Craighead County
Craighead County was formed in 1859 and named after an Arkansas Senator, Thomas Craighead. Uniquely, there are two county seats in the county: Lake City and Jonesboro, its largest city. As of the 2020 census, it has a population of 111,231. Its total land area measures 707 square miles, while the county has 5.5 square miles of water bodies.
The court system in Craighead County comprises district and circuit courts. Craighead County District and Circuit Courts have locations in both county seats. The District Court handles most misdemeanors, traffic offenses, county ordinance violations, and preliminary hearings for felony cases. It has exclusive jurisdiction over civil cases with claims under $100 claims and shares jurisdiction with the circuit court over civil cases with claims between $100 and $25,000.
The Craighead County Circuit Court handles cases beyond the jurisdiction of the District Court. It hears some misdemeanors, all felonies, probate, juvenile, domestic matters, and mental health cases. It has exclusive jurisdiction over civil cases with more than $25,000 in claims and may also hear civil cases with claims between $100 and $25,000.
Craighead County public court records contain the legal proceedings and decisions of the county's courts. These records include court filings, writs, court transcripts, and judgments. The Arkansas Judiciary provides access to all Craighead County public court records.
The Arkansas Judiciary makes the following categories of court records available:
- Civil Records
- Criminal Records
- Traffic Records
- Family Law Records
- Probate Records
The Arkansas Courts Case Search portal maintained by the Arkansas Judiciary provides public access to non-confidential court records in Craighead County. To search for a record, select Craighead County from the list of counties in the filter tab, then enter either the case number or the name. In addition to online access, members of the public can visit the different courthouses in Craighead County to request access and copies of the records of cases heard in the respective locations.
