Craighead County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Craighead County?

Public records in Craighead County are defined under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as documented information maintained by public agencies that is required by law to be kept and maintained. According to § 25-19-103 of the Arkansas Code, public records include "writings, recorded sounds, films, tapes, electronic or computer-based information, or data compilations in any medium" that constitute a record of the performance or lack of performance of official functions.

Craighead County maintains numerous types of public records, including:

• Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family court proceedings)
• Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, assessments, plats)
• Vital records (birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees)
• Business records (licenses, permits, fictitious business names)
• Tax records (property tax information, assessment records)
• Voting and election records (voter registration, election results)
• Meeting minutes and agendas (County Quorum Court, boards, commissions)
• Budget and financial documents (annual budgets, expenditure reports)
• Law enforcement records (arrest logs, incident reports where permitted by law)
• Land use and zoning records (planning documents, zoning maps)

The Craighead County Clerk's Office serves as the primary custodian for many county records, while specialized records are maintained by specific departments:

• Court records are maintained by the Craighead County Circuit Clerk
• Property records are maintained by the Craighead County Assessor and Recorder's Office
• Tax records are maintained by the Craighead County Collector
• Land use records are maintained by the Craighead County Planning Department

Is Craighead County an Open Records County?

Craighead County fully complies with the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which establishes the public's right to access government records. Under § 25-19-105, "all public records shall be open to inspection and copying by any citizen of the State of Arkansas during the regular business hours of the custodian of the records."

The Arkansas FOIA presumes that all government records are open to public inspection unless specifically exempted by law. The Arkansas Attorney General's Office provides guidance stating that "public records shall be open to inspection and copying by any citizen of the State of Arkansas during the regular business hours of the custodian of the records."

Craighead County has implemented policies to ensure compliance with state sunshine laws, including:

• Designating specific personnel to handle public records requests
• Maintaining regular business hours for records inspection
• Providing reasonable facilities for making copies
• Establishing standardized procedures for records requests

The County adheres to the Arkansas FOIA Handbook guidelines, which specify that agencies must respond to requests within three working days, either by providing the records or indicating when they will be available.

How to Find Public Records in Craighead County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records in Craighead County may follow these procedures to access public information:

1. Identify the specific records needed and the department likely to maintain them.

2. Submit a request to the appropriate county office:

   • For general county records, contact the County Clerk's Office
   • For court records, contact the Circuit Clerk's Office
   • For property records, contact the County Assessor or Recorder
   • For tax information, contact the County Collector

3. Submit requests in person, by mail, or through official online portals where available:

   Craighead County Clerk's Office
   511 S. Main Street
   Jonesboro, AR 72401
   (870) 933-4520
   Craighead County Clerk

4. Complete any required forms. The Craighead County FOIA Request Form may be used for most county records.

5. Specify the records with reasonable particularity, including:

   • Type of record sought
   • Relevant dates
   • Names of parties involved
   • Case numbers (for court records)
   • Property addresses or parcel numbers (for property records)

6. Pay any applicable fees for copies or certified documents.

7. For court records, utilize the Arkansas Judiciary's online case search system to locate case information before requesting full documents.

8. For property records, the Craighead County Assessor's Office provides online property search tools.

9. Allow the statutory response time of three business days as required under § 25-19-105(e).

10. If records are not immediately available, the custodian will provide a timeline for when they can be produced.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Craighead County?

Craighead County charges standardized fees for public records in accordance with Arkansas state law. Under § 25-19-105(d)(2)(A), agencies may charge "a fee that reflects the actual cost of reproduction."

Current standard fees for public records in Craighead County include:

• Paper copies: $0.25 per page for standard letter/legal size
• Certified copies: $5.00 per document
• Large format documents (maps, plats): $5.00-$25.00 depending on size
• Electronic records provided on CD/DVD: $5.00 per disc
• Research fees: $15.00 per hour after the first hour (for extensive searches)

Specialized record fees include:

• Marriage licenses: $60.00
• Certified copies of marriage records: $10.00
• Certified copies of court records: $5.00 plus $0.25 per page
• Recorded documents (deeds, mortgages): $15.00 for first page, $5.00 for each additional page

The county accepts the following payment methods:

• Cash (in-person only)
• Personal checks
• Money orders
• Credit/debit cards (subject to processing fee)

Fee waivers may be available in certain circumstances. Under Arkansas FOIA, agencies may waive fees when the request is not for commercial purposes and the waiver is in the public interest. Indigent requestors may also qualify for fee waivers at the discretion of the records custodian.

Does Craighead County Have Free Public Records?

Craighead County provides free inspection of public records during regular business hours in accordance with § 25-19-105(d)(1), which states that "a citizen may request to inspect, copy, or receive copies of public records." While copying fees apply, the inspection itself is free of charge.

The following free public record resources are available:

• In-person inspection at the respective county offices during regular business hours
• Craighead County Property Records Search - free online access to property assessment information
• Craighead County Collector's Office - free online tax information lookup
• Arkansas Judiciary CourtConnect - free basic case information (fees apply for document copies)
• Craighead County Quorum Court Minutes - free online access to meeting minutes
• Craighead County Election Results - free access to election information

The Arkansas Secretary of State's Office also provides free access to business entity records, UCC filings, and other statewide records that may pertain to Craighead County residents or businesses.

Who Can Request Public Records in Craighead County?

Under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act § 25-19-105(a)(1)(A), "any citizen of the State of Arkansas" may request public records. This includes:

• Individual Arkansas residents
• Arkansas-based businesses and organizations
• Representatives acting on behalf of Arkansas citizens
• Attorneys representing Arkansas clients
• Media organizations operating in Arkansas

Requestors typically do not need to:

• State the purpose of their request
• Demonstrate a "need to know"
• Have a direct interest in the records

However, identification requirements include:

• Proof of Arkansas citizenship may be required (driver's license, state ID)
• Certain specialized records may require additional identification or authorization

Non-residents do not have statutory rights under the Arkansas FOIA, though many Craighead County offices provide records to non-residents as a courtesy or under other applicable laws.

For requests involving confidential or restricted records, additional requirements apply:

• Requests for one's own records typically require identity verification
• Requests for another person's records may require legal authorization (power of attorney, court order)
• Certain vital records (birth, death certificates) require proof of relationship or legal interest

Government agencies, law enforcement, and courts may access certain records through official channels that are not available to the general public.

What Records Are Confidential in Craighead County?

Certain records in Craighead County are exempt from public disclosure under § 25-19-105(b) of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and other applicable laws. These confidential records include:

• Sealed court records (including expunged criminal records)
• Juvenile court records (with limited exceptions)
• Adoption records and related court documents
• Child abuse and neglect investigation records
• Medical records protected under HIPAA
• Mental health treatment records
• Records containing Social Security numbers, bank account information, and other personal identifiers
• Personnel records whose disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy
• Home addresses of non-elected county employees
• Ongoing law enforcement investigation records that, if disclosed, would impede the investigation
• Attorney-client privileged communications and attorney work product
• Records protected by federal law (including FERPA-protected education records)
• Trade secrets and proprietary business information submitted to the county
• Security plans, vulnerability assessments, and infrastructure details
• Grand jury proceedings and records
• Tax return information
• Certain voter registration information (Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers)

The Arkansas FOIA requires a balancing test for personnel records, weighing the public's right to know against individual privacy interests. Under § 25-19-105(c), the custodian must determine if disclosure would constitute a "clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy."

When records contain both exempt and non-exempt information, county officials will redact the confidential portions and release the remainder, as required by law.

Craighead County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Craighead County Clerk's Office (Recording Division)
511 S. Main Street
Jonesboro, AR 72401
(870) 933-4520
Craighead County Clerk

Regular Office Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and federal/state holidays

Lake City Branch Office
107 Cobean Boulevard
Lake City, AR 72437
(870) 237-4424
Craighead County Clerk

Lake City Office Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and federal/state holidays

Lookup Public Records in Craighead County

Arkansas Judiciary Case Search