Warrants are public records in Craighead County, Arkansas, pursuant to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at Arkansas Code § 25-19-101 et seq. This legislation establishes that documents created, maintained, or possessed by government agencies in the performance of official functions shall be accessible to the public. Warrant records fall within this statutory definition as they constitute official documentation of judicial proceedings.
The Arkansas FOIA operates under the presumption of openness, with the burden of proving an exemption falling upon the custodial agency. In accordance with Arkansas Code § 25-19-105, public records must be made available to citizens seeking information about governmental operations, including the issuance of warrants by judicial authorities within Craighead County.
Public access to warrant information serves multiple governmental and societal interests, including:
Certain warrant information may be temporarily sealed or redacted under specific circumstances as provided in Arkansas Code § 16-10-105, particularly when disclosure might compromise an ongoing investigation or endanger law enforcement personnel.
Warrant records maintained by Craighead County authorities typically contain standardized information as required by Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 7.1. The contents of these records generally include:
For bench warrants specifically, records will additionally contain information regarding the underlying court proceeding, including the nature of the violation (failure to appear, contempt of court, etc.) that precipitated the warrant's issuance.
Pursuant to Arkansas Code § 16-81-104, search warrant records may contain additional elements including detailed descriptions of places to be searched and items to be seized, as well as the factual basis establishing probable cause.
Members of the public may verify warrant status in Craighead County through several no-cost methods established pursuant to Arkansas Code § 25-19-105. The following options are available:
Individuals seeking information should be prepared to provide identifying information including full legal name and date of birth to facilitate accurate record retrieval. Pursuant to Arkansas Code § 25-19-105(b)(8), certain administrative fees may apply for document reproduction, though basic status inquiries remain free of charge.
The Craighead County Sheriff's Office maintains and executes warrants issued by judicial authorities within the county pursuant to Arkansas Code § 16-81-104 and § 16-84-114. The Sheriff's Office operates from two district locations as mandated by Arkansas law:
Craighead County Sheriff's Office - Western District
901 Willett Road
Jonesboro, AR 72401
(870) 933-4551
Craighead County Sheriff's Department
Craighead County Sheriff's Office - Eastern District
600 Airport Road
Lake City, AR 72437
(870) 237-4100
The Sheriff's Office categorizes warrants according to type and priority, including:
Pursuant to Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 8.1, deputies executing arrest warrants must bring the arrested individual before a judicial officer without unnecessary delay. The Sheriff's Office maintains a warrant database that is regularly updated to reflect current status, including those that have been served, recalled, or expired.
As of 2025, individuals seeking to determine warrant status in Craighead County may utilize several official channels established pursuant to Arkansas Code § 25-19-105. The following methods are available:
Individuals with active warrants may be subject to immediate arrest. Therefore, those who believe a warrant may exist are advised to address the matter promptly through proper legal channels. The Craighead County District Court, located at 410 West Washington Avenue, Jonesboro, AR 72401, can provide information regarding options for resolving outstanding warrants in accordance with Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Verification of outstanding warrants in Craighead County may be accomplished through several authorized methods pursuant to Arkansas Code § 25-19-105. The following procedures are established for public access:
Pursuant to Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 7.3, certain warrant information may be temporarily restricted if disclosure would compromise an ongoing investigation or endanger law enforcement personnel. In such cases, limited information may be available until the restriction is lifted by judicial order.