Arkansas Background Checks

Background checks an important piece of a person's life journey and interactions with the criminal justice system.  These service as a vetting tool for employers, landlords, and individuals to verify, tenants, applicants or associates. Conducting an Arkansas background check is a common practice that offers insights into a person’s criminal past, legal issues, and overall trustworthiness. This article will explore how to run an Arkansas criminal background check, the types of criminal records you can find, the importance of background checks, and the various types of checks available, along with privacy concerns and legal restrictions.

How to Run an Arkansas Criminal Background Check

Running a criminal background check can be performed a couple of ways depending if you need an official copy for an application, or just want to verify someone's criminal past.. The AR State Police (ASP) is one of the state agencies accountable for maintaining and providing access to official criminal court records. To request an Arkansas state background check, you can visit the State Police's online portal or submit a request by mail. Here are all the available online options:

1). The State Police: This law enforcement agency provides an online system known as the AR Criminal Background Check System (ACBCS). This system allows individuals and authorized organizations to request a criminal background check by providing necessary personal information about the subject, such as their full name, date of birth, and social security number.

2). The Department of Public Safety (DPS): The state offers public access to criminal history checks for a fee from the DPS - Crime Information Center. You can find out about a person's complete criminal conviction history, and any probation or parole orders.

Third-Party Services: Various third-party services offer access to a person's criminal history, Since criminal records are public records, you don't have to just run your searches through government agencies. These third-party resources typically offer unlimited searching for a fee. The only caveat to using these types of resources is they are intended for research and reference only. If you need certified or official copies of records, then using a state run agency is your best bet.

Types of Criminal Records in a Background Check

When you are looking up a person's criminal history, you can expect to find several types of records, including:

1). Felony Convictions: These are serious criminal offenses that typically result in imprisonment of more than one year. Felony records will detail the nature of the crime, the date of conviction, and the sentence imposed.

2). Misdemeanor Convictions: Misdemeanors are less severe than felonies and generally result in shorter jail sentences, fines, or probation. A background check will show misdemeanor convictions, providing information similar to felony records.

3). Arrest Records: An arrest record shows that an individual was taken into custody by law enforcement. It is important to note that an arrest does not imply guilt or a conviction.

4). Warrants: Outstanding warrants, which indicate that a person is wanted by law enforcement, may also appear in a background check.

5). Incarceration Records: If an individual has served time in a state prison, their incarceration information will be included in their criminal background check.

6). Sex Offender Registry Information: Individuals convicted of certain sexual offenses are required to register as sex offenders. This information is publicly available and will appear in a background check.

7). Traffic Violations: While most traffic tickets are considered criminal infractions, these are still a part of a person's criminal past. These will include the moving violation, DUIs, convictions and driving record points.

Different Types of Background Checks

When looking up someone's background records, these are multiple types of these check that can be run, for different purposes. Here are the most common types used in every day life: 

1). Employment: These checks often include criminal records, employment history, education verification, and reference checks. Employers use them to assess the suitability of a candidate for a particular role.

2). Tenant and Rental: Landlords use these checks to evaluate potential tenants. They typically include criminal records, credit history, rental history, and references.

3). Credit Verification: Credit checks are commonly used by lenders, landlords, and employers to assess an individual’s financial responsibility. These checks reveal information about a person’s credit history, including debts, loans, and payment patterns.

4). Education and Professional Credentials: These checks verify an individual’s educational background and professional credentials. Employers and licensing boards frequently use them to confirm that a candidate has the necessary qualifications for a position.

Privacy Concerns and Legal Restrictions

While background records are valuable pieces of information, there are privacy concerns that people should be aware of. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) dictates the use of official background checks for employment purposes, making certain that people are treated fairly and that their privacy is protected. This means that for official checks, permission is needed, and often times a social security number is required to run this type of search. For those that are running unofficial checks on someone, those do not need permission. Many public record websites offer access to criminal history reports and public record abstracts, but these are intended for reference only. So, it is very important to determine which type of service you want to use and how it will be utilized. This will determine what type of service you will use to access someone's criminal past.

Can I Run an Arkansas Background Check on Anyone?

Yes, if you want to run a standard background check on someone you can. These include a list of various criminal records, civil records, and vital records that are all publicly available information. You can use any unofficial background check service without needing to ask permission to do so. This will give you a complete picture on who someone is and what they may be hiding. It's a good way to find out the truth about someone.