Arkansas Court Records Search

Arkansas Court Records & Case Lookup

According to the Annual Arkansas Judiciary report, the state handles over 158,000 cases in circuit courts and 850,000 filings in district courts. Criminal traffic and local ordnance cases constitute most of the cases, numbering more than 1 million. Traffic cases are the majority in district courts, with an estimated 320,000 violations, 150,000 misdemeanors, and 20,000 DWIs.

The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act allows all state citizens to request, access, and receive copies of public records, including court documents. These include civil, criminal, family law, and probate cases. However, certain exemptions apply to broader access to court record information. Some records are classified as confidential due to their material content, so disclosing them may lead to legal action.

Other Freedom of Information Act exemptions include medical details, adoptions, state tax records, grand jury minutes, ongoing criminal investigations, and information that would create unfair competition. Interested parties can use the Search ARCourts portal to view public case information. This is for circuit and district courts successfully implementing the Contexte web-based system. The site allows one to find information on cases if you know a person's name or a case number.

State of Arkansas Court System

Arkansas has two federal courts, one state supreme court, 35 district courts, and 75 county courts. The judiciary is organized according to four levels. The Supreme Court is the highest-level court within the state. It has one Chief Justice and seven Justices who serve eight-year terms. The Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction is appropriately described by Rules 1-2.

This stipulates that any case is subject to reassignment or transfer by the court. The Supreme Court reviews all appeals from the lower courts, interprets the Constitution, and oversees the administration of the judicial system. It also has a Court of Appeals, which acts as the intermediate appellate court within the state. The State District and Local District Courts are at the lowest level. These typically handle criminal cases, small claims, misdemeanors, and traffic violations.

There are specialty or problem-solving problem-solving courts as well. These mainly handle cases involving juveniles, drug rehabilitation, and veterans. The Arkansas Administrative Office also supports the state's judiciary by providing resources and information and facilitating operational efficiency. It initiates programs like the Court-Appointed Special Advocates to support children and families. This framework allows the state's courts to address sensitive legal issues at different levels.

Arkansas Trial Courts

The Circuit Courts are the primary trial facilities in the state, and they have general jurisdiction over criminal and civil matters. That entails jury trials or bench trials, which only require a judge. Arkansas has 23 judicial circuits, though five are split, resulting in 28 total. The circuit court judges in these jurisdictions hear civil, criminal, domestic relations, and probate-type cases. Judges serve six-year terms and must be licensed attorneys who have practiced law for six years in the state before taking office.

District Courts

District Courts are limited jurisdiction options in Arkansas. They generally preside over traffic violations, small claims cases, misdemeanors, local violations, and other civil matters. District courts are divided according to state and local types.

State District Courts

The state district courts exercise territorial jurisdiction in their districts set up by the General Assembly. The jurisdiction may be county, or city-wide or include more than one county. There are 32 state District Court judicial districts covering Arkansas's 54 counties. They are served by 55 full-time judges. The state district courts accommodate traffic cases, misdemeanors, violations of state law, and initial felony cases. They also have subject matter concerning damage to personal property and recovery, not exceeding $25,000.

Similarly, Supreme Court Administrative Order 18 indicates that state district court judges can be referred to cases pending in circuit court, entailing forcible entry, protective orders, unlawful detention, or other emergency matters. A small claims division of the state district courts facilitates a forum for citizens to represent themselves in matters concerning contracts, damage to personal property, and recovery where the amount is not above $5,000. These case types are tried informally with relaxed regulations on evidence.

Local District Courts

The local district courts also have territorial jurisdiction in the judicial districts as provided by the state legislature. A jurisdiction can be countywide or city-wide. Currently, there are 35 counties with local district courts. Thirty-seven part-time local district court judges serve these. Judges must be licensed attorneys in the state and have practiced law for at least four years. Local District Courts have subject matter concerning misdemeanor offenses, state and local violations, or damage to personal property for amounts not exceeding $5,000. Small claims divisions are also present in these courts.

What are the Specialty Courts in Arkansas?

Specialty courts in Arkansas deal with the issues of judicial involvement through dockets, multidisciplinary teams, and non-adversarial approaches. The goal of specialized courts is to reduce recidivism by connecting offenders with rehabilitation and treatment. Arkansas currently has 109 specialty courts, 46 of which are drug courts and include pre-, post, or hybrid adjudication models. Arkansas specialty courts can be grouped according to the following types.

• 49 adult drug courts
• 5 Hope & Swift courts
• 16 juvenile drug courts
• 5 alternative Sentencing Courts
• 16 veterans treatment courts
• 14 DWI Courts
• 2 mental health courts
• 2 family treatment courts

Arkansas State Court Records vs. Federal Court Records

Arkansas state and federal court records may differ in many ways, including the availability of documentation, case types, prosecution, and deadlines. State court records involve civil or criminal cases, such as misdemeanors and felonies. They also entail property tax litigation. Federal courts, though, typically hear criminal, civil, and bankruptcy cases. State court records in Arkansas are available via the Clerk of the Court from the specific court or the statewide online portal.

Federal court case documentation can be accessed electronically through the Public Access to Court Records platform. Case deadlines are also a point of difference, as state court records on appeal have to be filed within 90 days of the first notice. For federal courts, the appeal has to be filed within 14 days following the entry of judgment. The following are federal district courts in the state.

• The US District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
• The US District Court for the Western District of Arkansas

What Are Public and Non-Public Court Records in Arkansas?

Arkansas court records are open to most parties. The Freedom of Information Act allows access to public records, including civil, criminal, family, and probate documents. Parties may view, inspect, and make copies of this information unless there is an exemption for the record by law. Records that are sealed, expunged, or deemed confidential are considered non-public.

How To Seal or Expunge Arkansas Court Records

Sealing or expunging a court record in Arkansas removes it from public access. In Arkansas, sealing and expunging a court record means the same thing, where the court seals the record, which is considered confidential. It will not be destroyed, but it is unavailable to the public. In most cases, parties should have pleaded guilty or no contest to be eligible for court sealing. One must also have been sentenced under particular statutes for expungement or sealing.

Applicants must also have completed all of the conditions of their probation. Arkansas Code 16-90-1405 provides criteria for the convicted offenses that can be expunged in the state. These include misdemeanors, nonviolent felonies of class C or D, and certain drug offenses provided under diversion programs. If a person was convicted of a nonviolent felony offense while under the age of 18, the court could decide to seal the record, provided it is in the best interest of the petitioner and the state.

Misdemeanor offenses can also be expunged unless the courts are presented with evidence to the contrary. However, this does not apply to battery, sexual assault, domestic battering, or driving while intoxicated. If the applicant is not in the aforementioned category, they may qualify for expungement five years after the completion of their sentence. Expungement also applies to parties who have pleaded guilty to possessing a controlled substance. The courts may place the defendant on probation.

Following completion of the term, the courts can discharge the person and proceedings against them. The expungement does not apply if the defendant has previously pled guilty or been found guilty of controlled substance offenses.

The following court records cannot be deleted due to the criminal offense category.

• Violent offenses such as murder, kidnapping, aggravated robbery, manslaughter and terrorism
• Sexual assault offenses, including rape, first or second-degree sexual assault, child pornography, or incest
• Crimes against minors, including child exploitation and endangering a minor
• Traffic offenses, including felony DWI and vehicular homicide
• Repeat felony offenders

How To Seal Court Records in Arkansas

Provided the requesters have passed the eligibility requirements, they can apply to have their records sealed or expunged. The applicant will require their Judgement and Commitment Order, which details the received sentence. If the document is not available, one can get it by visiting the clerk's office at the court where they were sentenced. It also helps to get the Arkansas Criminal Information Center Check.

This shows the applicant's criminal record. It will also show the date of the party's arrest, their arrest tracking number, SID, and FBI numbers. The arrest tracking number is important as one needs it to ensure their Order to Seal is entered correctly. The reason for these documents is that most prosecutors need proof the applicant has completed the terms of their sentence and paid their fines or restitution.

• File aUniform Petition to Seal in the circuit or district court where the sentence occurred. These forms are obtained from the ACIC. No filing fee is required for this petition.
• Issue a copy of the legal forms filed to the prosecutor and arresting agency.
• For misdemeanor cases, anyone who does not want the record to be sealed must file a notice of opposition. They will also provide the reasons for opposition in 30 days.
• If no oppositions are filed to the attempt to seal the records, the courts will grant the petition. Following opposition, though, the courts will set a hearing.
• If the petition is granted, the clerk of the circuit court will file the Uniform Order to Seal. They will also send copies to the arresting agency, the Administrative Office of the Courts, and the ACIC.

How Do You Access State of Arkansas Court Records?

Accessing court records in Arkansas generally entails visiting the state's assigned online judiciary platform. If this is not possible because the record is inaccessible, one may visit the appropriate court in person and go to the clerk's office.

Online Access to Arkansas Court Records

Interested parties may visit the ARCourts portal to view the case information. The portal allows record seekers to search by case ID, citation number, or case participant. Some basic information provided, including party names, offenses, case summaries, and sentencing, is free. Requesters can also view the case's docket entries and milestone tracks, provided the case records are not deemed confidential.

In-Person Access to State of Arkansas Court Records

To view the court records in person, interested parties have to visit the particular court in person. This is where the case was heard and decided. One can find the court's address online or by general queries, visiting the courthouse and going to the clerk's office. It would be advisable to call the clerk's office to notify them of the visit and inquire about the requirements to view court records, if any.

Depending on the jurisdiction or case, they may require the party to bring their identification and a fee to view the records. The costs also depend on the county or locality. Some records may be available for immediate review, but others might need time to be released.

How To Request Judicial Administrative Records

Judicial administrative records are maintained by the courts, though they may not be typically associated with cases. Parties are required to follow formal processes as the judicial administrative records entail budgets, reports, or records linked to court systems.

• Find the appropriate administrative office responsible for overseeing judicial services. It may be the Administrative Office of the Courts.
• Review the Freedom of Information Act and submit a request. To request judicial administrative records, one needs to submit them to the administrative office.
• The request will include a description of the records being sought, contact details, and other pertinent information.
• Depending on the request, one may be charged a fee for accessing and copying the records.
• Under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, the agency is bound to respond to these requests within three days, provided they are not confidential.

How To Access Older and Archived Court Records in Arkansas

Older court records may be accessed from the court that heard the case. Once one has identified the courthouse, contact their clerk's office. They are likely to have records of older or archived cases. When requesting these records, as much information as possible is needed to locate the documents. Parties should provide the case numbers, names of the parties, and the date they were filed. A fee may be charged on a page basis for viewing the record once it is found. This depends on the jurisdiction of the search.