Lonoke County Arrest Records

The criminal justice process in Lonoke County typically begins with an arrest following a law enforcement officer witnessing a crime, a citizen’s formal complaint, or a 911 dial. When a suspect is arrested, they are transported to a detention center, typically the Lonoke County jail for booking and incarceration. During the booking process, law enforcement agents take record of the arrestee's personal information, charges, photograph, and fingerprint, which are cumulatively referred to as arrest records.

Lonoke County arrest records play important rules in the smooth running of the state's criminal justice system. They give law enforcement agencies important information about a suspect under investigation. Arrest records are also one of the many essential documents employers, landlords, and the general public peruse when conducting comprehensive background checks. These documents help in facilitating criminal prosecutions, serving as evidence against a defendant, and forming a crucial part of the larger Lonoke County court records.

Other uses of arrest records include:

• Research and statistics
• Policy making
• Accountability

Note: While law enforcement agents maintain copies of arrest records they generate, the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office is the primary custodian of arrest records in the county.

Are Arrest Records Public in Lonoke County?

Yes. Pursuant to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), public offices such as the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office and law enforcement agencies must provide access to arrest records they maintain to Arkansans who request them. Furthermore, record custodians must provide requested records not more than 3 business days from the date the request was made and are allowed to only charge the actual costs for reproducing documents and mailing expenses.

However, some exceptions limit a record custodian’s ability to disseminate specific records or arrest information, including:

• Records that are part of an open and ongoing law enforcement investigation
• Information that can be used to identify someone engaged in lawful executions or legal injections and similar businesses
• Juvenile records

Interested parties can find more comprehensive information on Arkansas’ FOIA and its exceptions by downloading the “Freedom of Information Handbook” on the Attorney General of Arkansas’ official website.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Requesters can expect to find the following public information in a typical Lonoke County arrest record:

• Arrestee's personal identifying information (full name, mugshot, gender, age, place of origin, etc)
• Arrest information (date and time)
• Charges
• Court details (court name and date)
• Bond information

Find Lonoke County Arrest Records

There are several resources for looking up inmates in Lonoke County, depending on the agency responsible for the arrest. Generally, arrestees apprehended by federal law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) are incarcerated in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities. Information about these inmates can be obtained by sending a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Bureau or leveraging their online Find an Inmate tool. Interested parties may access the BOP’s list of facilities or conduct a search for facilities for information on the Bureau’s jail locations.

Requesters may also query the specific federal arresting agency for information regarding their arrestees. Furthermore, some federal agencies may provide online lookup platforms for members of the public to obtain information about individuals in their custody. A good example is US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s Online Detainee Locator System where interested individuals can conduct an arrest record search by several parameters including A-number and biological information.

At the state level, interested parties can send a public records request to the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) for records of persons detained in their facilities. This is typically done via email to DOC.FOIA@doc.arkansas.gov. Alternatively, interested parties can conduct an online Inmate Search on the Department’s official website using various search criteria including ADC number, inmate’s name, gender and age. Searchers can obtain Lonoke County-specific information by choosing “Lonoke” from the drop-down menu under the “County” section on the search page.

Members of the public may also query the local police department in Lonoke County that arrested the subject or the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office for arrest records. Individuals are advised to visit the agency's official website for information on obtaining these records, where available. For example, the Cabot Police Department provides information on obtaining public records on their Public Information page. On the other hand, the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office maintains an online jail roster which members of the public can check to find current and new inmates, as well as recent releases.

Free Arrest Record Search in Lonoke County

Arkansas FOIA only allows record custodians to charge the exact fees for reproducing copies of requested records and mailing them to the requesters. Consequently, individuals may obtain arrest information in Lonoke County at no cost by requesting to inspect them without making any copies. The online search platforms discussed above are also free avenues for obtaining arrest information.

Furthermore, third-party repositories may offer search services for Lonoke County arrest records free of charge. However, free information obtained from private services are often limited or available for the first few searches.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. An individual’s arrest information will remain on their criminal record until it is expunged or sealed. Parties should note, however, that this rule only applies to adult arrests and convictions. Arrest records of juveniles who are designated juvenile jurisdiction offenders are kept for 10 years after the guilty plea date or until the subject's 21st birthday, whichever is longer.

Expunge Lonoke County Arrest Records

Expungement in Lonoke County is a legal process a person undertakes to have their arrest records removed from public inspection. To expunge an arrest record in Lonoke County, the subject must first determine their eligibility for expungement. Generally, applicants who were acquitted or had their cases dismissed are eligible for expungement. However, those who were convicted or pleaded guilty must have completed their sentences, paid all court-ordered fines, restitution, etc., and have no new criminal convictions to qualify. Also, misdemeanor offenses are expungeable to the exception of a few including:

• Class A misdemeanor negligent homicides
• Battery in the third degree
• Indecent exposure
• Public sexual indecency
• Sexual assault in the fourth degree
• Domestic battering in the third degree
• Driving while intoxicated

Most non-expungeable felonies include those involving a child or violence. Individuals who are unsure of their eligibility status are advised to seek the advice of a qualified criminal defense attorney. Parties should also note that they may have to wait for some time to elapse after completing their sentence to qualify for expungement. For example,

Eligible individuals should begin the expungement process by filing a petition in the Lonoke County circuit or district court that heard the matter. Upon filing, the court will send a copy of the petition to the prosecutor and the arresting agency. If there is no opposition to the expungement and the court sees no reason to deny the application, the petition will be granted. However, if anyone objects to the expungement, the opposing party must file a notice of opposition with the court within 30 days of the applicant's filing. The court will then set a hearing date to hear arguments from the opposing party as to why the record should not be expunged.

If the court determines that there are no sufficient grounds to deny the expungement, the applicant's petition will be granted. More information on expungements can be obtained from the state’s expungement document.

Lonoke County Arrest Warrants

When law enforcement agents in Lonoke County suspect an individual of committing a crime following investigation, they begin the prosecutorial process by bringing the suspect into custody as soon as possible. Many times, they can do this without further recourse to anyone. At other times, they must approach the circuit, district, or magistrate court for permission to do so through an arrest warrant. To obtain the arrest warrant, the law enforcement agent must be able to prove probable cause for it.

Note: The law requires a judicial officer to issue an arrest warrant in some cases, such as when the subject fails to appear in response to a citation or summons.

Lonoke County arrest warrants must be issued in the name of the state, be in writing, and will typically contain the following information:

• A direction to all law enforcement officers in the state
• The issuing officer's signature and title of office
• Date of issue
• A description of the alleged offense
• A commandment to bring the suspect before a judicial officer in Lonoke County

Arrest warrants are public information in Lonoke County. Interested parties can conduct an arrest warrant search by calling the local police station, querying the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office or sending a public records request to the Lonoke County Circuit

Do Lonoke County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Lonoke County arrest warrants have no expiry date and remain active until they are executed or recalled by the issuing court.