Warrant records are public documents in Washington County, Arkansas, pursuant to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified under Arkansas Code § 25-19-101 et seq. This legislation establishes the public's right to access governmental records, including judicial documents such as warrants, to promote transparency in governmental operations.
The Arkansas FOIA specifically provides that all public records shall be open to inspection and copying by any citizen of Arkansas during regular business hours of the custodian of the records. Warrant information, maintained by the Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Circuit Court, falls within the statutory definition of public records under § 25-19-103(7)(A).
Members of the public may access these records to verify the legal basis for law enforcement actions, ensure proper judicial oversight, and maintain accountability within the criminal justice system. However, certain exceptions may apply to protect ongoing investigations or sensitive information as provided under § 25-19-105(b).
Warrant records maintained by Washington County authorities typically contain comprehensive information regarding the legal authorization for law enforcement actions. Standard components of these records include:
These records are maintained in accordance with Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 7.1, which governs the issuance and form of arrest warrants in the state.
Washington County residents may verify warrant status through several no-cost methods established pursuant to Arkansas Code § 25-19-105, which governs the examination and copying of public records:
Individuals seeking warrant information should be prepared to provide proper identification and specific information about the subject of the inquiry to facilitate accurate record retrieval.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for executing warrants within the county's jurisdiction. Sheriff warrants are official documents issued under the authority of Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 7.1 and contain the following elements:
The Sheriff's Office maintains a dedicated Warrants Division that processes approximately 500 warrants monthly. This division operates from the Washington County Sheriff's Office headquarters at 1155 Clydesdale Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72701, and can be contacted at (479) 444-5700 for inquiries regarding active warrants.
Individuals seeking to determine their warrant status in Washington County have multiple verification methods available pursuant to Arkansas Code § 16-84-201, which governs warrant procedures:
Individuals with active warrants are advised that voluntary surrender arrangements can be made through the Sheriff's Office, which may be considered favorably by the court during subsequent proceedings.
Washington County maintains multiple access points for outstanding warrant verification in accordance with Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 7.3, which governs warrant execution:
Pursuant to Arkansas Code § 16-81-104, law enforcement agencies are required to maintain accurate records of all outstanding warrants, which must be made available for public inspection except where specifically exempted by statute.