Pulaski County Arrest Records

People arrested in Pulaski County, Arkansas, may be held in jail until their court appearance. At the same time, they may be released without charges or given a date to appear in court to address the allegations. Either way, the arresting officer will create an official account of the incident detailing the party arrested, the alleged offense, the suspect's personal and demographic information, and other pertinent data.

These so-called "arrest records" are typically kept by the arresting department but may be shared with other criminal justice agencies to facilitate various criminal justice proceedings, such as charging defendants and updating a person's criminal history. Consequently, arrest information may be found in other official records like Pulaski County court records, criminal history documents, inmate files, and official press releases.

Are Arrest Records Public in Pulaski County?

Yes. The Arkansas FOIA (Freedom of Information Act), Ark. Code Ann. §§ 25-19-101 - 25-19-111, secures the citizens' right to inspect and receive copies of records that government agencies maintain, except as otherwise provided by law.

Pulaski County arrest records are among the documents made public by the state's FOIA. However, certain records are confidential to the general public and may only be releasable to the subject of the record, a party with the subject's consent, or a criminal justice agency for official purposes.

One case where restricted access may apply pertains to criminal records from the Arkansas Crime Information System, which may show criminal arrests. Other examples include sealed arrest records, juvenile records, and records tied to pending adjudications.

More information about Arkansas FOIA laws can be found on the State Attorney General's website.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Pulaski County provide an official synopsis of the events leading to an arrest made within county limits, as is releasable under the Arkansas FOIA. These records may carry the following details:

• Full legal name of the individual arrested (the arrestee), as well as any known aliases
• Arrestee's race, sex, birth date, and address
• Arrestee's physical description, including eye color, height, weight, and hair color
• Charge(s) for which arrested
• Arrest date, time, and location
• Arrest type (whether with or without a warrant)
• Arresting agency
• Bond information, including the amount
• Booking information, such as the date, photograph, detention facility, and the arrestee's ID number

Pulaski County Crime Rate

Annual crime statistics for Pulaski County are published by the Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) within the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC), a division of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

According to the SAC's 2023 Crime In Arkansas report, Pulaski County had 50,021 offenses in 2023. Crime Against Property accounted for 28,818 offenses, or 57.6% of the year's crime total. This was followed by Crimes Against Persons, with 16,570 reported offenses (33.1%), and then Crimes Against Society, with 4,633 offenses (9.3%).

Among the offenses committed in Pulaski in 2023, simple assault was the most prevalent crime, resulting in 7,220 incidents. Destruction/Damage/Vandalism followed closely, accounting for 6,077 offenses.

Note: The SAC categories crimes into three groups, according to NIBRS offense definitions:

• Crimes Against Persons: These include offenses like murder, simple assault, rape, and other acts where the victim is an individual. Each victim constitutes one offense.
• Crimes Against Property: These include offenses committed to gain money, property, or another benefit. Examples include larceny, burglary, and bribery. Here, each offense counts as one occurrence.
• Crimes Against Society (or Crimes Against the Public Order): These offenses are prohibited because they violate moral and ethical principles and are detrimental to society. Examples are gambling, narcotic violations, and public intoxication. Each offense counts as one occurrence.

Pulaski County Arrest Statistics

Law enforcement departments in Pulaski County, Arkansas, reported 17,852 arrests in 2023. Of the total, 8,688 arrests were made for Group A offenses (i.e., crimes against persons, property, and society). Meanwhile, 9,164 arrests were classified as "Group B arrests" (i.e., minor crimes for which only arrest incidents are noted, such as peeping tom, liquor violations, loitering, and bad checks).

Based on the 2023 arrest statistics released by the Statistical Analysis Center, adults were apprehended more often in Pulaski County, with 16,205 adult arrests occurring in 2023. Juvenile arrests totaled 1,583, while the remaining 64 arrests were classified as "unknown".

In 2023, drug/narcotics violations had the highest arrest numbers in Pulaski County, amounting to 2,078 incidents. The offense was succeeded by simple assault, with 1,678 arrests (1,305 adults, 369 juveniles, and 4 unknown). Aggravated assault ranked third, with 985 arrests (883 adults, 97 juveniles, and 5 unknown).

Find Pulaski County Arrest Records

To obtain an arrest record in Pulaski County, an individual may submit a Freedom of Information Act request to the law enforcement department that made the arrest. Police departments provide different methods for retrieving arrest reports, but one must usually submit a formal query to their records divisions or units.

Available request channels may include in-person, by mail, and sometimes, by email or phone. It is essential to include information that allows the records custodian to identify sought-after documents, and fees may be assessed to provide responsive records or information. Generally, the relevant records unit can be contacted during normal business hours to determine the exact ordering guidelines.

However, it is crucial to note that not all Pulaski County arrests will be made by a local agency. Some persons enter the legal system via a state or federal agency arrest. In situations where the state made an arrest, the arrestee may be held at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility, which is operated by the sheriff's office. In that case, the requester can search the County Inmate Roster or contact the sheriff's office for information. The Arkansas Department of Corrections Inmate Search is a valuable informational resource if the arrestee were sentenced to a state prison.

Those seeking the whereabouts of a federal arrestee can also search the County Inmate Roster to see if the party is being held at the local jail. Alternatively, they can search the Federal Inmate Locator for the arrestee's holding facility. Inquirers can then contact the facility for information about the inmate, or they may send a FOIA request to the arresting agency to find out the circumstances of the arrest.

Note that if the arrestee is in ICE (U.S. Immigrations) custody, the Online Detainee Locator System should be searched instead.

Free Arrest Record Search in Pulaski County

The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act generally allows the public to request arrest records searches in Pulaski County without incurring fees. The same is true when accessing specific online databases maintained by criminal justice departments that may feature arrest data. However, the Act permits agencies to impose reasonable costs for preparing and releasing a copy of a public record. Therefore, an individual may have to pay a nominal fee to obtain an arrest record in Pulaski County.

A similar situation may arise when utilizing third-party aggregator databases for arrest records searches. Most databases allow the user to submit a search query at no cost, often requiring only a party's first and last name to initiate the query. However, payment may be necessary to view or print results from the search.

Get Pulaski County Criminal Records

Pulaski County criminal records refer to the official notations of arrests, charges, convictions, and sentences of individuals who have passed through the county's criminal justice system. These records are methodically compiled, preserved, and disseminated by several criminal justice agencies, both within and outside the county. However, the Arkansas State Police has the most comprehensive criminal history files, encompassing criminal information from Pulaski County and other regions within the state.

The State Police maintains two distinct access classes for files within its custody:

• Records that are releasable to the public, and
• Records that are releasable only to parties authorized under Ark. Code Ann. §§ 12-12-1008 - 12-12-1011, such as entities with a subject's signed written consent and those permitted by a federal or state law.

The former group can obtain name-based criminal record checks from the State Police through the online Arkansas Criminal History (ARCH) system. The required search criteria are the first and last name, date of birth, and sex of a person aged 18 years or older. Inquirers must pay a non-refundable $24 fee for the search.

ARCH search results may show criminal arrests or convictions or that the subject has no criminal record in Arkansas. Specifically, the system only disseminates reported public felony arrests less than three years old, misdemeanor and felony convictions, and whether the person of interest is a registered sex offender (Levels 1 through 4) or is mandated to register as one. It should be noted, however, that without fingerprint verification, there is no guarantee that the search results are related to the subject of the search.

Individuals seeking fingerprint verification (i.e., a fingerprint-based criminal record check) and who are statutorily eligible to request one can access the Online Criminal Background Check (CBC) System. It costs $22 for an Arkansas State request and $14.25 for a National/FBI check. However, volunteers pay subsidized fees: $11 for a statewide check and $12.25 for a national check.

Access to the Online Criminal Background Check System requires an Information Network of Arkansas (INA) account. If the user does not already receive services from INA or is not a state agency or educational institution, the account may bear an annual charge. Persons who do not have an INA account may submit a mail or in-person request using Form ASP-122. The fee payable is $25.

Additional details about the CBC process, such as the background check information retrievable, can be sought from the State Police's Identification Bureau by calling (501) 618-8500 or by reviewing instructions and FAQs on the CBC system.

One advantage of requesting criminal background checks through the Arkansas State Police is that the information is already compiled in one place. However, it does not mean criminal information cannot be sought from the originating agencies.

For instance, conviction information in the Arkansas Criminal History (ARCH) system is based upon information received from sentencing courts. As such, one can query records from the court that handled a case. Pulaski County court records are available through the Arkansas Judiciary Case Search system or by contacting the respective court clerk's office.

Again, one can search the Arkansas Sex Offender Registry, seek inmate records from the local correctional facility, or request arrest records from the law enforcement agency that made an arrest in Pulaski.

Pulaski County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

A Pulaski County arrest record provides information about a person who entered police custody for a criminal offense. It explains the circumstances of the arrest, listing the parties involved and the arresting agency, as outlined earlier. This record differs from a criminal record, which is a broader overview of a person's past criminal actions.

Unlike an arrest record, a criminal record includes the formal charges filed against a person and any related court dispositions and sentences. Thus, the record may be reviewed for employment, licensing, or another legal process where it is important to establish a person's character.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Unless an arrest qualifies for automatic expungement under Arkansas law (often juvenile records as per Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-309), it remains a permanent component of an individual's record. However, certain arrests occurring within Pulaski County may be eligible for expungement, a process whereby the record is withdrawn from the public's access and the holder freed from some potential ramifications, such as the record appearing on employment and housing background checks.

Expunge Pulaski County Arrest Records

Criminal record sealing is one of the relief mechanisms provided in Pulaski County to criminal defendants. The procedure removes police and court records from public view but does not physically destroy them. Previously, it was referred to as an expungement in Arkansas.

An individual who wants to restrict their Pulaski arrest record must generally file a petition under the Arkansas Comprehensive Criminal Record Sealing Act of 2013, specifically Sections 16-90-1409 or 16-90-1410, if requesting sealing for non-conviction records.

Ark. Code Ann. § 16-90-1409 permits sealing when it has been one year since the date of an arrest, and the prosecuting attorney has not filed any charges. The petition (called a Petition and Order to Seal) can be filed in a Pulaski County circuit or district court, depending on which court heard the case and provided the arrest indeed happened in Pulaski County. The Petition to Seal Arrest and Order to Seal Arrest forms (available on the ACIC forms page) should be used to request the restriction.

On the other hand, Ark. Code Ann. § 16-90-1410 allows defendants to seal their arrest records when:

• An order of nolle prosequi was entered upon the prosecuting attorney's motion, and a year has passed since the entry date;
• The case was dismissed;
• The defendant was acquitted unless the reason for the acquittal was because of a mental disease or defect; or
• The prosecuting attorney dropped the charges.

The relevant Petition and Order to Seal forms must be filed in the court where the case was nolle prossed or dismissed, the defendant acquitted, or the charges dropped.

Petitioners should note the following:

• It may be necessary to obtain a background check report from the Arkansas State Police and a Judgment and Commitment Order from the court, as information contained in these reports is needed to fill out the petition accurately. There may be nominal fees charged to obtain a report.
• After July 2019, the courts do not assess a filing fee for expungements (Ark. Code. Ann. § 16-90-1419).
• A copy of the petition forms must be sent to the arresting agency and prosecuting attorney, allowing them to oppose the petition if needed. Such offices have 30 days from the petition's filing date to object. If an objection is made, the court will schedule a hearing to decide. Otherwise, the court may grant the petition.
• The clerk's office can provide further instructions about the process.

Individuals interested in sealing conviction records related to an arrest can find the applicable legal forms on the ACIC forms page.

When a Pulaski court enters an Order to Seal, the clerk sends copies to the relevant departments, such as the arresting agency, ACIC, prosecuting attorney, and the Administrative Office of the Courts. The petitioner will also receive a copy for their personal records, which they can use to prove the restriction to other parties.

The effect of a sealing order is that the defendant can state on job and housing applications that they have never been arrested or convicted of an offense. However, a sealed arrest record can be seen by the following parties:

• The subject of the record or their attorney
• A prosecuting attorney
• A criminal justice agency for employment purposes
• A presiding court
• The Arkansas Crime Information Center

Pulaski County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a written command from the court authorizing police officers to apprehend someone who violated a law or court order (such as failing to attend a scheduled hearing).

In Pulaski County, any magistrate, district court judge, or circuit court judge can issue an arrest warrant upon a prosecuting attorney's request/oath or if having personal knowledge of the commission of an offense. However, Arkansas law (Ark. Code Ann. § 16-81-104) and the U.S. Fourth Amendment mandate that there exist reasonable grounds for believing that an offense has occurred and that a specific person is responsible. Otherwise, the warrant will be legally invalid.

Generally, any arrest warrant issued in Pulaski County identifies the individual to be apprehended, describes the offense allegedly committed, lists the issuing court and date, specifies the bond set by the court (if any), and instructs the executing police officer to present the offender before the court without delay.

Pulaski County Arrest Warrant Search

To find outstanding arrest warrants in Pulaski County, one should contact the local sheriff's office at (501) 340-6625 or stop by 2900 South Woodrow, Little Rock, during regular business hours for inquiries. The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office is responsible for serving all warrants of arrest approved by the county's courts.

An inquiry for Pulaski arrest warrants can also be made within the local court system since the courts release such warrants. Interested persons can search for notations of issuances in court records via the Arkansas Judiciary Case Search.

If online access is not feasible, one can visit the courthouse where a case is open or contact the court clerk's office. For instance, individuals curious about warrants issued by the Pulaski County District Court can call the clerk's office at (501) 340-6850 or email inquiries to dcwarrants@pulaskicounty.net.

Do Pulaski County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. An arrest warrant issued in Pulaski County remains outstanding until it is served. Service occurs when the subject is apprehended by a law enforcement officer or voluntarily turns themselves over to the sheriff's office in Little Rock, Arkansas.