Benton Criminal Court Records
Criminal court records in Benton, Arkansas are maintained by the Saline County Circuit Clerk and the Benton Municipal Court, depending on the case type. Saline County is one of nine Arkansas counties with full CourtConnect access, which means online searches return detailed case data rather than basic index results. This guide covers the main offices, search tools, and procedures for finding criminal court records tied to Benton cases.
Benton Criminal Court Records
Saline County Circuit Clerk
The Saline County Circuit Clerk is Dennis Milligan. The office is at 200 N Main Street, Benton, AR 72015, phone (501) 303-5615. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk's website is at salinecircuitclerk.com. Felony cases, domestic relations matters, civil cases above $25,000, and any case appealed from district court all go through this office.
Saline County holds full participation status in Arkansas CourtConnect. That matters because full participation means you get comprehensive case data when you search online, not just the basic party name and case number that partial-participation counties provide. Document images are available for participating case types. Case status updates are real-time. You can search by advanced party name filters, case number, date range, case type, and attorney name.
Standard copies run $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document. Public access terminals at the courthouse let you search records on your own before asking staff for help. Staff assistance is available for complex searches or when you need documents pulled from storage.
Note: Juvenile records are sealed and not available through public searches under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-309. Expunged records also do not appear in CourtConnect or in-person searches.
Benton Municipal Court
The Benton Municipal Court handles traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal cases, and city ordinance matters. The court is at 114 W Sevier Street, Benton, AR 72015, phone (501) 776-5980. This is where lower-level criminal cases get resolved before any potential appeal to circuit court. If you need records from a misdemeanor or traffic case that stayed at the municipal level, you would request them from this court rather than the circuit clerk.
The Benton Police Department handles arrest records and incident reports independently of the court system. The department is at 114 S East Street, Benton, AR 72015. The main police line is (501) 776-5945 and the Records Division is at (501) 776-5981. Police reports cost $10.00 per report. Copies of court documents are $0.25 per page.
FOIA requests for police records must be submitted in writing by Arkansas citizens. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101, agencies must respond within three business days. Be specific about the records you need, including the incident date, location, and names of parties involved. Vague requests can delay or limit the response you receive.
Search Benton Criminal Records Online
Use CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov for free online searches of Benton criminal court records. No login required. Because Saline County is a full-participation county, you get detailed results including docket entries, hearing dates, case status, and document access for qualifying case types. Search by party name, case number, or business name. You can filter by court, case type, and date range.
CourtConnect search results for Benton cases will show party names, case numbers, filing dates, court location, current status, scheduled hearings, and docket entries. Sealed matters, juvenile cases, and expunged records are not visible. Sensitive personal data like Social Security numbers and victim addresses in domestic violence cases are redacted from public results. The system is down for maintenance from 12:30 AM to 2:00 AM on weekdays and from Saturday night through Sunday noon.
Saline County Sheriff Records
The Saline County Sheriff's Office maintains warrant information and arrest records for unincorporated Saline County areas near Benton. The Sheriff's address is 735 S Neeley Street, Benton, AR 72015, phone (501) 303-5709. The district court line is (501) 303-5625 for questions about misdemeanor and traffic cases at the county level.
For a statewide criminal history search that goes beyond court case records, the Arkansas State Police Criminal Background Check system processes name-based checks for $22.00 per request. This search covers arrest history, conviction records, and incarceration history across all Arkansas counties. Signed written consent from the subject is required. Mail-in requests go to the Arkansas State Police ID Bureau, 1 State Police Plaza Drive, Little Rock, AR 72209, and cost $25.00.
The Arkansas State Police Criminal Background Check system is the official state portal for name-based criminal history searches. Name-based checks cost $22.00 and cover statewide arrest and conviction records, including cases from the Benton and Saline County area.
How to Get Copies of Benton Court Records
Three ways to get copies of criminal court records in Benton. First, visit the Saline County Circuit Clerk's office at 200 N Main Street in person. Bring a photo ID and any case information you have. Staff will help locate the record and give you the copy fee before you pay. Second, mail a written request to the same address with the case details, estimated copy fee payment, and a return envelope. Third, use CourtConnect for records you can view and print at home.
Certified copies require the clerk's seal and signature and cost $5.00 per document. Standard copies without certification cost $0.25 per page. There is no charge to simply inspect public records in person during business hours. If you are unsure whether a record is public or sealed, staff can tell you what is available before you pay for anything.
The Arkansas Courthouse Kiosk program operates public access terminals at select courthouse locations where you can search records, access legal forms, and get information about record-sealing options at no cost. Contact the Administrative Office of the Courts at (501) 682-9400 to find out if a kiosk is available at the Saline County Courthouse.
Nearby Cities
These nearby qualifying cities have criminal court record pages if you need to search cases in adjacent areas.