Another type of genealogy record that provides tremendous value is criminal records. Some of our ancestors unfortunately got in trouble with the law. And records were kept from arrests through court cases to prison documents. Now, more and more of these records are being digitized or transcribed and are being made available online.
Types of Records
- Criminal court proceedings
- Police reports
- Prison and jail admission registers
- Arrest records
- Mug books
- Pardon and discharge information
- Hospital record books
- Workhouse records
Types of Information
- Name
- Age
- Birth date
- Height
- Weight
- Complexion
- Eye color
- Hair color
- Nationality
- Occupation
- Education
- Habits (alcohol use)
- Relations (parents living)
- Date incarcerated
- Court where charged
- Recommitments
- How and when discharged
Note: Some of the links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage, please make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
Listed below are links to criminal records that are available for free online for the state; the first list is for multi-state collections:
United States
- Before the Needles, Executions in America Database
- Death Penalty USA, Executions 1607-1976 (by state)
- Federal Bureau of Prisons, Inmate Search 1982-
- Freedmen’s Bureau Records Relating to Murders and Outrages
Arkansas
- Arkansas Department of Corrections, Inmate search
- Arkansas State Convict Farm #1, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Arkansas State Convict Farm #2, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Arkansas State Convict Farm #3, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Arkansas State Convict farm #8, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Arkansas State Penitentiary – 1930 Census
- Arkansas State Penitentiary 1880 Index of Prisoners (A – J)
- Arkansas State Penitentiary 1880 Index of Prisoners (K – Z)
- Craighead County, Circuit Court Records, 1883-1902
- Cross County, Circuit Court Records, 1872-1888
- Executions in Arkansas
- Greene County, Arkansas State Penitentiary Records, 1918-1920
- Greene County, Indictment Record, 1888
- Hot Spring County, Arkansas State Penitentiary Records, 1918-1920
- Jefferson County Penitentiary Records for 1936 thru 1938
- Lawrence County, Arkansas State Penitentiary Records, 1918-1920
- Men Executed at Fort Smith: 1873 to 1896
- Mississippi County, Arkansas State Penitentiary Records, 1918-1920
- Ouachita County, Chancery Court Records, *1874-1959
- Ouachita County, Criminal Record, book *Y, 1941-1953
- Pulaski County, Arkansas State Penitentiary Records, 1918-1920
- Pulaski County, Arkansas State Penitentiary Records, 1936-1938
- Scott County, Arkansas State Penitentiary Records, 1918-1920
- Woodruff County, Circuit Court Records, 1865-1954
For other Free Arkansas Links, click on the category of interest:
Newspapers
Yearbooks
Births
Marriages
Deaths
BMD Records
Alumni Records
Cemetery Records
Church Records
Coroner Records
Criminal Records
Directories
Divorce Records
Immigration Records
Military Records
Mortuary Records
Naturalizations
Obituaries
Photos
Probate and Wills
School Records
Tax Records
Voter Records
