Arkansas — Registry Rules

• People adjudicated guilty of a qualifying sex offense, certain persons acquitted due to mental disease or defect, and some out-of-state offenders must register under the Sex Offender Registration Act of 1997; see A.C.A. §12-12-903.
• Initial deadline: Report in person to local law enforcement no later than five (5) calendar days after release/sentencing or after moving into Arkansas; see §12-12-907(b)(1)(A) and movers’ duty in §12-12-906(a)(2)(A).
• Verification: Standard verification is every 6 months; Level 4/sexually dangerous persons every 90 days; homeless every 30 days; see §12-12-909(a) and §12-12-906(h).
• Primary method: Registration and verification occur in person at the local law enforcement agency; photo/prints and internet identifiers/devices are collected; see §§12-12-906(g),(h) and §12-12-908.
• ⚠️ Address, employment, school, vehicles, and internet IDs/devices must be updated within 5 calendar days; see §12-12-909(b)(1)(D).
• ⚠️ Moving to another state requires pre-notice and registering there; see §12-12-909(c).
• ⚠️ Level 3–4 have 2,000-ft residency bans near schools/parks/youth centers; Level 4 also near churches; see §5-14-128.
• ⚠️ International trips require 21-day advance in-person notice; see §12-12-925(a).
• ⚠️ Failure to register/verify or to cooperate with assessment is a Class C felony; see §12-12-904.

Qualifying offenders, including certain juveniles and persons acquitted due to mental disease or defect, and nonresidents who move to, work, or attend school in Arkansas must register; see §§12-12-903, 12-12-906(a)(2). Juvenile assessment/registration procedures are guided by §9-27-356 and SOAC rules (guidelines).

Duration: Registration can be lifetime for specified categories; others may petition to terminate after 15 years offense-free under § 12-12-919.

• Initial: within 5 calendar days after release/sentencing or moving to an AR city/county; see §§12-12-907(b)(1)(A), 12-12-906(a)(2)(A).
• Verify: every 6 months in person; Level 4 every 90 days; homeless every 30 days; see §§12-12-909(a), 12-12-906(h).
• Change of address in-state: report before moving (≥5 days prior) and again within 5 days after relocation; see §12-12-909(b)(1)(A)–(B).
• Change of address to another state: pre-register with AR and the new state ≥5 days before establishing residency; see §12-12-909(c).
• Other changes (employment, school, vehicles, internet IDs/devices, name): update within 5 days; see §§12-12-909(b)(1)(D), 12-12-906(f).
• International travel: report plans 21 days in advance in person; see §12-12-925(a).

• Standard cadence is semiannual; verification must be in person at local law enforcement; see §12-12-909(a)(1)–(2).
• Level 4/sexually dangerous persons verify every 90 days; see §12-12-906(h)(1).
• If homeless, verify every 30 days; see §12-12-909(a)(5).

State law imposes residency exclusion zones for Level 3–4 within 2,000 feet of schools, public parks, youth centers, or daycare; Level 4 also within 2,000 feet of churches; see A.C.A. §5-14-128. Entry limits to school campuses apply to Level 3–4; see §5-14-132.

• If working/enrolled/volunteering at any school or training institution, notify and register with campus-jurisdiction police in person; see §12-12-906(e).
• Report employment and school details and updates within 5 days; see §12-12-909(b)(1)(D).
• List internet-capable devices, email addresses, and social media at registration/verification; see §§12-12-906(g)(3)(O)–(T), 12-12-908(b)(19)–(20).

• State publishes Level 3–4 offenders’ data online (and certain Level 2 cases with minor victims ≤14); see §12-12-913(j).
• Search the official site: Arkansas Sex Offender Registry.

• Before moving out of Arkansas, pre-register with AR and the destination state ≥5 days before residency; see §12-12-909(c).
• Address changes within Arkansas: notify ≥5 days before and again within 5 days after relocation; see §12-12-909(b)(1)(A)–(B).

• Nonresident visits can trigger AR registration when presence exceeds 14 consecutive days or 30 aggregate days/year; see SOAC rules (004.00.02-003).
• International travel requires 21-day advance notice in person to local law enforcement; see §12-12-925(a).

Failure to register/verify, to report changes, or to cooperate with assessment is a Class C felony; arrests and enforcement procedures appear in §§12-12-904, 12-12-912. Local agencies set reporting windows consistent with statute; see §12-12-906(g)(2).

• Most may petition to terminate after 15 years offense-free (from release/supervision), if not lifetime-barred; see §12-12-919(b).
• Lifetime registration applies to aggravated sex offenses, Level 4, certain repeat offenses (and other specified categories); see §12-12-919(a).
• If a petition is denied, a 3-year wait applies before re-filing; see §12-12-919(c).

• Juveniles: assessment and possible registration governed by §9-27-356 and SOAC rules (2014 guidelines).
• Homeless: verify every 30 days; see §12-12-909(a)(5).
• Level 3–4: additional residency and campus entry restrictions; see §§5-14-128, 5-14-132.

• Mandatory $250 fine/fee tied to registration; see §12-12-910 and §12-12-906(a)(2)(C)(iii).
• Some cities collect the state-mandated $250 at local registration for deposit into the Sex and Child Offenders Registration Fund; example: Texarkana ordinance referencing §12-12-911.

• Statute: Act 659 — 2023 Reg. Sess.; effective 2024-01-01. Amended multiple §12-12-9xx provisions including verification/disclosure mechanics and cross-references. link
• Statute: Act 262 — 2019 Reg. Sess.; effective 2019-07-24. Shortened many deadlines from 10 to 5 calendar days and clarified agency reporting and verification filing. link
• Statute: Act 362 ("Maighen's Law") — 2025 Reg. Sess.; effective 2025-07-01. Amended §12-12-919 regarding lifetime registration and relief criteria. link