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Craighead County, Arkansas State Court Records

In Craighead County, Arkansas, court records include the various documents generated during criminal, civil, domestic, probate, juvenile, traffic, and other legal proceedings. This collection includes notices, orders, and judgments, as well as court reporting materials, such as transcripts.

The clerk's office for the court that heard the case in Craighead County is the designated entity responsible for maintaining and recording such records. It is common for court files to incorporate data from external agencies. For example, arrest reports, which typically form the basis for criminal litigation, may be filed in criminal court and subsequently become part of the respective criminal court file.

Are Craighead County Court Records Public?

Yes. Court records in Craighead County are public under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Administrative Order No. 19, except when exempted by statute or court order. Examples of restricted records include

  • Records of open/ongoing investigations
  • Sealed or expunged information
  • Notes and communication between jurors, judges, and court staff
  • Juvenile records

What Information is Available in Craighead County Court Records?

Craighead County court records accessible to members of the public include

  • Case filings: Notices, minutes, judgments, petitions, motions, affidavits
  • Dockets and calendars
  • Party information
  • Transcripts

Craighead County Court Records Search

For individuals seeking court case records in Craighead County, identifying the official Custodian of Records is paramount. This knowledge enables the inquirer to find the appropriate venue for filing a formal request for information. Generally, the Craighead County Circuit Clerk maintains Circuit Court records, whereas the District Court Clerk serves as the designated records custodian for the Craighead County District Court.

Inquirer should note the following:

  • Formal inquiries may be submitted online, in person, or via mail.
  • Pursuant to Administrative Order No. 19, the right to request court records is not restricted to residents of the state.
  • Statements of purpose and personal identifiers are not legally required to make a request for court records, except in the case of bulk or compiled data requests.
  • Individuals and entities seeking to request public court records should be prepared to cover the custodian's fees for preparing a document in their desired format.

Online Access

Members of the public can access public Craighead County court records online through the ARCourts portal administered by the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). This statewide repository contains records from the Circuit Courts and participating State District Courts of Craighead County. Accessible information includes case summaries, lists of participants, and chronological docket entries.

Additionally, cases filed in the Western and Eastern Divisions of the Craighead County District Court from September 1994 through July 31, 2018, are available through a separate online repository.

Individuals can also submit an online FOI request to the relevant clerk's office in Craighead County.

In-Person Access

The in-person approach generally entails making a formal, direct inquiry to the designated Custodian of Records at the venue where the case occurred or where the case documents were officially submitted.

  • Inquiries regarding Circuit Court records should be directed to the Circuit Clerk, who serves as the official records custodian for the civil, domestic relations, criminal, and juvenile courts.
  • Inquiries concerning District Court records should be directed to the District Court in Jonesboro or Lake City. Generally, these District Court files pertain to traffic violations, misdemeanors, small claims, and local ordinance infractions.
  • Inquiries regarding Probate Court files should be directed to the County Clerk.

Mail and Phone Requests

To access Craighead County court records via mail, one will need to identify the appropriate Custodian of Records and contact them about mailing procedures for required case documents.

  • For Circuit Court records requests, the Craighead County Clerk's Office can be reached at (870) 933-4530 (Jonesboro) or (870) 237-4342 (Lake City) for mailing guidelines.
  • For copies of probate records delivered by mail, the Court Clerk's Office can be contacted at (870) 933-4520.
  • For District Court records, the District Court Clerk can be contacted at (870) 933-4509, (870) 933-4508, or (870) 933-4581.

Generally, with mail requests, the requester will need to prepare a letter containing sufficient information about the case whose record(s) they seek and pay any statutory fee assessed for the request.

Fees for Court Records in Craighead County

Under Arkansas law, open court records can be inspected by any member of the public for free. Yet, the custodians are permitted to collect certain statutory fees. The exact fee payable for a court record copy varies by the custodian, but they can generally be grouped as follows:

  • Actual Duplication Costs: A custodian may charge the actual cost of reproduction of court documents and materials used (paper, computer disk, or storage device). For example, the Craighead County Circuit Court Clerk charges printed documents at 25 cents per page.
  • Mailing and Transmission Cost: Costs for transmitting records via mail service or other modes may apply. For instance, mail requesters are liable for postal charges.
  • Labor and Personnel Cost: Labor charges may also be required in fulfilling the request if it exceeds a one-hour mark.


Accepted Payment Methods: Payments can generally be made via cashier's check, cash, money order, credit card, or debit card (cash cannot be mailed, however).

Craighead County Courthouse Locations

Craighead County's judicial system consists of a Circuit Court and a District Court. All court operations in the county are split between the Western District (Jonesboro) and the Eastern District (Lake City). That is to say, each court has a presence in the county's Western and Eastern Districts and handles specific matters as prescribed by Arkansas law. Below are the courthouses addressed in Craighead County.

Craighead County Circuit Court - Jonesboro

Craighead County Courthouse

511 South Main Street

Suite 202

Jonesboro, AR 72401
Phone: (870) 933-4530

Craighead County Circuit Court - Lake City

Lake City Courthouse

107 Cobean Boulevard

Lake City AR, 72437

Phone: (870) 237-4342

Craighead County District Court - Jonesboro

Craighead County Courthouse

511 Union Street

Jonesboro, AR 72401
Phone: (870) 933-4508 or (870) 933-4509

(Note: Public inquiries, fine payment windows, and general clerk operations are routed through the 511 South Main Street location. Physical court appearances are conducted in Courtroom 4A inside the Annex (511 Union Street).)

Craighead County District Court - Lake City

Lake City Courthouse

107 Cobean Boulevard

Lake City AR, 72437

Phone: (870) 237-4142

Criminal Records Access in Craighead County

Criminal records in Craighead County can generally be accessed through the courts and law enforcement, since these bodies play a major role in the administration of justice.

For law enforcement access, the Arkansas State Police maintains the master criminal records database for the State of Arkansas. The general public can access open criminal histories through the State Police. for $24 per search, while the subject of the record (or persons having the subject's consent) are charged $22 per search. The State Police's Criminal Background Checks page has ordering guidelines for interested parties.

For court system access, individuals can search the statewide ARCourts portal or District Court Case Search platform for free or request copies of criminal court records from the respective court clerk's office. Fees apply for copy requests.

Craighead County Probate Records

In Craighead County, probate records are official documents generated during judicial proceedings in the Probate Division of the local Circuit Court. This division deals with estate administration for deceased individuals and the legal oversight of persons who cannot manage their own affairs. The Craighead County Clerk serves as the statutory custodian of probate records, providing access via the remote ARCourts portal and in person/via mail at a physical office. The County Clerk can be contacted via phone at (870) 933-4520.

Note that certain probate records are sealed or deemed confidential and not accessible for public disclosure. Examples are adoption files, mental health proceedings, and documents sealed by court order.

Craighead County Family Court Records

Family court records, like divorce and custody records, are managed within the Domestic Relations Division of the Craighead County Circuit Court, which hears all cases related to family law. The Craighead County Circuit Clerk manages these records and makes them accessible via the ARCourts portal and accessible online, in person at the Jonesboro or Lake City courthouse, or by mail request.

Note that certain family court records remain strictly confidential, such as full financial account digits or Social Security numbers and minors' identities.

Federal Court Records in Craighead County

Federal court records are judicial documents created within the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, specifically its Jonesboro location. This courthouse location hears all federal cases arising in Craighead County, including multi-state personal injury or product liability claims (diversity tort actions [28 U.S.C. § 1332]), bankruptcy proceedings, and federal criminal cases.

Court records for the Eastern District of Arkansas can be retrieved through the online PACER system or in person at the localized federal courthouse:

Street Address:

E.C. Gathings Federal Building and United States Courthouse

615 South Main Street

Room 312

Jonesboro, AR 72401

Phone (Clerk's Office): (870) 972-4610

Craighead County Court