Court records in Craighead County, Arkansas, are maintained by the clerk of the district court and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. CraigheadCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Craighead County. You can also search cases through the Arkansas Judiciary case search portal, visit the clerk's office in person, or contact the court directly. These resources cover criminal, civil, family, probate, and traffic matters heard in Craighead County courts.
Craighead Court System Overview
Craighead County is part of the Second Judicial District of Arkansas. The Craighead County District Court handles all state-level trial court matters, including criminal, civil, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The county seat is Jonesboro, which serves as the primary location for court proceedings. Craighead County has two courthouses — one in Jonesboro and one in Lake City — reflecting the county's two districts. The district court and its divisions operate under the administrative oversight of the judicial district's administrative judge.
Courts Serving Craighead
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Craighead County District Court (State District Court) | 511 S. Main Street, Jonesboro, AR 72401 | (870) 933-4520 |
| Craighead County District Court – Lake City Division | 511 S. Main Street, Lake City, AR 72437 | (870) 237-4241 |
| Jonesboro District Court (City Cases) | 511 S. Main Street, Jonesboro, AR 72401 | (870) 933-4520 |
| U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas (Jonesboro Division) | 615 S. Main Street, Jonesboro, AR 72401 | (870) 972-4610 |
The City of Jonesboro also has city-level cases heard through the district court system. Federal bankruptcy matters for Craighead County are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, based in Little Rock.
What Types of Cases Craighead Courts Hear
Craighead County courts handle a broad range of case types:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Infractions and traffic violations
- Civil litigation (all dollar amounts)
- Small claims
- Family law — divorce, custody, child support, paternity, protective orders
- Probate — estates, guardianships, conservatorships
- Juvenile — delinquency and dependency-neglect (Child Protective Act)
- Adoption and termination of parental rights
- DUI/DWI proceedings
The sections below explain which division of the court handles each type of case.
District Court Cases in Craighead
The Craighead County District Court hears felony criminal cases after bindover from preliminary hearings, civil cases of all dollar amounts, and appeals from lower-level proceedings. Circuit-level matters — including serious criminal charges, contested divorces, and high-value civil disputes — are assigned to district judges. Cases typically arrive at the district level through a criminal information or indictment filed by the prosecuting attorney, or through a civil complaint filed by a plaintiff. Judges are assigned cases based on internal rotation. Post-conviction matters, such as motions to seal or expunge records, are also handled at this level.
Magistrate Court Cases in Craighead
The magistrate division of the Craighead County District Court handles misdemeanors, infractions, traffic violations, DUI arraignments, felony preliminary hearings, and civil cases up to $25,000 under Arkansas law. Small claims cases — those involving $5,000 or less — are also heard by magistrate judges, using simplified procedures. Magistrate judges in Craighead may be assigned to specific dockets, such as criminal or traffic, depending on caseload volume. If you need to contest a traffic ticket or file a small claims action, start at the magistrate division in Jonesboro or Lake City.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Craighead
Family Law
Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, civil protection orders, and termination of parental rights are handled by the district court division. Contested family cases are assigned to a district judge, while uncontested matters may be processed more quickly through the clerk's office.
Probate
Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust matters are filed with the Craighead County District Court. The clerk's office maintains probate records, and most probate filings are generally public.
Juvenile
Juvenile cases — including Juvenile Justice Reform Act proceedings and Child Protective Act (dependency-neglect) cases — are heard by the district court. Juvenile court records are confidential under Arkansas law and are not available through public search tools. Contact the clerk's office for questions about juvenile proceedings.
How Cases Move Through the Craighead Court System
- Filing / Initiation: A case begins with a criminal complaint or information (criminal), a civil complaint or petition (civil/family/probate), or a citation (traffic/infraction).
- Assignment: The clerk assigns the case to a judge based on case type and internal rotation.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants appear for arraignment; civil parties attend an initial scheduling conference or hearing.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and may negotiate pleas (criminal) or settlements (civil).
- Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to trial, plea, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases move to sentencing; civil cases may involve enforcement or appeal. Appeals from district court go to the Arkansas Court of Appeals or Supreme Court.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Craighead
The Craighead County District Court is administered by the administrative district judge for the Second Judicial District, with day-to-day support from a trial court administrator. Local court rules for the judicial district govern scheduling, filing procedures, and courtroom conduct; these rules are typically available through the Arkansas Judiciary website or by request from the clerk's office.
Under Arkansas law, most court records are generally public. Exceptions include juvenile records, sealed records, adoption files, and certain records in cases involving minors or victims of certain offenses. You can request copies of public records from the clerk's office in person or by mail; certified copies usually require a fee.
Hearings are open to the public unless a judge orders otherwise. Some proceedings may be available remotely — ask the clerk whether telephonic or video appearances are permitted for your case type. For administrative questions, contact the clerk's office at (870) 933-4520.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Craighead
- Court Case Search: Use Search ARCourts to look up case information, dockets, and some court documents for Craighead County cases. The tool includes advanced filtering and links to public filings.
- Court Directory: The Arkansas Judiciary district court directory lists contact details and locations for Craighead County courts.
- Criminal Background Checks: The Arkansas Online Criminal Background Check System allows you to search state criminal history records for a fee.
- Inmate Search: The Arkansas Department of Correction inmate search lets you look up current inmates by name, ADC number, or county.
- City of Jonesboro: The official Jonesboro website provides municipal information, including police department contacts and city government resources.
- Court Forms and Self-Help: Arkansas court forms for civil, family, and small claims cases are available through the Arkansas Judiciary website. Ask the clerk's office for county-specific forms or filing instructions.
- Clerk of Court / Public Records Requests: Contact the Craighead County Clerk of Court at (870) 933-4520 to request copies of court records, verify case information, or ask about filing procedures.
- Additional Resources: CraigheadCourt.us provides links and information to help you navigate Craighead County court records and related public data.