail, or use an online portal if the county has one. Business hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Call the clerk before going to confirm hours and copy fees.

The Arkansas State Police runs two statewide systems for criminal history access. The first is the Arkansas Criminal History system, known as ARCH, at arch.ark.org. Anyone can use it. You enter a first name, last name, sex, and date of birth. Results come back in minutes and include felony and misdemeanor conviction records, open felony arrests less than three years old, and sex offender registry status. The search costs $24. No in-person or mail option exists for ARCH. The second system is the Online Criminal Background Check (CBC) system at cbc.ark.org. This one is for authorized entities only. It requires a signed written consent from the subject and an Information Network of Arkansas (INA) account. Results show pending felony arrests within the last five years and are more detailed than the public ARCH results.

The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts runs CourtConnect, a free public case search portal covering circuit courts statewide. No account is required. The Arkansas Department of Corrections at doc.arkansas.gov holds inmate records going back to 1940, with photos, offense dates, charges, sentences, and physical descriptions.

The ARCH system gives public access to Arkansas criminal history for a flat $24 fee per name search.

ARCH results include felony and misdemeanor convictions, open felony arrests under three years old, and sex offender registry status at Levels 1 through 4.

The ARCH Criminal History System

Arkansas created ARCH under Act 1185 of 2015, now codified at Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-1501 et seq. The system gives the public access to criminal history without needing the subject's permission. It queries the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) database and returns results fast. The base cost is $20 per search, plus a $2 processing fee and a $2 card fee, totaling $24. Debit and credit cards are the only payment options. Cash and checks are not accepted for online ARCH searches. The search also queries Arkansas driver records as part of the lookup.

ARCH results show felony and misdemeanor conviction records held in the state's central repository. The system also shows open felony arrests where no conviction or disposition has been entered, if the arrest is less than three years old. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-1503, the definition of arrest records for ACIC purposes covers felony arrest information where conviction or disposition data has not yet been logged. The statute excludes misdemeanor arrests, felony arrests ending in acquittal or dismissal, and felony arrests more than five years old. Sex offender registry status for Levels 1 through 4 also appears in ARCH results for matching names.

If a name search returns multiple matches, you can view one result at no extra cost. Each additional match costs another $24. ARCH does not cover federal records or out-of-state convictions. It reflects only what ACIC holds for Arkansas. Juvenile records and sealed convictions do not appear.

The CBC system is the authorized-entity version of Arkansas's criminal background check service, requiring subject consent and an INA account to access.

CBC checks include pending felony arrests within the last five years and offer national FBI fingerprint-based verification for $13 in addition to the $22 state check fee.

CourtConnect Free Felony Case Search

CourtConnect is the free public case portal run by the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts. You can reach it at caseinfo.arcourts.gov without creating an account or paying a fee. The system lets anyone search criminal cases, civil filings, domestic relations matters, and probate cases across participating circuit courts. A name search returns party information, case status, charge descriptions, court dates, and docket entries. Full document images are available in counties running the newer Contexte case management system. Counties on older software show limited data. The system restricts sensitive fields like full social security numbers to keep identity-theft risks low.

Counties with full CourtConnect access include Clark, Crawford, Faulkner, Garland, Hot Spring, Pulaski, Saline, Searcy, and Van Buren, along with others that have switched to the Contexte platform. Partial access counties provide basic party names and case numbers but may lack full charge detail or document images. The CourtConnect information page at the Arkansas Judiciary website lists which counties are fully live. More counties are being added as the statewide migration continues.

The CourtConnect search portal opens directly to the main case lookup form where you can enter a name, case number, or attorney to find felony criminal cases filed anywhere in Arkansas.

CourtConnect is free to use with no login required, and it covers all major case types including felony criminal filings across Arkansas circuit courts.

Arkansas Felony Charges and Classifications

Arkansas law divides felonies into five classes. Each class carries different sentencing ranges, fines, and rules for public access and record sealing. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-106, any offense labeled as a felony in the Criminal Code or any other state statute is a felony in Arkansas. The class assigned to a charge determines how long a person may be sentenced and whether the record can ever be sealed.

Class Y felonies are the most serious. They include capital murder, rape, and other violent crimes carrying long mandatory sentences. These records stay permanently public. They cannot be sealed or expunged under Ark. Code Ann. § 16-90-1401. They will always appear in ARCH results and CourtConnect searches. Class A felonies cover second-degree level offenses such as residential burglary and aggravated residential burglary. These records are public under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Class B felonies are serious mid-level crimes that follow the same general public access rules. All three of these classes are open to anyone who asks at the Circuit Clerk's office or runs an ARCH search.

Class C and D felonies are the least serious and often have more options when it comes to records over time. Class C examples include possession of two to ten grams of methamphetamine. Class D examples include possession of under two grams of a controlled substance and theft by receiving. Non-violent Class C and D convictions may qualify for record sealing under the Comprehensive Criminal Record Sealing Act after the person completes the sentence and waits the required period. Waiting periods vary by offense type. Once sealed, those records no longer appear in public ARCH or CourtConnect results, though law enforcement and certain agencies retain access.

Class Y stays public forever. No process exists to seal or expunge those records.

The Arkansas Code Annotated provides searchable access to the full felony statutes and classification rules under Title 5 of the Criminal Code.

Title 5 of the Arkansas Code covers the full Criminal Code, including felony definitions, sentencing guidelines, and classification rules for each offense level.

Key Arkansas Statutes for Felony Records

Several statutes control how Arkansas creates, stores, and shares felony records. Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-106 is the base definition, naming any offense designated a felony in the Criminal Code as a felony for all purposes in this state. Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-1503 defines the terms used by the Arkansas Crime Information Center's criminal history system. It covers what counts as arrest records versus conviction information, and it spells out what ACIC must exclude from public results. Felony arrests ending in acquittal, dismissal, or nolle prosequi do not appear as arrest records under this definition. Arrests more than five years old with no disposition are also excluded. This protects people who were arrested but never convicted.

The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act at Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 makes most arrest and court records open to the public. Anyone can request access at the Circuit Clerk's office without explaining why. Exemptions exist for juvenile records under Ark. Code § 9-27-309, active investigation files, and some victim information. The Comprehensive Criminal Record Sealing Act at Ark. Code Ann. § 16-90-1401 et seq. sets out who can apply to have a conviction sealed. Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-103 addresses firearm rights. It says that a felony conviction bars gun ownership under both state and federal law. Sealing a record under Arkansas law does not restore those rights. Only a gubernatorial pardon that expressly restores firearm authority can do that.

The Arkansas Judiciary homepage provides forms, court rules, and access to CourtConnect for anyone looking up felony case filings across the state's 75 counties.

The Administrative Office of the Courts manages the CourtConnect system and posts guides for public record access, court forms, and information about how circuit courts handle felony criminal cases.

How to Request Felony Record Copies

Getting a copy of an Arkansas felony court record starts at the Circuit Clerk's office in the county where the case was filed. You can visit in person, call the clerk to ask about their process, or send a written request by mail. In-person requests are typically handled the same day. Bring the party name or case number if you have it. The clerk can search by name and pull up the file. Plain copies are usually available right away. Certified copies take longer and cost more. They carry the court seal and are needed for things like name changes or proving a case outcome to another agency.

Mail requests go to the specific Circuit Clerk in the county where the case was filed. Include the party name, approximate filing year, and any case number you have. Send a check or money order made out to the circuit clerk for the copy fees. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the clerk to return your copies. Wait times vary. Most offices return mail requests within one to two weeks, depending on how busy they are. In Pulaski County, plain copies cost 25 cents per page and certified copies cost $5. Lonoke County charges $5 to $10 per certified document. Other counties set their own rates within state guidelines, so call before sending payment.

For a statewide criminal history, you have two options. Run an ARCH search at arch.ark.org for $24 online. Or submit Form ASP-122 to the Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau by mail for $25. In-person delivery is accepted at ASP Headquarters at I-30 and Geyer Springs Road, Exit 133, Little Rock, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Processing takes two to five business days after the bureau receives the form, not counting mailing time.

To request a felony record by mail, include:

• Party name (first and last, plus middle if known)
• Date of birth
• Approximate year of the case
• Case number if available
• Payment (check or money order made to the court clerk)
• Self-addressed stamped return envelope

The CBC system FAQ page explains how authorized entities can request background checks with subject consent, covering both online CBC accounts and paper requests using Form ASP-122.

The FAQ covers INA account setup, pricing for state and national checks, what records are included in results, and how to submit manual requests for organizations without an online account.

Public Access to Felony Records in Arkansas

Arkansas felony records are open to the public by default. The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act at Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 gives any person the right to request and inspect most government records, including arrest histories and court files. You do not have to show a reason for the request. You do not need an attorney or a court order. Simply go to the Circuit Clerk's office in the county where the case was heard and ask for the record. Most clerks can pull it up by name or case number at the counter.

A few categories are exempt. Juvenile records are protected under Ark. Code § 9-27-309 and are not available to the general public. Active investigation files may be withheld to protect ongoing law enforcement work. Records with sensitive victim information may be partially redacted before release. Courts can also seal specific records if a party shows good cause, though this is relatively uncommon outside the formal sealing process. The Arkansas Attorney General has issued opinions clarifying when sealed records can be shared and with whom. The full guide to public records law in Arkansas is the FOIA Handbook published by the Attorney General's office.

The CourtConnect information page details which counties have full case access online and explains how the public can use the system to look up felony criminal filings without visiting a courthouse.

The page includes user guides, a county access list, and a direct link to the live CourtConnect portal for anyone looking up Arkansas felony case records online.

Browse Arkansas Felony Records by County

Each of Arkansas's 75 counties handles felony cases through its Circuit Court. Pick a county below to find the courthouse address, clerk contact info, online access options, and local resources for felony record searches in that area.

View All 75 Arkansas Counties

Felony Records in Major Arkansas Cities

Residents of Arkansas cities file felony cases at the Circuit Court in their county. Pick a city below to find out which courthouse handles filings in that area and how to access felony records locally.

View Major Arkansas Cities