Jonesboro Criminal Court Records
Jonesboro criminal court records are held by the Craighead County Circuit Clerk and the Craighead County District Court, which together cover felony cases, misdemeanor appeals, and traffic matters for the largest city in northeast Arkansas. Whether you need to find a case number, check a charge, get certified copies of court documents, or request arrest records from the Jonesboro Police Department, this guide covers each search method available to you, from the free CourtConnect online portal to in-person visits at the courthouse on South Main Street.
Jonesboro Criminal Court Quick Facts
Craighead County Circuit Court: Felony Records
Felony criminal cases in Jonesboro are filed at Craighead County Circuit Court. The circuit clerk is Lesa S. Gossett. The Jonesboro office is at 620 South Main Street, Jonesboro, AR 72401, and you can reach it at (870) 933-4520. There is also a second location at 100 Court Street, Lake City, AR 72437, phone (870) 930-1314. Both offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
The circuit court handles all felony charges filed within Craighead County, including those originating in Jonesboro. Case files include the charging document, arrest warrant if one was issued, bond records, plea agreements, judgment and sentencing orders, and the full docket sheet. Standard copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document. You can inspect records at no charge at a public access terminal inside the courthouse.
The county also has a court kiosk program. Visit arcourtkiosk.org/craighead-county for free public access terminals at select courthouse locations where you can search records and find legal forms. Craighead County participates in CourtConnect for online case searches, though coverage is partial and document images may not be available for all case types.
The Jonesboro city government website provides links to police records requests, public information contact details, and the district court that handles misdemeanor criminal cases filed within the city.
Search Jonesboro Criminal Cases Online
The state offers a free online case search tool called CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. No account is needed. You search by party name, case number, or citation number. Results show case numbers, filing dates, case status, scheduled hearings, and docket entries for Craighead County cases. Felony filings and misdemeanor appeals both show up when they are in the system.
For Craighead County District Court cases filed before August 1, 2018, a separate portal exists at cdc.cisarkansas.com. Cases filed on or after August 1, 2018 appear in CourtConnect. If you are searching for an older misdemeanor or traffic case, try the district court portal first. For newer cases, CourtConnect is the right starting point.
What CourtConnect does not include: actual documents, transcripts, affidavits, or exhibits. Sealed, juvenile, and expunged records do not appear. If a search returns no results, the case may predate the county's Contexte system entry. Call the clerk's office at (870) 933-4520 to ask about older records.
Note: CourtConnect is offline for maintenance from 12:30 AM to 2:00 AM on weekdays and from Saturday evening through Sunday midday.
Craighead County District Court in Jonesboro
The Craighead County District Court in Jonesboro sits at 410 West Washington Avenue, Jonesboro, AR 72401. The phone is (870) 933-4508. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. This court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic offenses, hot checks, and small claims up to the limit set by Arkansas law. When a district court case is appealed, it moves to the circuit clerk's office and appears in the circuit court record system.
The district court also handles first appearances and preliminary hearings for charges that may later move to circuit court. Filing fees under Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-403 set the base new-case filing fee at $165.00 at the circuit level, and district appeals carry a $150.00 fee when they transfer up. The Lake City district court can be reached at (870) 930-1314, and the Monette district court at (870) 486-5633.
Jonesboro Police Department Records
The Jonesboro Police Department (JPD) maintains arrest records, incident reports, and accident reports for the city. These records are separate from what the circuit clerk holds. The JPD Records Division is at 1001 South Caraway Road, Jonesboro, AR 72401. The records phone is (870) 935-5562. The desk sergeant line is (870) 935-5657. The general non-emergency dispatch line is (870) 935-5551.
Incident reports are available the next business day after the report is taken. There is no fee charged for standard incident reports. Accident reports are available through crashdocs.org or in person at the department. To submit a FOIA request online, use the portal at jonesboroar.justfoia.com. Under Arkansas FOIA law, Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 requires agencies to respond within three business days. The public information official is Sally Smith and can be reached at jpd@jonesboroar.gov.
JPD also runs specialized divisions that may be relevant to records requests. The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is at (870) 935-6710. The Warrants Unit is at (870) 933-4600. The Sex Offender Registration office is at (870) 336-7219. Fingerprinting services are available at the Justice Complex at 410 West Washington, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, for a $15.00 fee.
The Arkansas CourtConnect portal at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is the primary free online tool for searching Jonesboro and Craighead County criminal court case information.
How to Request Criminal Court Records
In-person visits to the Craighead County Circuit Clerk at 620 South Main Street give you the most direct access. Bring a photo ID and any known case details such as the case number or the names of the parties involved. Public access terminals are available on-site. Staff can help locate records and confirm copy fees before you pay. Standard copies are $0.25 per page and certified copies are $5.00.
Mail requests go to the Craighead County Circuit Clerk's office at the Jonesboro address. Include the case number if you have it, both party names, the approximate filing date, the type of case, and payment for estimated copy fees. Attach a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing by mail typically takes 7 to 14 business days. For general email questions, contact the clerk at craigheadclerk@arkansasclerks.com, though staff can only guide you on procedures and cannot send confidential documents by email.
Craighead County Sheriff and Arrest Records
Arrest records for Craighead County come from the Sheriff's Office, not the Circuit Clerk. The Craighead County Sheriff's Office is at 901 Willett Road, Jonesboro, AR 72401. Phone is (870) 933-4521. The sheriff's office handles arrest records, inmate rosters, warrant information, and incident reports from the county's unincorporated areas.
For a statewide criminal background check covering all of Arkansas, the Arkansas State Police Criminal Background Check system processes name-based searches for $22.00 each. This is useful when you need results from beyond Craighead County alone. Searches cover all 75 counties in the state and include conviction records, arrest history, and incarceration data.
Note: An arrest record from the sheriff or police department does not always mean a circuit court case was filed. The two record sets are maintained by separate offices.
Additional Resources for Jonesboro Records
The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts website lists contact information for every court in the state and provides forms and guides. The Arkansas Association of Counties directory has current contact details for circuit clerks across all 75 counties. For background check and sex offender information, the Arkansas Crime Information Center maintains the statewide ARCH system and sex offender registry searchable at no cost to the public.
If you need help with sealing or expunging a record in Craighead County, a petition must go through the circuit court. Legal aid organizations in the northeast Arkansas region can help people who qualify. The Arkansas Bar Association's referral service at arkbar.com can connect you with local attorneys who handle expungement and appeals.
Nearby Cities
If you are looking for court records from another Arkansas city, these pages cover criminal record access in nearby communities.