Find Criminal Records in Union County

Union County criminal records are public documents maintained by the Sheriff's Office and Circuit Clerk in El Dorado, Arkansas. This page explains how to find arrest records, court case files, inmate information, and background check data for this south Arkansas county. Union County borders Louisiana to the south and is one of the larger counties in the region by population.

Union County Sheriff's Office

The Union County Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer for the county and serves as the chief enforcement officer of the courts. Contact the Sheriff's Office at:

• Address: 250 American Road, El Dorado, Arkansas 71730
• Phone: (870) 864-1970
• Dispatch: (870) 864-1990
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Website: unioncountyar.com/county-sheriff.php

Under Arkansas law, the Sheriff carries out a broad set of law enforcement duties in the county. These include executing summonses, enforcing court judgments, orders, injunctions, garnishments, and attachments, and making arrests on court warrants. The Sheriff preserves public peace, protects life and property, prevents and detects criminal activity, and apprehends and confines offenders.

The Sheriff is also responsible for county jail operations. The office has custody of accused felons and some misdemeanor defendants. The Sheriff feeds and cares for all accused persons in custody, maintains a daily log of all prisoners, and keeps a bail bond book. All records related to jail custody are part of the Sheriff's official records.

Arrest Records and Booking Information

Arrest records from incidents handled by the Union County Sheriff's Office are maintained at the El Dorado headquarters. To request records, submit a written FOIA request to the office. Include the subject's full name, date of birth, and approximate arrest date if known. The office must acknowledge your eligibility within 24 hours and produce records within three business days under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq.

The Sheriff maintains a log of all prisoners. This log includes booking dates and basic custody information. If you need to confirm whether someone is currently held in the Union County Jail, call the dispatch line at (870) 864-1990. Dispatch operates around the clock and can confirm current custody status.

Warrant information is also handled through the Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff executes arrest warrants issued by the Circuit Court and District Courts in Union County. Warrant records are public once a warrant has been served. You can also search for warrant-related case filings through CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov.

The Union County Sheriff's Office website provides official contact information, office hours, and general information about law enforcement services in El Dorado and throughout the county.

Union County Circuit Clerk

The Union County Circuit Clerk maintains official records for all court proceedings in the county. This includes criminal, civil, domestic relations, and juvenile cases. All case filings, dispositions, orders, and judgments are recorded by the Circuit Clerk's office at the Union County Courthouse in El Dorado.

To get court records, visit the Clerk's office in person during regular business hours or send a written request by mail. Copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies carry the same fee but require staff processing time. For large records requests, call ahead to estimate cost and turnaround. The Clerk can confirm whether a specific case is on file and whether any records are sealed by court order.

CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is the free statewide case search portal. Most Union County criminal cases filed in recent years are searchable by name or case number. Older or archived cases may only exist in paper at the courthouse.

Search Union County Records Online

CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is the best tool for searching Union County criminal records online. It is free, run by the Arkansas Judiciary, and covers criminal, civil, domestic, and juvenile cases statewide. Search by defendant name or case number. Results show case type, filing date, parties involved, and disposition in most cases.

The Arkansas Department of Corrections maintains a statewide inmate database at apps.ark.org/inmate_info. Enter a name or ADC number to find a state-sentenced individual's current facility, sentence length, and projected release date. This covers ADC prisons statewide. Individuals held in the Union County Jail pending trial are not in this database. Call Sheriff's dispatch at (870) 864-1990 for local jail inquiries.

The state sex offender registry is operated by ACIC at acic.arkansas.gov. Search by name or location to find registered offenders in Union County. Registry information includes offense history, current address, and registration status for all registrants in El Dorado, Smackover, Norphlet, Strong, Junction City, and other communities in the county.

Arkansas CourtConnect is the official statewide court case system. It covers Union County and all other Arkansas counties. Use it to search criminal cases by name or case number at no cost.

Arkansas State Background Check

Official Arkansas background checks go through the Arkansas State Police at cbc.ark.org. The fee is $22 online or $25 by mail. Form ASP-122 is required for both methods. Mail requests go to Arkansas State Police, Identification Bureau, 1 State Police Plaza Drive, Little Rock, AR 72209.

The ACIC criminal history repository contains arrest and conviction data from all Arkansas law enforcement agencies, including Union County. A state check covers felonies, misdemeanors, and other qualifying offenses on file with ACIC. Online processing is faster. For the most complete Union County criminal history, combine a state background check with a direct search through CourtConnect and the Circuit Clerk in El Dorado.

Arkansas FOIA and Public Records Access

Union County criminal records are public under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq. Any person may request them without stating a reason. The agency must confirm eligibility within 24 hours and produce records within three business days. This applies to both the Sheriff's Office and the Circuit Clerk.

Exempt records include sealed court files, active investigation materials, juvenile records, medical records, adoption files, and Grand Jury minutes. If your request is denied, the agency must identify the specific exemption. You may challenge improper denials under FOIA. Put requests in writing and send them to the office holding the records you need.

For arrest records, contact the Sheriff at 250 American Road, El Dorado, AR 71730, phone (870) 864-1970. For court records, contact the Circuit Clerk at the Union County Courthouse in El Dorado. Describe the records as specifically as you can. Include full names, dates, and case numbers where available.

Victim Notification: VINE

VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) provides free custody tracking for inmates held in the Union County Jail and all Arkansas facilities. Call 1-800-510-0415 at any time to register for automatic alerts when an inmate is released, transferred, or escapes. You can also register online through the VINE website. Notifications go out by phone, text, or email based on your preference. Your contact information is kept confidential and is never shared with the inmate.

Cities in Union County

El Dorado is the county seat and the largest city in Union County. El Dorado has a dedicated city page on this site: El Dorado Criminal Records. Other communities in Union County include Smackover, Norphlet, Strong, and Junction City. These smaller cities do not currently meet the population threshold for individual city pages. For records tied to incidents in these communities, use the Union County resources on this page.

Nearby Counties

Union County borders five other Arkansas counties and Louisiana to the south. Each county has its own Sheriff's Office, Circuit Clerk, and court system. CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov covers all of them.

• Ashley County (east)
• Bradley County (north)
• Calhoun County (northwest)
• Columbia County (west)
• Ouachita County (northeast)