Sebastian County Arrest Records

In Sebastian County, Arkansas, an arrest becomes necessary or lawful when specific conditions are met under the Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure. One such condition is probable cause, which refers to the reasonable belief that a person has committed a crime. Arrests are also justified where the officer witnesses the crime and when a judge or magistrate issues an arrest warrant based on available evidence linking the individual to a crime. After arrest, the individual is detained and processed, during which information regarding the apprehension and alleged offense is documented.

Sebastian County arrest records are official documents that detail the circumstances surrounding an individual's arrest. They provide a formal account of the interaction between law enforcement and the accused. The arresting agency and other law enforcement agencies within county limits generally hold these records. However, given their significance in the judicial process, they may also be maintained as part of Sebastian County court records.

It is worth noting, however, that the provisions of Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-1503 further streamline the definition of Arkansas arrest records to 'felony arrest information wherein conviction or disposition information has not been entered into the central repository.' Consequently, the following may not be considered arrest records:

• Arrest records relating to misdemeanor offenses
• Records pertaining to felony cases that were resolved by acquittal or dismissal
• Records of felony arrests that are older than 5 years old

Are Arrest Records Public in Sebastian County?

Yes. In Arkansas, arrest records are generally considered public records as specified by the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Arkansas Code § 25-19-105. However, specific statutes prescribe the restriction of selected information if their disclosure will interfere with an ongoing investigation or pose a risk to national security or the safety of the record holder. These statutes are as follows:

• Arkansas Code § 9-27-309 (Juvenile Records) – Arrest records involving juveniles are generally not available to the public unless specifically allowed by a court.
• Arkansas Code § 16-90-1401 et seq. (Expunged or Sealed Records) – Arrest records that have been sealed or expunged by a court order are not accessible to the public, but certain authorized individuals or agencies (such as law enforcement or state licensing boards) may still have access.
• Arkansas Code § 25-19-105(b)(6) (Ongoing Investigations) – Arrest records that are part of an ongoing investigation may be exempt from disclosure to avoid jeopardizing the investigation.

These restrictions notwithstanding, certain individuals or agencies, including law enforcement agencies, government agencies, the subject of the record, and their attorneys or court-appointed representatives, may be eligible to access restricted or confidential records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The information typically contained in an Arkansas public arrest record may vary depending on the document and the nature of the offender's crimes. However, most arrest records will feature the following:

• Personal information, mugshot, and description of the arrestee

  • Full name of the individual
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Race or ethnicity
  • Mugshot (photograph taken at the time of booking)
  • Physical description (height, weight, hair color, eye color, etc.)

• Arrest Information

  • Date and time of the arrest
  • Location of the arrest
  • Arresting agency or officer
  • Charges or offenses for which the person was arrested
  • Booking number or case number
  • Bail or bond information, if applicable

• Criminal charges and court information

  • List of specific charges or offenses
  • Detailed descriptions of the charges
  • Any prior criminal history or outstanding warrants
  • Court case number
  • Date of court appearances
  • Status of the case (pending, dismissed, convicted, etc.)
  • Disposition or outcome of previous cases, if applicable

• Booking and Custody Information

  • Jail or detention facility location
  • Duration of custody or detention
  • Release information, if available

Sebastian County Crime Rate

According to the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC), crime data for 2023 in Sebastian County, there were 3,710 index offenses reported by law enforcement agencies in that year. A breakdown of these offenses revealed 4 murders, 1 justifiable homicide, 29 kidnappings, 87 forcible rape, 20 forcible sodomy, 54 forcible fondling, 2 statutory rapes, 865 incidents of aggravated assault, 1,204 reports of simple assault and 1443 alleged incidents of intimidation

Sebastian County Arrest Statistics

The ACIC also gathers arrest data for the county's law enforcement agencies. In 2023, there were 776 adult arrests and 191 juvenile arrests. These arrests encompassed 239 arrests for intimidation (adults), 264 for simple assault, and 258 for aggravated assault. There were also 4 arrests for kidnapping, 3 for forcible rape, and 6 for forcible fondling.

Find Sebastian County Arrest Records

The Records Department of the Sebastian County Sheriff's Office processes the county's arrest record requests. Inquirers may submit in-person or mail requests to the department containing information regarding the arrestee, the date of the incident, the location, and the type of record being requested. Requests may be addressed to:

Sebastian County Sheriff's Office
800 South A Street,
Fort Smith, AR 72901
Greenwood District: (479) 996-2145

Additionally, the Sebastian County Sheriff's Office offers an Inmate Inquirer Tool, which interested persons can access current and recent arrest information. Users can search the roster by providing the individual's full name, race, sex, arrest date, and other relevant information.

Free Arrest Record Search in Sebastian County

Individuals can obtain free arrest records by visiting the Sebastian County Sheriff's Office's official website. The online inmate roster allows searches by name, arrest dates, release dates, and holding agencies. Some third-party websites also offer arrest records for free, although they may not be as reliable or up-to-date as government databases.

Get Sebastian County Criminal Records

Sebastian County criminal records detail a person's interactions with the criminal justice system, including arrests, convictions, and court proceedings. In Arkansas, these are managed by law enforcement and the Arkansas Department of Public Safety.

Interested persons can request a criminal history search or an official background check through the Arkansas State Police's online portal. Searchers are charged a non-refundable fee of $24 for criminal record searches and $22 for background checks. Inquirers will be required to enter the last name, first name, birth date, and sex of the record holder to obtain the information of interest.

Inquirers may also make in-person queries to:

Arkansas Department of Public Safety
One State Police Plaza Drive,
Little Rock, AR 72209
Phone: (501) 618-8000
Email: DPS.Info@asp.arkansas.gov

Sebastian County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Criminal records contain comprehensive information about a person's criminal history, including arrests, court proceedings, and convictions. Unlike arrest records, a criminal record may be used as proof of guilt in a court of law, as it includes adjudicated cases and legal outcomes.

On the other hand, an arrest record details an individual's arrest and the circumstances surrounding their detention, but it does not indicate guilt. Arrest records are typically used to document the initial stages of the criminal process and do not serve as conclusive proof of criminal activity.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

The lenght of time that an arrest can remain on a person's record varies with the individual, the nature and severity of the offense and other extraneous factors. However, Sebastian county arrest information is likely to remain on record unless efforts are made to remove them.

Expunge Sebastian County Arrest Records

Expunging an arrest record means legally removing or sealing the record of an apprehension or detention, making it inaccessible to the public. In Arkansas, the provisions for this process are governed by various statutes of the Arkansas Code. According to Arkansas Statute (A.C.A. § 16-90-1401 et seq.), arrest records can be sealed if their associated charges did not result in a conviction. A.C.A. § 16-90-1405 also specifies that first-time offenders with misdemeanor convictions are eligible to have their records expunged, while non-violent felony offenses may be expunged after at least 5 years of the completion of the sentence according to A.C.A. § 16-90-1406. Juveniles and first-time drug offenders may also be eligible to have their records expunged depending on the circumstances surrounding their arrest and/or subsequent prosecution.

Eligible persons may seek expungement/sealing by applying for a governor's pardon or filing a petition and order to seal.

Governor pardon applications may be completed and submitted to:

DCC Institutional Release Services (IRS)
Clemency Department
2801 S. Olive St.,
Suite 6-D Pine Bluff, AR 71603

Applicants who file a Petition and Order to Seal may be taken to the court where they were sentenced. There, they will be provided with further information on the process. Following its approval by a judge the clerk may forward the order to seal to the Arkansas Crime Information Center. However, petitioners may opt to hand deliver it to the office at:

322 S. Main Street, Ste. 615
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 682-2222

Sebastian County Arrest Warrants

In Sebastian County, Arkansas, an arrest warrant is a legal document that authorizes law enforcement to arrest a person suspected of committing a crime. Only a judge in a court of law may issue such a warrant, and it is typically granted after law enforcement officers present a formal complaint and a supporting affidavit showing probable cause.

To issue an arrest warrant in Sebastian County, a police officer or another law enforcement official must file a formal complaint with the court. This complaint must be accompanied by a sworn affidavit that provides enough evidence to establish probable cause that the individual named in the warrant has committed a crime. According to Arkansas law (Ark. Code Ann. § 16-81-104), the judge will then review the evidence. If the judge determines that sufficient probable cause exists, the arrest warrant will be issued.

The arrest warrant must include specific details, including:

• The name of the person to be arrested (if known);
• The nature of the alleged crime;
• The time and date the judge signed the warrant;
• Whether the offense is bailable and, if so, the bond amount.

Sebastian County Arrest Warrant Search

Individuals seeking information about active arrest warrants in Sebastian County can access such information through the Sebastian County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office provides a regularly updated list of wanted persons as well as a dedicated warrant search portal. The portal is searchable by the subject's last name, first name, warrant number, and the 'warrant date from/to.' Searches will typically provide requesters with active warrants matching the searched name and containing information about the individual's age, race, sex, height, and weight.

Do Sebastian County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Arkansas, including Sebastian County, arrest warrants do not have an expiration date. Once issued, they remain active until one of the following events occurs:

• The individual named in the warrant is arrested;
• The individual voluntarily appears in court;
• The individual dies.

Although an arrest warrant does not automatically expire, in some cases, a warrant may be nullified if it contains an error, such as being issued for the wrong person. Under Arkansas law (Ark. Code Ann. § 16-81-105), if an officer attempts to execute an arrest based on a mistaken identity, the individual may avoid arrest by proving the error. In such cases, the court may withdraw the warrant.