Little Rock Criminal Background Check Records
Running a background check in Little Rock, Arkansas means working with several different offices depending on what you need. The Little Rock Police Department handles incident reports and arrest records for events inside city limits. The Little Rock District Court keeps records for misdemeanor cases and traffic matters filed locally. Pulaski County Circuit Court covers felony cases and civil matters for the entire county, including Little Rock. State-level criminal history is available through the Arkansas State Police system at cbc.ark.org, which covers all arrests and convictions linked to a person across every county in Arkansas.
Little Rock Quick Facts
Little Rock Police Department Records
The Little Rock Police Department is located at 700 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72201. The main phone is 501-371-4621. The Records Division handles requests for incident reports, arrest records, and other public records tied to events inside Little Rock city limits. Records Division hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You must appear in person with a valid photo ID to request records. The LRPD website is at littlerock.gov/police.
When you request an incident report from the LRPD, you will need to provide the case number, the date of the incident, and a clear description of what you are looking for. The department can pull reports going back several years. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies carry an additional fee. If you do not know the case number, the Records Division can search by date and address. Processing can take a few days for older records that are not yet digitized.
The department also provides an online crime map and incident data through the city's open data portal. This public tool shows incidents reported to police by type and general location. It does not show individual names or case details, but it can help confirm whether an incident was logged. For arrest records tied to specific individuals, an in-person visit or written FOIA request is the right path. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101, the department must respond to public records requests within three business days.
The Little Rock Police Department at littlerock.gov/police is the starting point for background check and incident report requests for events inside Little Rock city limits.
The Records Division at 700 West Markham handles all public records requests for police incidents in Little Rock during regular business hours.
Little Rock District Court Records
The Little Rock District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and small claims matters within the city. District court records are public and can be accessed in person at the courthouse or through online tools. The court address is 3001 West Roosevelt Road, Little Rock, AR 72204. Phone is (501) 340-6824. Cases heard at Little Rock District Court include Class A, B, and C misdemeanors, as well as city ordinance violations.
District court records typically include the defendant's name, the charges filed, hearing dates, and case outcomes. These records are useful when you need to confirm whether someone was cited for a minor offense inside Little Rock. Cases that start in district court but involve felony charges are bound over to the Pulaski County Circuit Court. At that point, the Circuit Clerk's office at 401 West Markham becomes the place to search for the full record.
For a quick online check, Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov includes Little Rock District Court cases. You can search by person name or by case number. Results are free to view and show charges, hearing status, and case outcomes. This is often the fastest way to pull a district court case without making a trip to the courthouse.
Pulaski County Circuit Court Records
Felony criminal cases, civil matters over $25,000, domestic relations cases, and probate matters are all handled by the Pulaski County Circuit Court. Because Little Rock is the county seat, the main courthouse at 401 West Markham, Little Rock, AR 72201 is just blocks from the police department. Circuit Clerk phone is (501) 340-8500. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Circuit court records for Little Rock residents show the full picture for serious criminal matters. Each record includes charges, hearing dates, arraignment information, judge assignments, and the final case disposition. Domestic relations records cover divorce filings, child custody, and protective orders. Probate records are also public unless sealed by a judge. Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page. Certified copies run $5.00 per document.
The Pulaski County Circuit Clerk website at pulaskiclerkar.gov lets you search case records online. You can look up cases by name, case number, or filing date. For cases not yet available online, the clerk's office maintains paper files going back decades. A written request by mail is an option for older records, with payment by check or money order only. Mail requests go to: Pulaski Circuit and County Clerk, Room 122, 401 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72201.
For a broader picture of someone's court history across the entire state, the CourtConnect system at caseinfo.arcourts.gov searches participating courts statewide. Little Rock and Pulaski County courts are fully included. A name search returns all cases on file, not just local ones. This is a free tool and it does not require an account to use.
State Background Check Resources for Little Rock
The most complete background check for a Little Rock resident is the Arkansas State Police name-based criminal history check at cbc.ark.org. This system draws from the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) database, authorized under Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-207, which links arrests and convictions by fingerprint. A name-based search costs $22.00 online and returns results within minutes. Results cover all 75 Arkansas counties, meaning any arrest or conviction tied to a person shows up regardless of where it happened in the state.
Mail-in requests are also accepted for those who prefer not to submit online. The paper form is the ASP-122, available at static.ark.org. Mail requests cost $25.00 and take longer to process than online submissions. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-1502, the Arkansas State Police is authorized to provide criminal history records to the public for authorized purposes. The CBC FAQ at cbc.ark.org/static/faqs.html covers common questions about what the state check includes and excludes.
For inmates at Arkansas Department of Corrections facilities, use the ADC inmate search at apps.ark.org/inmate_info. This free tool shows current facility location, charges, and projected release dates for people in state custody. The Department of Corrections website at doc.arkansas.gov has additional resources on sentence calculations and inmate programs.
The sex offender registry for Little Rock and all of Arkansas is at ark.org/offender-search/index.php. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-901, the Sex Offender Registration Act requires registered individuals to keep their information current. You can search by name, zip code, or by a radius from a specific address. The registry shows photos, current addresses, and offense history for registered individuals. Ark. Code Ann. § 5-14-128 places distance restrictions on Level 3 and Level 4 offenders near schools and daycares.
FOIA Requests in Little Rock
Arkansas has one of the strongest public records laws in the country. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101, any government agency receiving a public records request must respond within three business days. This applies to the Little Rock Police Department, the District Court, and all city and county offices. Requests do not need to state a reason or identify the requester by name in most cases.
For police records, you can submit a FOIA request in writing to the LRPD Records Division at 700 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72201. Email requests are also accepted for basic public records. For court records at the Circuit Clerk's office, requests can go in person, by mail, or by email. Certified copies are not available by email and must be picked up or sent by mail. The Arkansas Attorney General's office at arkansasag.gov publishes FOIA guidance and can advise on disputed or denied requests. The AG office can be reached at (501) 682-2007.
Juvenile records are generally not public. Sealed court records are not available through FOIA. Mental health and medical records tied to legal proceedings may also be restricted. If you are not sure whether a specific record is public, the AG's FOIA guide is the best starting point before submitting a formal request.
Nearby Qualifying Cities
Other cities close to Little Rock that have their own police departments and records systems: