Arkansas's Expungement Law - What It Is and What It Isn't
Arkansas uses the term "sealing" for its primary record relief mechanism, governed by the Comprehensive Criminal Record Sealing Act of 2013 (codified at Ark. Code § 16-90-1401 et seq.). A sealed record in Arkansas is hidden from public view in official databases, but law enforcement and certain government agencies retain access. The Act has been amended several times to expand eligibility, but substantial categories of offenses - including violent felonies, sex offenses, and DWI - remain categorically excluded.
Arkansas also distinguishes between offenses that were dismissed (immediately eligible for sealing or expungement in most cases) and those resulting in conviction (subject to waiting periods and categorical bars). Understanding which category your record falls into is the starting point for any removal strategy.
| Record Type | Legal Authority | Qualifies? | Wait Period | Google Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dismissed charges / acquittals | § 16-90-1401 et seq. | Generally yes | Immediately or 60 days | None automatically |
| Non-violent Class C/D felony (first offense) | § 16-90-1401 | Limited | 5 years post-sentence | None automatically |
| Misdemeanor (first offense) | § 16-90-1401 | Generally yes | Varies by offense | None automatically |
| Violent felony, Class Y/A/B felony | N/A | No | Not eligible | None automatically |
| DWI / sex offense | N/A | No | Not eligible | None automatically |
| Data broker / aggregator sites | Opt-out request | Case-by-case | Ongoing | Removable with effort |
Eligibility for Expungement in Arkansas
Arkansas eligibility is primarily defined by whether the offense is "sealable" under the Act and whether the required waiting period has elapsed. The Act follows a two-track approach: non-conviction records and qualifying conviction records. For more information, visit the Arkansas courts.
Non-Conviction Records
Dismissed charges, cases that were no-billed by a grand jury, acquittals, and deferred prosecution completions are generally eligible for sealing immediately after the case concludes. For some dismissed cases, a short waiting period (typically 60 days) applies to ensure the dismissal is final. These non-conviction sealings are the most straightforward and typically have the highest grant rates. The court clerk is directed to seal the record upon entry of the sealing order. Learn more about expungement vs. record sealing on our blog.
Conviction Records - First Offense Non-Violent
For conviction records, Arkansas requires:
- The offense must be a first offense - no prior felony convictions
- The offense must be non-violent (violent felonies are categorically excluded)
- The required waiting period must have elapsed - typically 5 years after sentence completion for non-violent felonies, shorter for misdemeanors
- All sentence requirements must be completed, including fines, fees, and restitution
- No criminal charges may be pending in any jurisdiction
Drug offenses may qualify under a separate pathway through successful completion of drug court or a similar diversion program, even for offenses that would otherwise be excluded. Learn more about court record removal on our blog.
DWI convictions, sex offenses, violent felonies, and offenses involving minors as victims are categorically excluded from Arkansas sealing. These exclusions apply regardless of elapsed time. If your record falls into an excluded category, the entire strategy shifts to online reputation management - data broker opt-outs, Google de-indexing for eligible URLs, and search suppression - none of which require a court order.
Why Arkansas Court Records Persist Online After Sealing
Arkansas sealing orders restrict official government databases - but they have no legal authority over private websites, data brokers, or Google. Each source operates on its own timeline and requires its own removal effort. For more information, visit the Arkansas Legislature.
CourtConnect - The Arkansas Public Court Portal
Arkansas's public court access system is CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. When a sealing order is entered, the court clerk updates the case status in CourtConnect to reflect the sealing. However, there can be a processing delay of weeks to months before the update is reflected in the public portal. More critically, CourtConnect's historical data - including the original charges and case disposition - may have already been scraped by third-party sites before the sealing was granted. Those third-party copies are not updated by the CourtConnect change.
Arkansas State Police Criminal History Repository
The Arkansas State Police maintains the state's criminal history repository. After a sealing order is entered, the petition is served on the Arkansas State Police, which is required to seal its copy of the record. As with CourtConnect, processing delays occur. After your sealing order is granted, you should independently request and review your criminal history record from the Arkansas State Police to confirm the sealing has been properly reflected before relying on it in employment or licensing contexts. Learn more about background check reports on our blog.
CourtListener and Legal Databases
Arkansas appellate opinions from the Arkansas Supreme Court and Arkansas Court of Appeals are indexed by CourtListener and searchable by party name. If your case resulted in an appeal, the published opinion may include your name, the charges, and the outcome. Trial court records are generally not indexed by CourtListener. Appellate opinions persist independently of any sealing of the trial court record and require direct contact with each database for removal - which is rarely fully successful.
Data Broker Sites
Spokeo, BeenVerified, Intelius, TruthFinder, and other data aggregators compiled your criminal record from CourtConnect and other public sources before your sealing was granted. The sealing order has no legal force over these private companies. Each must be contacted individually with opt-out requests. Providing your sealing order documentation with each request can accelerate processing. Expect 2 to 6 weeks per site, and set recurring reminders to re-check for profile repopulation.
We frequently work with Arkansas clients who obtained sealing orders and assumed the online removal would follow automatically. It never does. The sealing changes the legal status of the record - it doesn't retroactively delete the internet's copies. Every source must be addressed individually, and the process often takes 3 to 9 months to complete across all platforms.
How to Remove Arkansas Court Records from Google and Data Broker Sites
After obtaining an Arkansas sealing order (or even without one), the following steps address the online visibility of your court record. These steps are the same whether your record has been sealed or not - having a sealing order simply strengthens removal requests to sites that require documentation.
Most people in your position reach out right here.
You've already done the hard part - finding out what's out there. We handle the rest: every platform removal, Google de-indexing, and background check site. No upfront cost. Completely confidential.
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1
Obtain your sealing order (if eligible)
File your petition in the circuit court of the county where the original charges were prosecuted. Pay the required filing fee and serve the prosecuting attorney's office. The prosecutor has 30 days to object. If no objection is filed, the court may rule without a hearing. After the order is entered, serve copies on the Arkansas State Police and all originating agencies. Keep certified copies of the order - you will need them for every subsequent removal request. -
2
Verify CourtConnect has been updated
Check caseinfo.arcourts.gov for your case 60 to 90 days after your sealing order. If the case still appears publicly accessible, contact the circuit court clerk's office with your order number. Follow up in writing and request confirmation that the sealing has been entered in the court management system. -
3
Audit every URL showing your record in Google
Search Google for your full name combined with "Arkansas," the county, "arrest," and offense type. Document every URL returning your record - CourtConnect, Justia, CourtListener, Mugshots.com, data broker sites, and local news archives. Screenshot each URL with a timestamp before beginning removal requests. -
4
Submit data broker opt-out requests
Submit opt-out requests to Spokeo, BeenVerified, Intelius, TruthFinder, Radaris, Whitepages, PeopleFinder, and all other sites showing your record. Include your sealing order documentation where accepted. Process removals take 2 to 6 weeks per site. Set 90-day reminders to re-check all sites for profile repopulation. -
5
Address mugshot and arrest sites
Submit removal requests to mugshot sites with your sealing order documentation. If a site refuses, consider a DMCA notice or attorney cease-and-desist. Document all communications - these records are useful if the matter escalates or if the site's practices violate Arkansas law. -
6
Submit Google removal requests
Once CourtConnect shows the sealing and derivative sites have removed your profile, submit Google removal requests. Use the Outdated Content Removal tool for pages where the source is now restricted. Use the Personal Information Removal Tool for pages displaying sensitive personal data. Google processes most requests within 2 to 4 weeks.
When Arkansas Sealing Isn't Available: Online Suppression
For excluded offenses - violent felonies, DWI, sex offenses - legal sealing is not available. But online visibility is not entirely out of your control. Data broker opt-outs do not require a sealing order. Google de-indexing may be possible for URLs that are no longer publicly accessible. And search suppression through positive content creation can push court record results off the first page of Google for your name over time.
Court records resurface. We monitor so you don't have to.
Data broker profiles are frequently repopulated from new data sources months after you opt out. New mugshot sites scrape CourtConnect data on a regular basis. Our monitoring service alerts you when your record reappears so you can act before it causes harm to your reputation or employment prospects.
Learn About Monitoring →Frequently Asked Questions - Arkansas Court Record Removal
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