How
do I get an Arkansas criminal history background check? |
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There are two ways
to obtain statewide Arkansas background checks. |
Manual Process |
The first way (manual process) requires the subject of the record check to sign the State Police form ASP-122. This form must be notarized. The cost is $25.00. The completed form along with an addressed stamped envelope and $25.00 is mailed to Arkansas State Police, Identification Bureau, 1 State Police Plaza Drive, Little Rock, AR 72209. The request will be processed and the results of the background check will be mailed to the (business/person) authorized on the form. This method is open to all persons who have the written notarized release of the subject of the request. This method takes seven to 10 days to complete excluding mailing time.
The ASP-122 is available as an Adobe PDF document. Click to download the ASP-122 form, print and follow the instructions on the form.
Adobe PDF documents require the
free Adobe Reader.
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Electronic
Process |
The second way (electronic process) is open to employers, persons authorized by law, professional licensing boards
(hereinafter PLB) and persons that have the signed written consent of the subject of the record.
The requestor is required to register on-line with Arkansas State Police and have their application approved.
That approved application allows them to register for electronic internet service with the Information Network of Arkansas (INA),
the internet access provider. Individual passwords will be issued by INA.
Upon completion of this process, the employer or PLB will be allowed electronic access to certain criminal history information (see below).
The requestor will be required to have a signed release from the subject of the background check and must maintain that release in their files for three years.
If correct information is submitted, the results of the search may be completed in minutes. If research is required, the response may take several hours to complete.
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What
information will my response contain? |
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Manual or Electronic Process |
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The report will show: |
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Any pending Arkansas felony arrests (charges pending in court where a disposition has not been entered). |
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Any felony or misdemeanor convictions for the State of Arkansas. |
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If the person is required to register as a sex offender (all levels - one through four). |
FBI or other states' criminal history information will not be released. The request checks by name against information that has been entered in the Arkansas Crime Information Center criminal history database. The ACIC database is based on fingerprints submitted after an individual's arrest. |
You will not have access to: |
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The same information that is available to law enforcement. |
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Misdemeanor arrests that are pending (charges pending in court). |
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Arrests that ended in the case being dismissed, no processed or found not guilty. |
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Traffic records that do not appear on the criminal record. |
Only in certain instances will persons be allowed access to a sealed record information. See Arkansas Attorney General Opinions 2003-057 and 2003-183. Visit the Attorney General's website for more information (opens in a new window). |
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What
are the costs of the Arkansas criminal history background
check? |
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Manual Process |
The cost is $25.00. The funds may be sent by money order or
personal/business check. Credit cards are not accepted for the manual
transaction at this time. A stamped addressed envelope must be included
with each request.
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Electronic
Process |
The cost is $22.00 ($20.00 background check fee and
an additional $2.00 processing fee is assessed and
collected by the internet access provider).
If the employer is required by Arkansas law to perform
the background check, the total cost will be $20.00 (at this
time).
There is also a $75.00 annual fee that is assessed by INA to
utilized their service. This fee is waived for State
agencies and educational institutions. If you already
receive services from INA, you may be able to add this
service without additional registration expenses.
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What
are the advantages of using the Arkansas State Police
background check process as compared to other background
check products offered over the Internet? |
All other background checks from private companies are
linked by name only. If an applicant has a common
name, there can be convictions linked to that person that do
not belong to them or they could deny a conviction that is
in fact them.
The Arkansas State Police retrieves the Arkansas criminal
history information from the ACIC database. That
database, in conjunction with the Arkansas State Police
AFIS, connects all arrests based on fingerprints and not
merely by name. If someone who has a criminal record is
arrested under a false name and fingerprints are taken at
the time of arrest, the current arrest will be linked to any
previous criminal history regardless of the false name that
was given.
Also, if a charge appears on a person's criminal history
background check and the person claims that it is not their
arrest, that person can arrange to have fingerprints taken
by a law enforcement officer and those fingerprints compared
to the fingerprints from the arrest that allegedly is not theirs.
State Police will be able to positively confirm or exclude
that person from that arrest/criminal history.
The State Police background check is not based on
comparison of fingerprints to fingerprints, it is based on a
name query of the criminal history system that is linked by
fingerprints.
The State Police records are based on submission of
fingerprint arrest cards from law enforcement arrest and not
merely court records. |