Search Hot Springs Criminal Court Records
Hot Springs criminal court records are kept by the Garland County Circuit Clerk at the courthouse on Ouachita Avenue, with full online access through the state's CourtConnect portal and a dedicated sheriff's public records web portal for arrest and warrant information. Whether you need to find a felony case, look up a misdemeanor, get certified copies of court documents, or request incident records from the Hot Springs Police Department, this guide walks through every available method from online searches to in-person visits and FOIA requests.
Hot Springs Criminal Court Quick Facts
Garland County Circuit Court: Felony Records
Felony criminal cases from Hot Springs are filed at Garland County Circuit Court. The circuit clerk is Tina Reynolds. The office is at 501 Ouachita Avenue, Room 107, Hot Springs, AR 71901. The phone is (501) 622-3630 and the fax is (501) 609-9043. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This is one of nine Arkansas counties with full participation in the CourtConnect system, meaning online access to criminal case records is more complete here than in most counties.
The circuit court keeps all felony charges filed in Garland County. Case files include charging documents, warrants, bond records, plea agreements, judgment and sentencing orders, and full docket sheets. Physical copies cost $1.00 per page and certified copies are $5.00. You can inspect records at no cost at public access terminals during office hours. The county's criminal records go back further than the online system, so older cases may require an in-person or mail request.
The Garland County Circuit Clerk website at garlandcounty.org/150/Circuit-Clerks-Office has contact details, fee schedules, and links to court resources. Garland County covers felony criminal cases, civil cases, Family Court matters, probate, and juvenile cases (juvenile access is restricted).
The Garland County Circuit Clerk's office serves Hot Springs and all of Garland County, maintaining criminal court records with full CourtConnect participation for online case searches.
Search Hot Springs Criminal Cases Online
CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is the free statewide case search tool. No account is needed. You can search by party name, case number, or citation number. Garland County's full participation means comprehensive case details are available, including docket entries, case status, hearing dates, and some document access for participating case types. Searches cover both circuit court felonies and district court misdemeanor records in the Contexte system.
The Garland County Sheriff's Office also runs a public records web portal. That portal includes the inmate roster with current jail population and booking information, and warrant information for county-level matters. Search by name or booking number. The sheriff's detention center is at 3564 Albert Pike Road, Hot Springs, AR 71913, separate from the main sheriff's office at 525 Ouachita Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71901.
Note: CourtConnect is offline for maintenance from 12:30 AM to 2:00 AM on weekdays and from Saturday evening through Sunday midday.
Hot Springs District Court
The Garland County District Court in Hot Springs is at 607 Ouachita Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71901. The phone is (501) 321-6765 and the fax is (501) 321-6764. This court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and city ordinance violations for Hot Springs and Garland County. The Hot Springs Municipal Court handles city violations at 133 Convention Boulevard, Hot Springs, AR 71901, reachable at (501) 321-6713. The city's municipal court website is at cityhs.net/municipal-court.
Cases appealed from district court or municipal court move up to the circuit clerk's files. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-403, criminal appeals from district court carry a $150.00 transfer fee. Once a case enters the circuit court system, it appears in the CourtConnect online database.
Hot Springs Police Department Records
The Hot Springs Police Department keeps arrest records, incident reports, and accident reports for cases within the city. The department is at 641 Malvern Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71901. The main line is (501) 321-6789 and the records phone is (501) 321-6706. Municipal court matters go through 133 Convention Boulevard at (501) 321-6713.
To request police records, you submit a FOIA request to the department. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101, the agency must respond within three business days. Ongoing investigation records are exempt from disclosure. Standard police reports cost $10.00 each and accident reports also run $10.00. Document copies are $0.25 per page.
The Garland County Sheriff's Office at 525 Ouachita Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71901, phone (501) 622-3660, handles arrest records and warrant information for the county. For a statewide background check covering all 75 Arkansas counties, the Arkansas State Police Criminal Background Check system runs name-based searches for $22.00 each.
Note: Arkansas State Police background check fees are $25.00 for mail-in requests. Online submission at cbc.ark.org is faster and costs $22.00.
How to Request Criminal Court Records in Hot Springs
The fastest option is an in-person visit to the Garland County Circuit Clerk at 501 Ouachita Avenue, Room 107, Hot Springs. Bring photo ID and any case details you have. Standard copies are $1.00 per page and certified copies are $5.00. Public access terminals are on-site. Staff can help locate records and confirm fees first.
Mail requests go to the Garland County Circuit Clerk at the Ouachita Avenue address, Hot Springs, AR 71901. Include the case number if you have it, both party names, the approximate filing date, and the case type. Attach payment for estimated fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing by mail takes around 7 to 14 business days. For email questions, contact the clerk at garlandclerk@arkansasclerks.com. Staff can guide you on procedures but cannot send restricted records by email.
Additional Resources for Hot Springs Records
The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts lists contacts and resources for every court in the state. The Arkansas Courthouse Kiosk program provides free public terminals at select courthouses for record searches and legal forms. The Arkansas Association of Counties has current contact information for circuit clerks statewide. The Arkansas Crime Information Center maintains the statewide ARCH criminal history system and the sex offender registry searchable at no cost to the public.
Nearby Cities
These pages cover criminal court access in other Arkansas cities.