Fayetteville Jail Bookings

Fayetteville 24 hour booking records cover the people arrested in the city and booked into the Washington County Detention Center in the past day. The Fayetteville Police Department makes the arrest. The sheriff runs the jail and keeps the booking sheet. This page shows how to look up a Fayetteville 24 hour booking, who to call, and how to file a FOIA with the city or the county. It also points to the state tools that cover Washington County and to the court where cases land after a booking.

How Fayetteville 24 Hour Booking Works

Fayetteville sits in Washington County in the northwest part of the state. It is the third biggest city in Arkansas and the home of the University of Arkansas. The Fayetteville Police Department handles most arrests inside the city. After an arrest, the officer drives the person to the Washington County Detention Center. The sheriff's staff takes the booking at the jail. They log the name, date of birth, charge, and bond. That log is the 24 hour booking record. It shows up on the county roster, not on a city page.

The city does not run a full jail. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 12-41-502, the county sheriff runs the county jail. The city pays a daily fee for each person held. That rule is the same across Arkansas. So for a Fayetteville 24 hour booking, you look at Washington County.

The Fayetteville Police Department keeps its own arrest report for each case. The report lists the officer, the scene, and the facts of the arrest. It is a separate file from the booking sheet at the jail. Both are open under Arkansas FOIA, Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq. Files tied to an open investigation can be held back while the case is live under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105(b)(6).

The city runs a main site with links to every office, including the police department. Start at the Fayetteville city site for the full list of departments.

From the city home page, you can click through to the police department, the records division, and the FOIA contact. The city also lists phone numbers and office hours for each office.

Fayetteville Police Department and Arrest Records

The Fayetteville Police Department is at 100 W Rock Street. The main number is (479) 587-3555. The non-emergency line is (479) 444-5700. Office hours run Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fayetteville PD is the primary law force for the city. It books its own arrestees into the Washington County Detention Center.

The department takes public records requests under the Arkansas FOIA. You can drop off a request in person during business hours. You can mail a request to the Records Division at the department address. Some types of requests can be handled by phone.

When you ask for records, give the department what they need to find the file. A good request should include:

• Date and time of the incident
• Location of the incident
• Names of the parties involved
• Case number if known
• Specific documents you want

The department has three business days to reply under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105(c). Copy fees are capped at 25 cents a page under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105(d). Staff time is not billable.

The University of Arkansas also has its own police force. UAPD handles arrests on campus and runs them through the same Washington County jail. For campus arrest records, call University of Arkansas Police at (479) 575-2222.

Washington County Jail and Fayetteville Booking

The Washington County Detention Center holds Fayetteville arrestees after booking. The sheriff runs the booking desk. For the full set of county tools, see the Washington County 24 hour booking page. It has the sheriff's phone, the jail address, and the FOIA contact for the sheriff's office.

The sheriff posts a public inmate inquiry tool. It lists who is in custody at the detention center. You can search by last name or by booking date. The tool shows the charge, bond, and booking date. Some records also show the mugshot. The main sheriff line is (479) 444-5700.

Bond is set by a judge or by a bond schedule. Most people post bond within 24 to 48 hours of a booking. Those who cannot post bond stay at the jail until the next court date. First court dates for Fayetteville misdemeanors go to the Fayetteville District Court. Felony cases head to the Washington County Circuit Court.

Washington County is busy. The jail takes bookings from Fayetteville PD, Springdale PD, the University of Arkansas Police, and a few smaller city forces. So the 24 hour booking roster can be long. Look for the city or agency name on the booking record to see where the arrest came from.

Request 24 Hour Booking Records in Fayetteville

Arkansas FOIA rules let any Arkansas citizen ask for these records. Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105(a)(1)(A) ties the right to request to state citizenship. You do not have to say why you want the file. You do not have to use the word FOIA. But you do have to name the record.

For a Fayetteville 24 hour booking, the FOIA path runs to two offices. Fayetteville PD has the arrest report. Washington County Sheriff has the booking sheet. Both are open under FOIA. Both can charge up to 25 cents a page. Neither can add a staff time fee.

The Arkansas FOIA Handbook sets out the full rules. The Attorney General also runs a FOIA hotline at (501) 682-2007 if you hit a snag. The FOIA main page at the AG office has sample request letters.

If the cost of the copy goes over $25, Fayetteville PD may ask for payment up front. That rule is allowed under FOIA. Certified copies cost more than plain paper. Most sheriff offices and police departments do not charge for digital copies sent by email.

Court Records After a Fayetteville Booking

Each 24 hour booking in Fayetteville leads to a court file. Misdemeanor cases go to the Fayetteville District Court. Felony cases go to the Washington County Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk keeps the full file for each case. You can view court files in person at the Washington County Courthouse. Copies run 25 cents a page under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105(d).

Washington County is on the state online case search tool. Look up open cases at Arkansas CourtConnect. The tool shows the case style, the filing date, the charge code, the judge, and the next court date. It does not post the mugshot. It does not always show the bond.

If the case ends in a prison term, the person leaves the county jail and goes to the state prison. The Arkansas Department of Corrections inmate search tracks state prison inmates. It does not track county jail holds.

For jail custody moves, use VINELink. It tracks people in most county jails across the state. Washington County feeds its data to VINE. VINELink sends free alerts by email or phone when a person is moved or released.

Other Agencies Tied to Fayetteville Booking

A few other forces can put a person in the Washington County jail. Arkansas State Police handle some highway and felony cases. The University of Arkansas Police handle campus arrests. Springdale PD and other city forces in the county also book into the same jail. The U.S. Marshals may hold a federal defendant in the county jail on contract.

The Arkansas Crime Information Center runs a $22 name based background check tool. ACIC keeps the state central criminal history file. It does not post a 24 hour booking roster.

The Arkansas Division of Community Correction tracks people on parole and probation. If a Fayetteville booking lands a parole hold, the case may flow into DCC records.

The Arkansas Sex Offender Registry is a public tool. It shows photos, addresses, and prior offenses of people who must register. It is not a 24 hour booking tool but can tie into a booking record if the person has a prior sex offense.

What a Fayetteville 24 Hour Booking Sheet Shows

A Fayetteville 24 hour booking sheet holds the same core facts as any Arkansas booking. The fields are set by the jail management system at the Washington County Detention Center. Most 24 hour booking records list the full name and date of birth of the person, plus race, sex, height, and weight. The sheet names the arresting agency. It logs the booking time, booking number, and each charge with the Arkansas Code cite.

Bond info is on the sheet too. Bond may be cash, surety, property, or own recognizance. The bond amount is set by a judge or by a bond schedule in the local court. For most Fayetteville misdemeanors, bond is set by standing order. For a felony, bond is set at first appearance.

The mugshot is part of the booking file. The Arkansas FOIA Handbook says: "Mug shots are public records." Some mugshots post right to the sheriff's inmate inquiry page. Others need a FOIA request to the sheriff or to Fayetteville PD.

Some parts of the booking file can be held back. Medical and mental health notes are closed. Social security numbers get redacted. Juvenile records are closed under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-309. Open investigation files can be held while the case is live. The basic booking facts stay open even during an open case.

Related Arkansas Cities

Other Arkansas cities run the same city police to county jail path. Pick a city to find its police department and the county that handles its booking.