An Arkansas criminal background check runs through the Arkansas State Police, and the two options that cover almost everyone are a name-based state check (${‘$’}22 online, $25 by mail) and a fingerprint-based check that includes an FBI national search ($13 for the FBI portion online, plus a separate fingerprinting vendor fee).1Arkansas State Police. Online Criminal Background Check System Which one you need depends on why you’re asking. Online name-based results often come back within minutes; mail-in requests take two to five business days once received.2Arkansas State Police. Arkansas Criminal Background Check System Frequently Asked Questions
Which Type of Check Do You Need
A name-based check searches the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) database using identifying details like name and date of birth. It covers only Arkansas records, so any criminal history from other states will not appear. It’s the common choice for in-state employment screening and personal reviews. The weakness is accuracy: common names and aliases can produce false matches or missed records.
A fingerprint-based check is more thorough. Prints are submitted electronically to the Arkansas State Police and forwarded to the FBI for a national search. Because fingerprints are unique biometric identifiers, results are tied directly to the person rather than to a name match. State licensing boards, agencies working with children or vulnerable adults, and federally regulated employers almost always require this version.
There’s also an Open Criminal History search for $24 per inquiry, designed for personal lookups that don’t fall under a legal mandate or employer screening. Unlike the standard system, it doesn’t require the subject’s signed consent, which makes it the simplest path for someone who just wants to check publicly available criminal history information on another person.3Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Criminal Background Checks
Who Can Request a Check
You can always request your own criminal history record. No special authorization is needed, and it’s worth reviewing your record before an employer or licensing board does so you can catch errors early.
Third-party access is more limited. Under the Arkansas State Criminal Records Act, a “requestor” includes employers, professional licensing boards, institutions of higher education, and any entity authorized by Arkansas law to run background checks, but only after obtaining the subject’s written authorization.4Justia. Arkansas Code 12-12-1503 – Definitions Without signed consent, the Arkansas State Police will not process the request. Employer screening through this channel is largely confined to industries where state or federal law specifically requires it, such as childcare, education, healthcare, and long-term care.
Submitting a Name-Based Check Online
The fastest option is the Arkansas Criminal Background Check System at cbc.ark.org, run through the Information Network of Arkansas (INA). You’ll need to create an account first. Online name-based checks cost $22, or $11 for volunteers, and results often come back almost immediately.1Arkansas State Police. Online Criminal Background Check System If a third party is submitting the request, the subject’s signed consent is still required.
Submitting a Name-Based Check by Mail
Download the Individual Record Check Request Form (ASP-122) from the Arkansas State Police website. Fill it out completely and include a check or money order for $25 made payable to the Arkansas State Police. Do not send cash.5Arkansas State Police. Background Check Forms
If someone else is submitting the request on your behalf, the ASP-122 must include your signature granting consent. When the form is mailed rather than brought in person to the Identification Bureau in Little Rock, that signature has to be notarized. Include a self-addressed envelope with return postage so the results can be sent back.6Arkansas Department of Human Services. Individual Record Check Request Form ASP 122
Mail the completed form, payment, and return envelope to:
Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau
1 State Police Plaza Drive
Little Rock, AR 72209
Submitting a Fingerprint-Based Check
Fingerprint-based checks work differently because your prints have to be captured electronically and sent to the Arkansas State Police Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). The agency or employer asking for the check will usually provide instructions and a transaction number you’ll need when you schedule the appointment.
Arkansas has two kinds of authorized fingerprint locations:7Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Fingerprinting Information and Services
- Harvesters can capture your fingerprints and generate the state and federal background checks in one step.
- LiveScan Operators can only capture and submit fingerprints electronically; the background check itself is processed separately.
Both are private businesses, so service fees vary. Call ahead to confirm availability and pricing. The State Police charges $13 for the FBI fingerprint-based check through its online system, on top of whatever the vendor charges for the capture itself.
Costs at a Glance
- Mail-in name-based state check: $25
- Online name-based state check: $22 ($11 for volunteers)
- Online FBI fingerprint-based check: $13 ($11 for volunteers)
- Open Criminal History search: $24
- Fingerprint vendor fee: varies by location
All fees go to the Arkansas State Police, except for the fingerprint vendor’s own service charge. Mail-in requests accept checks or money orders only.
How Long It Takes
Online name-based checks through the INA system are the fastest, with many results returning right away. Mail-in requests take two to five business days once the Identification Bureau receives them, not counting mail time in either direction.2Arkansas State Police. Arkansas Criminal Background Check System Frequently Asked Questions Include proper return postage or the results will sit waiting.
Fingerprint-based checks that include an FBI search take longer because the prints have to run through the national database. Expect several business days after your prints are captured. Results go directly to the authorized requesting entity, not to you, unless you’re the one who initiated the check for personal review.
What the Report Shows
A standard Arkansas criminal history report includes three categories: all felony and misdemeanor convictions on record, any pending felony arrests from the last five years where the person hasn’t yet gone to trial, and sex offender registration status across all four levels.2Arkansas State Police. Arkansas Criminal Background Check System Frequently Asked Questions
The report will not include arrests that didn’t lead to a conviction, such as dismissed charges or acquittals. Records sealed under Arkansas law also won’t appear on a standard check.8Justia. Arkansas Code 16-90-1417 – Effect of Sealing One exception matters: licensing boards for medical professionals and agencies that work with children or other vulnerable populations may still be authorized to view sealed records when making suitability decisions. If you’re applying in one of those fields, a sealed record could still surface.
If Something on Your Record Is Wrong
Criminal history records depend on courts and law enforcement reporting accurately, and gaps or errors in that chain are not unusual. If you review your record and find a mistake, start by completing and returning the Authorization for Review of Criminal History form from the ACIC website.
Here’s where most corrections stall: the fix doesn’t come from ACIC. Once the inaccuracy is confirmed, you or your attorney have to contact the court that handled the original case and ask that court to send corrected documentation to ACIC so the record can be updated.9Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Criminal History and Sealing Records The state police and ACIC can’t change the underlying record on their own. The correction has to flow back from the court.