Ouachita County Arrest Records

In Ouachita County, Arkansas, arrests become necessary when law enforcement has probable cause to believe the person has committed a felony or serious misdemeanor. An arrest is made by placing the defendant in restraint or when the defendant submits to the custody of the officer making the arrest (AR Code § 16-81-107). After an arrest, the arrestee is kept at the Ouachita County Detention Center for the booking process, which includes fingerprinting, photographing, medical screening, and setting bail at arraignment.

The primary agency responsible for generating and maintaining arrest records in the county is the Ouachita County Sheriff's Department. An arrest record is a collection of information from the detention and interrogation of the person in custody. While individuals may need to contact specific law enforcement agencies for arrest records, certain arrest information may be part of other public records like Ouachita County Court Records or criminal records in Arkansas.

Are Arrest Records Public in Ouachita County?

Yes. According to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Ouachita County arrest records are public records and are available upon request. This means that citizens may make a request to the custodian to inspect or make copies of these records. However, information contained in arrest records may be restricted from public disclosure by court order or state laws. These exemptions (AR Code § 25-19-105(b)) typically cover:

• Documents that are protected from disclosure by order or rule of court
• Undisclosed investigations by law enforcement agencies of suspected criminal activity
• Information that discloses the personal identities of undercover law enforcement officers
• Files containing personal records, of which disclosure may be an invasion of personal privacy or a risk to public safety
• Information that may identify the victim in sensitive cases (e.g., human trafficking and sexual assault).
• Information on juvenile offenders.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Individuals can find the following information in a typical arrest record in Ouachita County, Arkansas:

• The arrestee's name, age, date of birth, and physical description
• Arrest details such as the date, time, location, and charges of the arrest charges
• Name and location of the arresting officer
• Booking time, date, and ID
• Past arrests and outstanding warrants
• Bond/bail conditions.

Ouachita County Arrest Statistics

The Arkansas Crime Information Center provides the most recent (2024) crime and arrest data divided across crimes against persons, property (A and B), and society in Ouachita County.

According to the Arrest by Contributor report in 2024, law enforcement made 123 arrests for 'crimes against persons,' including 115 adult arrests and 7 juvenile arrests. The number of arrests in the 'crimes against property - section A' was 51, including 42 adult arrests and 9 juvenile arrests. For 'crimes against property - section B', 71 arrests were recorded, with 65 adult arrests and 6 juvenile arrests. The number of arrests in the 'crimes against society' category was 281, including 257 adult arrests and 24 juvenile arrests.

Find Ouachita County Arrest Records

The Ouachita County Sheriff's Department, which manages the Ouachita County Detention Center, is one of the places to search for inmates and inmate information in the county. The inmate roster on the detention center website contains details of current inmates in jail and a search inmates tool. Users will have to provide the inmate's first/last name and a release update to complete a search.

The Arkansas Department of Correction (ADC) offers an online inmate search tool. Users will have to provide information such as the inmate's ADC number, name, county, facility, age, offense type, and race to complete a search.

Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) provides a locator for federal inmates. Users can search for inmates either by inmate name or number. A name search will require the full names, age, race, and sex of the inmate. On the other hand, a number search will require the inmate number and BOP register number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Ouachita County

In Ouachita County, individuals can find arrest records through different law enforcement agencies and resources. However, not all agencies provide these documents for free as some may require the requester to make a payment. Interested individuals can find an arrest record for free at the Ouachita County Sheriff's Office.

Over time, it may be difficult for individuals to access Ouachita County arrest records through official custodians for free. It is for this reason that individuals may search for arrest records for free on third-party websites. These online sites are not under the state government and usually gather arrest information from other law enforcement agencies and resources. Individuals may complete searches for arrest records using basic information such as full names, ID numbers, and arrest details.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

It depends. In Arkansas, there is no exact rule on how long an arrest may remain on a person's record. However, any adult arrest that leads to a conviction will stay on a person's record until it is sealed or expunged.

Expunge Ouachita County Arrest Records

According to Arkansas State law, one may petition to seal or expunge arrest records in Ouachita County. However, the petitioner must be eligible under the following conditions:

• Completed sentences, payment of restitution, court fees, and reinstatement fees applicable to be eligible for the sealing process
• Charged with an offense that was dismissed
• Acquitted at trial.

Note that certain crimes may require a five-year waiting period after completion of the sentence to be eligible for expungement of records.

An individual who is eligible to have an offense expunged may file a petition and the order to seal at Ouachita County Circuit Court where the case was adjudicated (A.C.A. §16-90-904). The Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) makes available a petition to seal arrest forms for the different counties in the state.

After filling out the petition to seal an arrest record, a copy will be sent to the prosecutor and the arresting agency. The court may grant the petition without a hearing if no one is opposed to it. If the judge approves the sealing of the arrest record, the uniform order to seal should be filed with the Ouachita County Circuit Clerk. The clerk will send copies to the prosecutor, arresting agency, ACIC, and Administrative Office of the Courts. The Circuit Clerk will draw all legal documents of the case in a separate area in the clerk's office.

Ouachita County Arrest Warrants

Ouachita County Arrest warrants are legal documents that permit the arrest of a person in the county. This type of warrant is only issued by a court judge to a law enforcement officer for the arrest of a person charged with the commission of an offense (AR Code § 16-81-104). The court may also issue an arrest warrant when a complaint and a supporting affidavit have been properly filed. A judge will check the complaint and evidence made available for a warrant to establish reasonable cause for the arrest of the suspect.

An arrest warrant contains the name of the suspect, the type of offense, and the time the warrant was signed by the judge. It also specifies whether the offense is bailable and the bond amount.

Do Ouachita County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Most arrest warrants for felonies or serious crimes do not expire in Ouachita County. Even if the warrant is several years old, it will remain valid until the person is taken into custody, appears in court, or dies. However, there are cases where the court can cancel arrest warrants prior to execution. For instance, if the warrant is for a different person, the suspect may state the mistake to the officer, preventing the arrest from taking place.