Arkansas Background Check Records
Arkansas background check records are public information kept across several official state systems. The Arkansas State Police runs the main criminal history portal for name-based checks. The state also has a public court records system, an inmate search tool, and a sex offender registry that anyone can use. These systems let you search criminal history, look up court cases by name or case number, and find who is registered as a sex offender in any county. Each source covers different record types and uses its own search tools. Most searches happen online. Some require a mail request or in-person visit. This page explains every official Arkansas source and how to access each one.
Arkansas Background Check Overview
Arkansas State Police Background Check System
The Arkansas State Police (ASP) runs the official online criminal background check portal at cbc.ark.org. This system draws from the ACIC (Arkansas Crime Information Center) database. What makes this database useful is how it links records. When someone gets arrested in Arkansas, their fingerprints go into ACIC. Every future arrest ties back to those prints. That means records connect to the actual person, not just a name. If someone uses a fake name or an alias, the fingerprint match still surfaces their history.
Getting online access requires an account with the Information Network of Arkansas (INA). Once your account is active, you search by name and date of birth. Results come back in minutes for most queries. The system runs around the clock, though it operates best during business hours. The bureau handles two categories of access. Category I covers searches done with the subject's signed consent. Category II covers searches required by state or federal law, which use fingerprint-based FBI checks. Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-1502 authorizes the Arkansas State Police to provide criminal history records to qualifying entities and defines which categories of requesters can receive them.
Those who prefer to submit by mail or in person use the ASP-122 form. This is the Individual Record Check Request form. It must be filled out completely with the subject's full name, date of birth, and Social Security number. The form must be signed by the subject. If a third party submits it by mail on someone's behalf, a notarization is required. Download the current ASP-122 at the Arkansas State Police form page. Mail it with payment to: Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau, 1 State Police Plaza Drive, Little Rock, AR 72209. Questions go to (501) 618-8500, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
The full FAQ for the system is at cbc.ark.org/static/faqs.html. It covers account setup, what types of records are searched, how to read results, and the challenge process if someone wants to dispute information in their record.
The Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau also handles the challenge process for disputed records. If someone believes a record in the system belongs to another person, they can request a fingerprint comparison. When the comparison shows the record isn't theirs, the information is removed and corrected results are issued at no charge. That process typically takes five to ten business days.
The Arkansas State Police CBC portal is the official starting point for running a name-based Arkansas background check online, including account setup and fee payment.
The portal walks users through account setup, what records are searched, and how results are displayed once the search runs.
The FAQ section at cbc.ark.org/static/faqs.html explains exactly what criminal record categories an Arkansas background check covers and which types of records are excluded.
Reading through the FAQ before submitting a request helps you understand what the results will and won't show before you pay the fee.
What an Arkansas Background Check Will Show
The state name-based check pulls Arkansas felony and misdemeanor conviction records from all 75 counties. It also includes pending felony arrests from the past five years where no trial has taken place. The search tells you if someone is listed on the sex offender registry and shows their assigned risk level. Disposition information is included for convictions, and some records include sentencing details.
Several types of records don't show up. Misdemeanor charges still pending in court are not included. Arrests that ended in dismissal, nolle prosequi, or a not guilty verdict are left out. Minor traffic violations like speeding tickets don't appear. Juvenile records stay sealed unless the person was tried as an adult. Law enforcement intelligence data and open investigation files are also not available through the public system. The ACIC database does not provide records accessible only to law enforcement.
The ACIC database, which underlies Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-207, interfaces with the FBI National Crime Information Center (NCIC). For a full national criminal history search, the FBI fingerprint-based check is available in addition to the state search. That process requires standard FBI fingerprint cards (form FD-258) completed by a law enforcement agency or fingerprinting provider. Fingerprint checks cover criminal records from all 50 states, not just Arkansas. Processing for national checks takes one to three business days because the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division handles them separately from state searches.
CourtConnect Arkansas Court Records Portal
Arkansas runs a public statewide court portal called CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. This system gives public access to courts that use the Contexte case management platform. You can search civil cases, criminal cases, domestic relations filings, probate matters, small claims, and traffic violations for participating courts. The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) operates and maintains the system. Results update in real time as court staff enter new data.
Search options include party name, case number, organization name, and case description keywords. Searching by name finds all cases tied to a person across participating counties. Results show party names, docket entries, hearing schedules, case status, and attorney assignments. Full document images are not always available online. Many courts require an in-person visit to view actual filings. The AOC provides technical help at (501) 410-1900 or toll-free at (866) 823-5778. The AOC's main site is at courts.arkansas.gov.
Not every Arkansas court uses the system. Records from before a court joined Contexte may be missing. Sealed records and juvenile case records are not visible through the public portal. Appellate court records are kept separately by the Appellate Clerk at 625 Marshall Street, Suite 130, Justice Building, Little Rock, AR 72201, phone (501) 682-6849.
CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is Arkansas's public portal for searching circuit court and district court records by party name or case number at no cost.
The system shows case status, docket entries, and hearing dates for cases across Arkansas courts that participate in the statewide Contexte platform.
Arkansas Sex Offender Registry Search
ACIC maintains the Arkansas Sex Offender Registry, which is publicly searchable at ark.org/offender-search/index.php. You can search by name, city, county, or zip code. There is also a radius search: enter any address and set a distance to see all registered offenders within that range. The registry shows the offender's photo, current address, vehicle information, risk level, and details about the conviction.
Arkansas uses a four-level classification system managed by the Sex Offender Community Notification Assessment (SOCNA) board. Level 1 offenders are low risk and don't appear on the public website. Level 2 (moderate risk) offenders may or may not be posted depending on specifics of the offense. Level 3 (high risk) offenders appear on the public site and trigger active community notification when they move into an area. Level 4 offenders are classified as sexually violent predators and face the most intensive notification requirements.
Registration rules under Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-901 require new residents with a prior sex offense to register within three days of arriving in Arkansas. Anyone working or going to school in Arkansas for 14 or more consecutive days must also register, even if their home address is in another state. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 5-14-128, Level 3 and Level 4 offenders cannot reside within 2,000 feet of public or private schools or daycare facilities. Not registering is a Class C felony with possible prison time of three to ten years and fines up to $10,000. Contact ACIC for registry questions at (501) 682-2222.
The sex offender search at ark.org/offender-search/index.php lets you find registered offenders in any city, county, or zip code in Arkansas, or within a set distance of an address.
Each result shows the offender's photo, current address, risk level, and conviction details that triggered the registration requirement.
Arkansas Inmate Lookup and State Prison Records
The Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) inmate search is at apps.ark.org/inmate_info. This tool covers anyone currently serving time in a state prison operated by the ADC. Search by name or by ADC number. Results show the inmate's current facility, the offense they were convicted of, sentence length, good time credit earned, and projected release date. Photos are included when available from intake booking. The ADC headquarters is at 6814 Princeton Pike, Pine Bluff, AR 71602.
County jail inmates and federal prisoners don't appear in the ADC system. For county jail information, you need to contact each county's sheriff's office directly. Many county sheriffs in Arkansas run their own online inmate rosters, updated daily or more often. If someone isn't found in the ADC system, they may be under community supervision. The Division of Community Correction handles parole and probation cases. That office is reachable at (501) 682-9510. The ADC website is at doc.arkansas.gov.
The ADC inmate search at apps.ark.org/inmate_info shows the current status and facility location of anyone serving time in an Arkansas state correctional facility.
Each record includes offense details, sentence length, facility assignment, and a booking photo when available.
Federal inmates are tracked through the Bureau of Prisons at bop.gov/inmateloc, which covers all federal correctional facilities across the country.
State and federal inmate systems are completely separate. You may need to check both depending on whether the conviction was at the state or federal level.
Note: The ADC system does not include inmates on a waiting list held in county jails or those transferred under Interstate Compact Agreements. Those records must be requested through the relevant county or originating state.
Public Records Access Under Arkansas FOIA
The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, codified at Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101, covers all records that government agencies create or maintain. Any Arkansas citizen can request records. No reason is required. Requests can be made in person, by phone, by mail, or electronically. Agencies must respond within three working days. If records are on hand and not exempt, you get them right away. If they're in storage or active use, the agency has up to three business days to produce them.
Fees can't exceed actual reproduction costs. No agency can charge for the time spent finding or pulling records. If the estimated cost exceeds $25, the agency may require prepayment before starting. Fee waivers apply for non-commercial requests that serve the public interest, including research and journalism. Most court records and arrest records are open under both FOIA and Arkansas court access rules. Court records in particular are governed separately and are generally public under the state's open courts doctrine.
Some categories are exempt. Personal contact details for non-elected government employees, open investigation files, certain medical records, and records protected by court order are not public. The Arkansas Attorney General's office enforces FOIA and can intervene when a citizen is wrongly denied access to public records. Reach the AG at (501) 682-2007 or toll-free at 1-800-482-8982, or email oag@arkansasag.gov.
The Arkansas Attorney General's website at arkansasag.gov provides guidance on submitting FOIA requests and what to do when an agency denies a valid public records request.
The AG office can file requests on behalf of citizens and take legal action against agencies that wrongfully deny access to records the public is entitled to see.
Arkansas Background Check Fees and Processing
The Arkansas State Police charges $22.00 for a standard online name-based check. Volunteers who work with children, elderly people, or people with disabilities pay a reduced rate of $11.00. The national FBI fingerprint-based check runs $13.00 online, or $11.00 for qualifying volunteers. Mail and in-person requests via the ASP-122 form cost $25.00. Payment for mailed requests must be by check or money order made out to the Arkansas State Police. Credit cards are not accepted by mail. Organizations using the online system through INA pay an annual account fee, though state agencies and educational institutions are exempt from that annual charge.
Court records from the CourtConnect portal are free to search online. Copies from the courthouse vary by court. Most circuit clerks charge $0.25 per page for standard copies and $5.00 for certified copies. A few counties charge slightly different rates. The ADC inmate search and the sex offender registry are both free to use without registration. The ACIC ARCH system for authorized agencies costs $24.00 per search. For professional licensing background checks, fees vary by board. Nursing requires a combined state and FBI check totaling roughly $38.25. Teaching checks under Act 1310 cost $25 for state and $16.50 for FBI fingerprints.
Online results typically come back in minutes. Mail submissions take two to five business days after the ASP receives the form, not including mailing time. FBI fingerprint checks take one to three business days. Turnaround can extend during high-volume periods or state holidays.
The Arkansas Secretary of State Business Search at sos.arkansas.gov/BCS lets you look up corporate filings, registered agents, and entity standing certificates for businesses operating in the state.
Business records can be relevant when researching an individual connected to a company or when verifying the legal standing of a business entity in Arkansas.
Note: Fee schedules can change. Confirm current rates at cbc.ark.org or call the Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau at (501) 618-8500 before submitting payment.
Arkansas Professional Licensing Background Checks
Several Arkansas licensing boards require criminal background checks as part of the application process. Nursing applicants must pass a state and national fingerprint-based FBI check under Ark. Code Ann. § 17-87-312. That check must be completed no more than 12 months before the application date, and the applicant pays all associated fees. The Arkansas State Board of Nursing is at 1123 South University Avenue, Suite 800, Little Rock, AR 72204, phone 501-686-2700.
Pharmacy applicants undergo a similar process under Regulation 11 of the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy. Teaching applicants under Act 1310 must clear both a state check and an FBI fingerprint check. The Teacher Record Check Form must be notarized. Psychology applicants use an ASP check at $19.25 plus $25 for FBI. Disqualifying offenses vary by board but generally include felony convictions and certain violent or drug-related offenses. A general directory of Arkansas professional licensing boards is available through the state's online services portal at ark.org.
Act 455 of 2013 created a waiver process for teaching applicants with disqualifying offenses. That path requires a written request, proof of enrollment in a preparation program, and a program recommendation. Decisions rest with the licensing board and are made on a case-by-case basis. Ark. Code Ann. § 17-3-102 sets out the general framework for how criminal records affect professional licensing across multiple fields in the state.
Browse Arkansas Background Check Records by County
Each of Arkansas's 75 counties has its own sheriff's office and circuit clerk. These offices keep local arrest records, incident reports, and court case files. Select a county below to find resources specific to that area.
Background Check Resources in Arkansas Cities
Residents of major Arkansas cities can access records through both city police department resources and county-level systems. Pick a city below to find background check sources in that area.