Arkansas Public Records

To begin, add a public record or view a list of counties, locations and resources for Arkansas public records.

The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), passed in 1967 (Act 93), was the first Arkansas public records law. It has been amended over the years as needed.

Pursuant to the Arkansas FOIA, public records are defined as ? a record of the performance or lack of performance of official functions which are or should be carried out by a public official or employee, a governmental agency, or any other agency wholly or partially supported by public funds or expending public funds." This definition of public records in Arkansas has been determined to include documents and data in any form which is required to be kept by public offices or employees, including recordings, such as films, tapes or CDs. There are some exemptions to the availability of public records in Arkansas and these include State income tax records, Grand jury minutes, drafts of judicial opinions, ongoing investigations by law enforcement agencies, the identity of law enforcement officers currently working undercover, closed court documents or any documents that would be an invasion of privacy,?such as personnel records, student records, medical records, and adoption records.

Arkansas public records are open to inspection by the public and can be copied, but any public records which may be actively in use or in storage have a notification time frame of three days.

Arkansas County Public Records