Craighead County Public Records
Craighead County public records are maintained by offices in both Jonesboro and Lake City, as the county has two county seats. Court filings, property data, arrest records, and marriage licenses are each the responsibility of a different office. This guide explains where public records are kept in Craighead County, how to request them, and which records are available online right now without leaving your home.
Craighead County Records Overview
Craighead County Circuit Clerk Records
The Craighead County Circuit Clerk is David Vaughn. The office has two locations: 511 South Main St. #202 in Jonesboro and 107 Cobean Blvd. in Lake City. Both offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Phone: (870) 933-4530 in Jonesboro, (870) 237-4342 in Lake City. Email: dvaughn@craigheadcountyar.gov.
Court records available through this office cover civil cases (negligence, fraud, malpractice, foreclosure, quiet title, injunctions, unlawful detainer), criminal cases (all felony charges and district court appeals), domestic cases (divorce, domestic abuse, child support, paternity), and land records from 1900 (deeds, mortgages, liens, surety bonds). Juvenile cases are handled here but those records are confidential and not available to the public.
You can search Craighead County court cases for free online through the Arkansas Judiciary's CourtConnect portal at caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad. The system lets you search by case number, party name, or filing date range. Basic case information is free. Document downloads may require fees. Mandatory e-filing has been in effect since September 5, 2018. To register as a filer, visit efile.arcourts.gov. There is a one-time account registration fee of $100 and one hour of required online training.
The screenshot below shows the Craighead County Circuit Clerk website, which includes land records access and court filing information.
The site provides 24/7 online access to land records through a separate subscription portal and links to the statewide case search.
Copy fees at the Circuit Clerk's office are $0.25 per page for standard copies and $1.00 per page plus a $2.50 certification fee for certified copies. Land record recording fees are $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page, plus a real property transfer tax of $3.30 per $1,000 of consideration for transactions over $100. Fee rules follow Arkansas Code Section 21-6-406.
Note: Craighead County is one of only 10 Arkansas counties with two county seats, so filings may appear at either office depending on the district where the case was filed.
County Clerk and Marriage Records
The Craighead County Clerk has offices at 511 S. Main Street in Jonesboro (phone: 870-933-4520) and at 107 Cobean Boulevard in Lake City (phone: 870-237-4424). Office hours at both locations are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Marriage licenses cost $60.00 and can be paid by credit card, debit card, or cash. Credit and debit card payments carry an additional $1.00 plus 3% processing fee. Both applicants must be present and at least 18 years old with valid government-issued ID. No waiting period applies for adults 18 and older. Applicants who are 17 need parental consent and face a 5-day waiting period. Licenses are valid for 60 days and must be returned to the County Clerk's office within that period whether used or not. Copies of marriage certificates cost $5.00. An online marriage license search is available through the Clerk's website for Western District records going back to 1878.
Other records this office maintains include probate court records (decedent estates, adoptions, guardianships), county court records (annexations, incorporations, county purchases, election results), Quorum Court minutes and ordinances, DBA certificates, and payroll and expenditure records for county offices. The county expenditure search on the Clerk's website updates on the 15th and last day of each month. Annual budgets for the last three years are also posted online. Fire destroyed records in 1869 and 1878. All records since 1886 have been kept in a fire-proof vault.
Property Records and Assessor Search
The Craighead County Assessor is Hannah Towell. The office is at 511 South Union Street, Room 130 in Jonesboro. Phone: (870) 933-4570. Fax: (870) 933-4522. Personal property must be assessed annually between January 1st and May 31st. The late assessment penalty is 10% of assessed value. Assessment is available online, by phone, or in person.
The screenshot below shows the Craighead County Assessor's website, where you can search property and assessment data.
The site offers a searchable property portal and links to online assessment, letting residents handle their annual assessment without a trip to the office.
Property is assessed at 20% of current market value, which the state sets. Taxes are due by October 15 each year. About 75% of property tax dollars go to area school systems. Items to assess include vehicles, boats, campers, motorcycles, jet skis, farm equipment, utility trailers, and airplanes. New vehicles licensed since January 1, 1998 require a VIN for assessment. Land records are also searchable through the county property portal at craighead.countyportal.net. You can search by document type (deed, mortgage, lien) and view images of recorded documents when available.
Note: The current year assessment covers property owned as of May 31st, and taxes on that assessment are billed and due the following year.
Craighead County Sheriff Records
The Craighead County Sheriff's Office is at 901 Willett Road in Jonesboro. Phone: (870) 933-4551. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Sheriff's Office covers 717 square miles and serves a county population of about 102,518, which includes eight cities and two towns along with the two county seats.
The Sheriff's website provides an updated inmate roster that shows names, booking dates, charges, and bond information for current jail inmates. Background check requests require a valid ID and a completed request form. A $20 fee applies per name search. Notarized authorization is required when requesting records for another person. Arrest records are maintained permanently. Booking information is kept for a minimum of seven years after release. Jail records are kept for seven years after release. Solved criminal investigation files are retained for 20 years after closure. Unsolved case files are kept permanently.
The screenshot below shows the Craighead County Sheriff's Office website, including the inmate roster and records request section.
Use the site to search the inmate roster, request records, and find contact information for the Sheriff's departments.
For state-level criminal history, the Arkansas State Police accepts background check requests through its criminal history portal. The Arkansas Crime Information Center maintains the statewide sex offender registry.
FOIA Requests in Craighead County
Any Arkansas citizen can request public records from Craighead County offices under the state Freedom of Information Act at Arkansas Code Section 25-19-105. Agencies must respond within three working days. You do not need to give a reason for your request. Put your request in writing, identify the specific records you want, and submit it to the appropriate office. The Jonesboro Police Department also uses the Jonesboro FOIA portal for city police records requests, with the same three-business-day response window. Jonesboro incident reports are free; accident reports are subject to state-mandated fees.
Nearby Counties
Craighead County borders these counties, each with their own courts and records offices. Jonesboro is the county seat and the largest city in the region.