Pulaski County Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Pulaski County
Arrest records in Pulaski County, Arkansas, are generally considered public records under state law. Pursuant to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq.), members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of law enforcement records, including arrest logs, booking records, and incident reports maintained by county agencies. The Arkansas FOIA is one of the broadest open-records laws in the United States, and it applies to all governmental entities, including the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments operating within the county.
It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under Arkansas law, an arrest without a subsequent conviction does not automatically result in a permanent public record, and individuals may be eligible to seek expungement under certain circumstances. Certain categories of records, such as those involving ongoing investigations or juvenile arrests, may be withheld from public disclosure pursuant to statutory exemptions.
What's in Pulaski County Arrest Records
Pulaski County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and maintained by law enforcement agencies. The specific contents of an arrest record may vary depending on the arresting agency, but the following categories of information are typically included.
Arrestee Identifying Information:
- Full legal name and any known aliases
- Date of birth and age at time of arrest
- Race, sex, height, weight, and physical descriptors
- Last known residential address
- Social Security Number (may be redacted in public copies)
Arrest Details:
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Name and badge number of the arresting officer
- Arresting agency (e.g., Pulaski County Sheriff's Office, Little Rock Police Department)
- Incident or case number
Charge Information:
- Specific criminal charges filed
- Arkansas criminal statute(s) cited
- Classification of offense (felony, misdemeanor, or violation)
- Number of counts per charge
Warrant Information (if applicable):
- Warrant number and issuing court
- Date warrant was issued
- Jurisdiction of the warrant
Booking Information:
- Booking number and date
- Facility where the individual was booked
- Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) notation
Bond/Bail Information:
- Bond type (cash, surety, personal recognizance)
- Bond amount set by the court or magistrate
- Bond status (posted, pending, denied)
Court Information:
- Assigned court and docket number
- Scheduled arraignment or hearing date
- Prosecuting agency
Custody Status:
- Current custody status (in custody, released, transferred)
- Release date and conditions of release, if applicable
Additional Information May Include:
- Prior arrest history references
- Detainer or hold information from other jurisdictions
- Arresting officer's narrative or incident summary
How To Look Up Arrest Records in Pulaski County in 2026
Members of the public may access Pulaski County arrest records through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process for obtaining these records under current law.
- Contact the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office directly. The Sheriff's Office maintains booking records and an inmate roster for individuals held at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility. Requestors may submit a written public records request in person or by mail citing the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.
- Submit a written FOIA request. Requests should include the full name of the subject, approximate date of arrest if known, and the requestor's contact information. Agencies are required to respond within three business days under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105.
- Visit the arresting agency in person. Many records are available for immediate inspection during regular business hours at the records division of the relevant law enforcement agency.
- Contact the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk's Office for court-related records associated with an arrest, including charging documents and case dispositions.
- Use the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) for statewide criminal history background checks, which include arrest and conviction data compiled from agencies across the state.
Pulaski County Sheriff's Office 3201 W Roosevelt Rd, Little Rock, AR 72204 (501) 340-6900 Pulaski County Sheriff's Office
Pulaski County Circuit Clerk's Office 401 W Markham St, Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 340-8500 Pulaski County Circuit Clerk
Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-2222 Arkansas Crime Information Center
How To Find Pulaski County Arrest Records Online
Several official online platforms currently provide access to Pulaski County arrest records and related law enforcement data.
- Pulaski County Sheriff's Office Online Inmate Roster: The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office maintains a publicly accessible inmate roster on its official website, allowing users to search for individuals currently in custody at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility. The roster typically includes the individual's name, booking date, charges, and bond information.
- Arkansas Judiciary Case Search: The Arkansas Judiciary's CourtConnect portal provides online access to circuit court case records, including criminal cases originating from arrests in Pulaski County.
- ACIC Background Check Portal: The Arkansas Crime Information Center offers online background check services for authorized requestors, providing statewide arrest and conviction history.
- Pulaski County Sheriff's Public Data Page: The Sheriff's Office website includes a public data section where members of the public may access additional law enforcement information, including recent arrest activity.
How To Search Pulaski County Arrest Records for Free?
At present, several no-cost methods are available for searching Pulaski County arrest records through official government sources.
- Online Inmate Roster: The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office provides free access to its inmate roster through its official website. Users may search by name to locate individuals currently in custody, along with their charges and booking information.
- Arkansas CourtConnect: The Arkansas Judiciary's public case search tool is available at no charge and allows members of the public to search criminal case records by name, case number, or other identifiers.
- In-Person Inspection: Under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, members of the public have the right to inspect public records in person at no cost. Fees may apply only when copies are requested.
- Pulaski County Sheriff's Office Public Data: The Sheriff's Office website currently offers free access to select public data, including recent bookings and inmate information, without requiring a formal records request.
How To Delete Arrest Records in Pulaski County
Arkansas law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement and sealing. Expungement refers to the legal erasure or destruction of a record, while sealing restricts public access to a record without physically destroying it. Under Arkansas law, a sealed record is not accessible to the general public but may remain available to certain government agencies and law enforcement entities.
Pursuant to the Arkansas Expungement Act, codified at Ark. Code Ann. § 16-90-1401 et seq., individuals may petition for expungement of arrest records under the following circumstances:
- The arrest did not result in a conviction (charges were dismissed or not filed)
- The individual was acquitted at trial
- The individual successfully completed a court-ordered diversion program
- The individual meets eligibility criteria for expungement of certain conviction records after completing their sentence
The general steps for seeking expungement in Pulaski County are as follows:
- Determine eligibility based on the nature of the arrest and its disposition.
- Obtain and complete the petition for expungement from the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk's Office.
- File the petition with the appropriate division of the Pulaski County Circuit Court and pay any applicable filing fees.
- Serve notice on the prosecuting attorney's office as required by statute.
- Attend the scheduled court hearing, at which a judge will determine whether expungement is granted.
- If granted, provide certified copies of the expungement order to all relevant agencies, including the arresting agency and the Arkansas Crime Information Center.
Pulaski County Circuit Court 401 W Markham St, Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 340-8500 Pulaski County Circuit Court
What Happens After Arrest in Pulaski County?
The criminal justice process in Pulaski County follows a structured sequence of events from the point of arrest through final case disposition.
- Arrest and Booking: Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility, where booking procedures are completed, including fingerprinting, photographing, and recording of personal information and charges.
- Initial Appearance: Within 48 hours of arrest, the individual is brought before a judge or magistrate for an initial appearance, at which bail or bond conditions are set.
- Arraignment: The defendant appears in court to enter a formal plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest to the charges filed by the prosecuting attorney.
- Pretrial Proceedings: Depending on the nature of the charges, pretrial motions, hearings, and negotiations between the defense and prosecution may occur over a period of weeks or months.
- Trial or Plea Agreement: Cases are resolved either through a negotiated plea agreement or a jury or bench trial.
- Sentencing: If the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty, the court imposes a sentence in accordance with Arkansas sentencing guidelines.
- Appeals: Convicted individuals retain the right to appeal their conviction or sentence to the Arkansas Court of Appeals or the Arkansas Supreme Court.
How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Pulaski County?
Arrest records in Pulaski County are subject to retention schedules established under Arkansas law and applicable agency policies. Under the Arkansas General Records Retention Schedule, law enforcement agencies are required to maintain arrest records for specified minimum periods, which vary based on the nature of the offense and the disposition of the case.
At present, the following general retention guidelines apply:
- Felony arrest records are typically retained permanently or for a minimum of several decades, particularly when associated with a conviction.
- Misdemeanor arrest records may be retained for shorter periods, commonly ranging from five to ten years following case disposition.
- Arrest records without conviction are subject to retention requirements that may differ from conviction records, and individuals may seek expungement to limit continued retention.
- Juvenile records are governed by separate retention rules under Arkansas juvenile justice statutes and are generally subject to stricter confidentiality protections.
Different agencies within Pulaski County, including the Sheriff's Office, municipal police departments, and the Circuit Clerk's Office, maintain their own records in accordance with applicable schedules. Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for potential future proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system.
How to Find Mugshots in Pulaski County
What Mugshots Are A mugshot is a standardized photograph taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. Mugshots are part of the official arrest record and serve as a visual identification tool for law enforcement agencies.
Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots taken in Pulaski County are maintained by the arresting agency, most commonly the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office or the relevant municipal police department. The Arkansas Crime Information Center also retains booking photographs as part of statewide criminal history records.
Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request mugshots through a formal public records request submitted to the arresting agency under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Requests should specify the subject's full name, date of arrest, and booking number if available.
Can They Be Found Online The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office currently provides access to inmate information, which may include booking photographs, through its official online inmate roster. Mugshots associated with active bookings are generally accessible through this platform at no charge.
Obtaining Mugshots Officially To obtain a certified copy of a mugshot, members of the public may submit a written FOIA request to the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office Records Division. A per-page copying fee may apply for printed copies.
Restrictions on Mugshot Access Certain mugshots may be withheld from public disclosure, including those of juvenile arrestees, individuals whose records have been expunged or sealed, and subjects of active undercover investigations. Arkansas law does not currently have a specific statute restricting the commercial republication of mugshots, but expungement orders may require the removal of such images from public databases.