Clark County Arrest Records

In Clark County, Arkansas, arrest records contain information generated during arrest events. Such records typically include arrest-related data like the arrestee's name, charges, warrants, crime scene recordings, and booking information.

Arrests are legal procedures in which an arresting officer detains persons suspected of violating the law. Officers also conduct arrests to prevent a potential loss of life or property. Arrestees are temporarily detained in the county jail, pending the outcome of further investigations.

The Clark County sheriff's office generates and maintains records of arrest events. Interested parties may obtain copies of the records by contacting the sheriff's office. Arrest records are also available in crime-related documents. For instance, interested parties may search arrest data in public files like Clark County court records or inmate databases.

Are Arrest Records Public in Clark County?

Most Clark County arrest records are publicly accessible under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Public members may view or access public records using specific entities' resources. For example, the Clark County sheriff's office allows in-person inquiries for arrest records at this address:

406 South 5th Street
Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71923
Phone: (870) 246-2222
Email: jason.watson@clarkar.us

Nevertheless, some arrest records are exempt from public view. Such exempt documents may include data that may violate the privacy or safety of concerned parties. For instance, personal identities of crime victims are exempt from public or unauthorized access. Other examples of non-public arrest records include:

• Arrest information that is sealed or expunged under court orders or statutes.
• Information about investigation procedures or strategies.

Clark County Arrest Statistics

The Arkansas Department of Public Safety maintains annual reports on arrest-related events. Per the 2023 report, Clark County's arresting agencies made 99 arrests. There are no county-level inmate statistics reports for the Clark County jail. However, Arkansas's correctional facilities housed 17,199 inmates in 2022.

Find Clark County Arrest Records

In Clark County, public members may find arrest records in arrest reports and other crime-related documents. The county sheriff's office offers access to arrest reports. Conversely, inmate databases are an alternative option for finding arrest information. Such databases provide access to arrest data like the arrestee's personal data, charges, booking date, and bond amount.

The Arkansas Department of Corrections hosts an online database for current inmates in the state's correctional centers. To look up arrest information, inquirers must generally input these details into the required fields:

• Inmate's full name, age, and gender
• ADC number
• County
• Facility
• Offense category.

Conversely, you may find arrest information through the Federal Bureau of Prisons' inmate locator. The search platform only features information about current inmates in federal prisons. To find inmate information on the platform, inquirers may need to fill in the inmate's full name or prison identification number.

Clark County Arrest Records vs. Criminal Records

In Clark County, arrest records differ from criminal records in the following aspects:

They cover different events.

Arrest records only contain information about arrest-related events, such as warrants, the arrestee's personal data, charges, booking date, and bond amount. However, criminal records cover an individual's full criminal history. Such records typically include arrest, court, and sentencing information.

The records are accessible through different agencies

Arresting agencies are responsible for creating and disclosing arrest information. In contrast, interested persons may access criminal records via the state's Department of Public Safety. The department creates criminal records by gathering crime-related data from criminal justice agencies and the judicial system.

The records have different impacts.

Arrest records do not reveal if the arrestee was convicted of a crime, so they have almost no negative impact on the record subject's life. Criminal records, however, may lead to discrimination, such as limited job opportunities.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Clark County, arrest records remain visible on public records unless they are sealed or expunged. Arrestees seeking to expunge records typically have to file a petition for expungement with a court of competent jurisdiction. Nevertheless, arrestees are required to fulfill specific criteria before they may expunge their records.

Clark County Arrest Warrants

Clark County arrest warrants are court documents that authorize arresting persons suspected of violating the law. Court officials generally issue warrants upon receiving an affidavit or complaint from an arresting agency. The complaint must include sufficient proof that the defendant committed a crime.

Warrants issued in Clark County must typically include the following data:

• The defendant's personal information, including name, address, and body markings.
• Criminal charges
• A statement that the offender must be apprehended.
• Warrant issuance date and location.
• The court official's name and signature.

Do Clark County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants have a lifetime validity. They remain valid even after the statute of limitations for the crime has elapsed. Nevertheless, the document becomes invalid when the offender is apprehended or the court revokes it.

Expunge Clark County Arrest Records

Expungement is a legal procedure for removing criminal information from publicly owned spaces. This process requires you to file a petition with a county court. Arrestees seeking to expunge dismissed arrest charges must file their petition with any county court. To expunge conviction records, however, you must file the petition with the court that passed the conviction.

Who is eligible to expunge arrest records in Clark County?

In Clark County, you may immediately expunge dismissed arrest charges from your records. You may also expunge non-violent felonies or misdemeanors after completing the court-mandated sentence or program. The state law, however, requires you to wait for five years to expunge these crimes:

• Driving while intoxicated.
• Domestic battery in the third degree.
• Public sexual indecency.
• Negligent homicide.
• Battery in the third degree.
• Sexual assault in the fourth degree.

How to expunge Clark County arrest records?

Eligible arrestees may expunge arrest records by using this guide:

1. Print out a Petition to Seal Arrest Records and an Order to Seal Arrest form.
2. Submit the form to a court clerk in any of the county courts.

Upon receiving the form, the court will schedule a hearing date to determine the petition's outcome. If the court approves the request, it will sign the order to expunge the arrest record. Next, the court clerk will forward the signed order to the state's Department of Public Safety. The agency will then expunge the record upon receiving the court order.

However, offenders must follow these steps to expunge criminal conviction records:

1. Request copies of the court judgment from the court that handled the case.
2. Next, a copy of the criminal record from the Department of Public Safety must be obtained.
3. Locate and print out the appropriate expungement form from the Arkansas Crime Information Center website.
4. Make copies of the required documents and send them to the court that handled the case.
5. Forward a copy of the documents to the prosecuting attorney and the arresting agency.