Find Criminal Records in Arkansas County

Arkansas County criminal records are maintained by two primary agencies: the Arkansas County Sheriff's Office, which holds arrest and inmate records, and the Arkansas County Circuit Clerk, which keeps all criminal court case files. The county is unusual in that it has two county seats, DeWitt and Stuttgart, and court proceedings take place in both locations. This page covers how to access arrest records, court dockets, and judgment information from both courthouses, plus the statewide background check and sex offender registry systems that cover all Arkansas County residents.

Arrest Records and Inmate Search

The Arkansas County Sheriff's Office is the primary source for arrest and inmate records in the unincorporated portions of the county. The sheriff operates the county detention facility and keeps booking records on every person processed through the jail. Arrest records include the full name of the person arrested, date of birth, booking date, specific charges and statute citations, bond information, and the arresting agency.

These records are public under Arkansas's Freedom of Information Act at Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq. Anyone can ask to see them. You do not need a reason or identification to request public booking data. Contact the Arkansas County Sheriff's Office to ask about current inmates, recent bookings, or to file a written FOIA request for historical arrest records. Requests should specify the person's name, approximate date of arrest, and the type of record you need.

People arrested in DeWitt may have records at the DeWitt Police Department in addition to the sheriff's office. Arrests in Stuttgart will have records at the Stuttgart Police Department. For any arrest that took place in unincorporated parts of the county, the sheriff's office is the right starting point. If you are unsure where a particular arrest occurred, checking with both the sheriff and the local city police department is a safe approach.

For state prisoners who were convicted through Arkansas County courts and sent to a Department of Corrections facility, the ADC Inmate Search at apps.ark.org/inmate_info/index.php will have their information. That system is free and covers all state prison facilities. It is separate from the county jail roster held by the sheriff.

Circuit Clerk and Court Records

The Arkansas County Circuit Clerk maintains all criminal case filings for the Arkansas County Circuit Court. Because the county has two seats, court proceedings and clerk functions operate out of both DeWitt and Stuttgart. Criminal case files include the original charging document, all motions and court orders, judgment records, sentencing information, and records of any appeals at the circuit level. The circuit court handles all felony criminal matters filed in the county.

Free online access to Arkansas County court records is available through CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. CourtConnect is a statewide public system maintained by the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts. It covers circuit court criminal, civil, domestic, probate, and juvenile case filings. You can search by party name, case number, or date range without creating an account. Results show case status, all docket entries, party information, hearing dates, and attorney of record. For help with the system, call 501-410-1900 or 866-823-5778.

In-person requests for court records can be made at either the DeWitt or Stuttgart courthouse location. Plain copy fees are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost more and vary by document type. Mail requests should include the party name, case number if available, type of record requested, and payment for estimated copy costs made out to the Arkansas County Circuit Clerk. Cases that predate the CourtConnect system may not appear in the online index and require a visit or mail request to the clerk's office.

Records restricted from public access include sealed case files, juvenile court records under A.C.A. § 9-27-309, expunged records under A.C.A. § 16-90-901, and materials from open investigations. A CourtConnect search that returns no results does not necessarily mean no record exists. The case may be older than the online system, sealed, or filed in a division with different case management software.

FOIA and Record Access Laws

Arkansas's Freedom of Information Act at Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq. establishes the public's right to access government records including criminal records held by the sheriff and circuit clerk in Arkansas County. The law covers all public agencies in the state.

Under FOIA, agencies have 24 hours to determine whether a request is eligible and three business days to produce the records. Paper copy fees are capped at $0.25 per page. Agencies cannot charge for staff time spent retrieving files. Denial of a request must be given in writing with the specific legal reason cited.

Records that are not public include sealed and expunged criminal records, juvenile case files, active investigation materials, and records sealed by court order. These restrictions fall under A.C.A. § 25-19-105(d)(1) and related statutes. If a request is denied and you believe the denial is improper, the Arkansas Attorney General's public records hotline is 800-482-8982. The AG's office can review the denial and advise on next steps.

When submitting a FOIA request to the Arkansas County Sheriff's Office or Circuit Clerk, include specific details: the name on the record, the approximate date, and the record type. If you have a case number, include it. Requests to the circuit clerk can be made at either the DeWitt or Stuttgart office. Written requests sent by mail should include return contact information so the office can follow up if additional details are needed.

Arkansas State Police Background Checks

The Arkansas State Police Criminal Background Check System at cbc.ark.org provides formal name-based criminal history reports for Arkansas County residents and anyone who has appeared in Arkansas courts. This is the official statewide background check system.

Online checks cost $22 and can be run immediately through the Information Network of Arkansas. Mail-in checks cost $25 using form ASP-122. Mail requests go to: Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau, 1 State Police Plaza Drive, Little Rock, AR 72209. Phone: 501-618-8500. Volunteer organizations that work with children or vulnerable adults pay a reduced rate of $11.

Under A.C.A. § 12-12-1506(d), felony conviction records and felony arrest records are available without the subject's consent. Misdemeanor arrest records that did not lead to a conviction are not released to the general public. Expunged and sealed records do not appear in these results. The system draws from the Arkansas Crime Information Center's statewide criminal history database, which covers all 75 counties.

The Arkansas Department of Corrections Inmate Search at apps.ark.org/inmate_info/index.php is a free tool that shows current and former state prisoners, including people convicted through Arkansas County courts who are serving time at state facilities.

Sex Offender Registry

The Arkansas Crime Information Center operates the state sex offender registry at acic.arkansas.gov. You can search by name, zip code, or county to find registered offenders in Arkansas County. ACIC can be reached by phone at 501-682-7441.

Registry entries include the offender's name, photo, current address, registered offense or offenses, tier classification, and compliance status. The registry is free and publicly accessible. Registration requirements in Arkansas are tiered: Tier I offenders register for 15 years, Tier II for 25 years, and Tier III for life. The tier assignment depends on the offense and its severity.

Law enforcement agencies in Arkansas County receive notifications when a registered offender moves into or out of the county. Community members can also set up alerts through the ACIC registry website. Failure to register or update registration information is a criminal offense under Arkansas law and is prosecuted separately from the original offense.

Sealing and Expungement

Arkansas law provides a process for sealing criminal records under the Arkansas Uniform Expungement Act at A.C.A. § 16-90-901. When a court grants an expungement and issues an Order to Seal, the record is removed from public view. It will not appear on standard background checks. In most everyday situations, the person can legally state they have no conviction for the sealed offense.

Eligibility depends on the nature of the offense, the sentence completed, and time elapsed. First-time nonviolent offenders are most likely to qualify. Misdemeanor offenses may require a five-year waiting period after sentence completion. Felony offenses have longer waiting periods and some are not eligible at all. Violent crimes and sex offenses are generally excluded from expungement.

To start the process in Arkansas County, a petition is filed in the Arkansas County Circuit Court. The prosecutor's office is notified and can object. The court may hold a hearing before ruling. Once the Order to Seal is issued, it goes to ACIC, which has 30 days to update its records. The circuit clerk's file is also sealed. After that point, only the person, their attorney, and authorized criminal justice agencies can access the record.

Legal Aid of Arkansas at 1-800-952-9243 and the Center for Arkansas Legal Services at 501-376-3423 can assist with expungement petitions for qualified individuals who cannot afford private counsel.

Statewide Resources

CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is the statewide court search tool covering Arkansas County circuit court filings. It is free, requires no login, and is updated as case activity is entered by clerk staff. For criminal cases in particular, it shows docket entries, case status, and party information.

VINE at 1-800-510-0415 is available 24 hours a day. It lets you look up the custody status of someone held at the county jail or a state prison and sign up for automated alerts when that status changes. Coverage includes both the Arkansas County detention facility and any state DOC institution where a person may be transferred or housed.

The Arkansas Judiciary at arcourts.gov is the official home for court system information statewide, including self-help resources, court directories, and links to CourtConnect for Arkansas County case searches.

Cities in Arkansas County

Arkansas County includes DeWitt (county seat), Stuttgart (also a county seat), Gillett, Almyra, and several small communities. None of these cities currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All criminal charges filed in the county are processed through the Arkansas County Circuit Court, with proceedings held at both the DeWitt and Stuttgart courthouse locations. The Arkansas County Sheriff's Office and Circuit Clerk are the main points of contact for criminal records throughout the county.

Nearby Counties

Arkansas County is located in the Delta region of east Arkansas. The counties that border it each maintain their own criminal records through their respective sheriff and circuit clerk offices.