Grant County Criminal Records Lookup

Grant County criminal records are kept by the county sheriff in Sheridan and the Circuit Clerk at the Sheridan courthouse, with statewide databases filling in coverage for court cases, state prisoners, and formal background checks. Grant County is in central Arkansas, and its sheriff is the main county law enforcement agency. The circuit clerk maintains all criminal case files from local courts. This page covers each source and what it holds, explains how to submit a records request, describes what fees apply, and spells out what the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act makes available or withholds for residents and requestors dealing with Grant County records.

Arrest Records and Inmate Search in Grant County

The Grant County Sheriff's Office in Sheridan serves as the primary county law enforcement agency and operates the county jail. The sheriff handles arrests in unincorporated parts of the county and runs the detention facility where bookings are processed and logged. Every person booked at the Grant County jail has a booking record on file with the sheriff's office. Municipal arrests made by the Sheridan Police Department may also run through the county facility.

Booking records are public documents under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq. A booking record includes the subject's full name, date of birth, booking date and time, charges with statute citations, bond type and amount, and the name of the arresting agency. Booking photos are often included as well. These records are open to any member of the public without requiring a reason or showing identification.

To request booking records or check on a current inmate at the Grant County jail, contact the Grant County Sheriff's Office in Sheridan. Requests can be made in person or by written mail request. A written request should include the subject's name, the approximate dates, and a clear description of the records you need. FOIA gives the agency 24 hours to determine whether your request qualifies and three business days to produce the records. Copies are $0.25 per page. If you need to know whether someone is currently held at the facility, calling the sheriff's office is faster when an online roster is not available.

For Grant County residents who were convicted and sent to a state prison facility, the Arkansas Department of Corrections inmate search at apps.ark.org/inmate_info covers current and former state prisoners. The system is free and available at any time. It shows facility location, sentence details, and projected release date.

Grant County Circuit Clerk and Court Records

The Grant County Circuit Clerk is located at the Sheridan courthouse and maintains all criminal case files processed through the local courts. Each criminal case file contains the charging document or indictment, motions and responses, all court orders, and sentencing records. The clerk's office also holds civil, domestic, probate, and juvenile filings, though access rules differ for those case types. For criminal records, the clerk is a key source for anything that went through the Grant County Circuit Court.

CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov provides free online access to Grant County circuit court records. Search by party name, case number, date range, or keyword without creating an account. Results include case type, party names, case status, all docket entries, attorney information, and scheduled hearing dates. The system is maintained by the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts and is updated by clerk staff in Sheridan as case activity comes in.

Older Grant County cases that predate the county's migration to the Contexte case management system may not be indexed in CourtConnect. For those older records, going in person to the circuit clerk's office in Sheridan is necessary. Staff can pull physical files and make copies. Plain copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies carry an additional fee, and the clerk's office can confirm the current amount for the document type you need. Mail requests should include the case number, party name, and a check payable to the Grant County Circuit Clerk.

A blank result from a CourtConnect search can mean the case predates the online index, the record was sealed by court order, or the case is in a division with different file management. Contacting the clerk's office in Sheridan directly is the best follow-up when an online search produces nothing.

The ADC inmate search covers Grant County residents sentenced to state prison and provides current facility, sentence, and release date information.

FOIA and Public Record Access

The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act at § 25-19-101 et seq. governs public access to records held by Grant County agencies. This law applies to the sheriff, the circuit clerk, and all other county offices. Under FOIA, agencies must determine within 24 hours whether a request is eligible and must produce responsive records within three business days. The copy fee is $0.25 per page. Agencies cannot charge for the time staff spend pulling files.

Records that are open to the public under Arkansas law include felony conviction records, misdemeanor conviction records, and felony arrest records. Section 12-12-1506(d) specifically allows any person to access conviction records and felony arrest records. No professional credentials or relationship to the subject are needed to make this kind of request.

Some categories are not public. Juvenile court records are protected under § 9-27-309 and are generally closed unless the juvenile was charged as an adult. Records sealed under § 16-90-901 are removed from public access once the court enters an expungement order. Ongoing investigation files are withheld to protect active law enforcement work. If the Grant County Sheriff or Circuit Clerk denies a FOIA request you believe is valid, the Arkansas Attorney General at 800-482-8982 handles public records complaints. The AG's office can advise on your rights and push for compliance when an agency is not following the law.

For records from the sheriff, write to the Grant County Sheriff's Office in Sheridan with the subject's name, relevant dates, and a description of the records you need. For court records, contact the circuit clerk at the Sheridan courthouse. A case number helps significantly in getting records pulled faster.

Arkansas State Police Background Checks

The Arkansas State Police Online Criminal Background Check System at cbc.ark.org provides formal background reports pulled from the statewide ACIC database under § 12-12-1501. Grant County records are part of this database. An online name-based check costs $22. A mail-in check costs $25. Volunteer organizations pay $11 per check.

Mail-in checks use form ASP-122, available from the Identification Bureau at 1 State Police Plaza Drive, Little Rock, AR 72209. Phone is 501-618-8500. Online checks go through the Information Network of Arkansas and require an account before you can submit. Online processing is faster. Both methods draw from the same ACIC database used by law enforcement agencies across Arkansas.

A background check can show felony conviction records, misdemeanor conviction records, felony arrest records, pending felony charges from the past five years, and sex offender registration status. Misdemeanor arrests that did not lead to a conviction are not included in reports available to the general public. Records that have been sealed or expunged do not appear. The check reflects statewide criminal history that includes Grant County records and all other Arkansas counties.

The cost and process are the same whether you are checking your own record or someone else's, as long as you are authorized under applicable law. Self-checks go through the same portal at cbc.ark.org with the same fee structure.

Sex Offender Registry

The Arkansas Crime Information Center operates the statewide sex offender registry at acic.arkansas.gov. Searches can be run by name, zip code, county, or address proximity. Results include the registrant's name, current address, photo, offense history, and registration tier. ACIC serves as the central criminal history repository under § 12-12-203(a) and maintains the sex offender database based on information submitted by local law enforcement agencies.

In Grant County, sex offender registration is handled through the county sheriff's office in Sheridan. Offenders must check in on a schedule set by their risk tier. Tier one registrants typically check in once a year. Tier two and tier three offenders check in more often. The ACIC registry reflects the most current information local agencies have submitted to the state system. ACIC is reachable at 501-682-7441 for questions about specific registrants or to report what you believe is incorrect information. Residents who think their own ACIC record is wrong can request a review within the 30-day response window.

Record Sealing and Expungement

Eligible Grant County residents can seek record sealing under the Arkansas Uniform Expungement Act at § 16-90-901. When the Grant County Circuit Court grants an expungement order, the record is sealed and taken out of public view. Background checks run by private parties or employers will no longer show it. Only the person themselves, their attorney, or authorized criminal justice agencies can see the record once it is sealed.

After the Grant County Circuit Court enters an expungement order, the clerk sends it to ACIC. ACIC has 30 days to process the order and remove the record from the public database. The sealing affects records in CourtConnect and in ACIC's criminal history database. Physical files at the Sheridan courthouse are also restricted from public access after the order goes into effect.

Not every offense qualifies for expungement. Certain violent felonies, sex offenses requiring ACIC registration, and crimes involving children are excluded by statute. Misdemeanor offenses often require a waiting period after the sentence ends, commonly five years for many categories. An attorney familiar with Arkansas expungement law can look at a specific record and advise on eligibility and timing.

Legal aid resources for Grant County residents include Legal Aid of Arkansas at 1-800-952-9243 and the Center for Arkansas Legal Services at 501-376-3423. These organizations help low-income residents with expungement petitions, public records disputes, and other criminal law matters at no cost or reduced cost.

Statewide Resources for Grant County

The ADC inmate search at apps.ark.org/inmate_info shows Grant County residents sentenced to state prison. The free system includes current and former ADC prisoners along with facility, sentence, and release date. Use it when someone from Grant County does not appear in the county jail roster.

VINE, the Victim Information and Notification Everyday service, tracks custody status for inmates at county jails and ADC facilities. The VINE line is 1-800-510-0415 and runs around the clock. VINE covers the Grant County jail in Sheridan. Free automatic alerts are available when a person's custody status changes. Registration is free and can be set up over the phone.

The Arkansas Attorney General at 800-482-8982 handles FOIA complaints involving Grant County agencies. For questions about CourtConnect or circuit court filings, the Administrative Office of the Courts is at 501-410-1900 or 866-823-5778. The main judiciary site at arcourts.gov has forms, rules, contact information, and self-help resources for all Arkansas counties including Grant County in Sheridan.

The Arkansas public records portal provides access to Grant County court records, FOIA guidance, and links to statewide criminal records systems serving Sheridan and surrounding communities.

Cities in Grant County

Grant County includes Sheridan (the county seat), Prattsville, Leola, and Poyen, as well as other small communities in the area. None of these cities currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. Criminal charges filed anywhere in Grant County are processed through the Circuit Court in Sheridan. Arrest records for municipal activity in Sheridan are maintained by the Sheridan Police Department as well as by the county sheriff. For county-level booking records, contact the Grant County Sheriff's Office in Sheridan.

Nearby Counties

Criminal records from counties near Grant County are kept by those counties' circuit clerks and sheriffs. The links below go to criminal records pages for counties adjacent to or near Grant County in central Arkansas.