Ashley County Criminal Court Records
Ashley County criminal court records are filed and maintained by the Circuit Clerk's Office in Hamburg, serving the county's 11th Judicial Circuit. Whether you need to find a felony case, check misdemeanor appeal filings, or get certified copies of court documents, this guide covers the main ways to search Ashley County criminal records online through CourtConnect, by mail, or in person at the Hamburg courthouse.
Ashley County Criminal Court Records
Find Ashley County Criminal Court Records
The Circuit Clerk for Ashley County is Vickie Riley Stell. Her office sits at 215 East Jefferson Street, Hamburg, AR 71646. You can also send mail to P.O. Box 2050, Hamburg, AR 71646. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Phone is (870) 853-2030, and fax is (870) 853-2034. Email is ashley.county@arkansas.gov.
The clerk's office records all circuit court filings under Ark. Code Ann. § 16-20-102, which requires the clerk to record all court proceedings, issue summons and warrants, and keep files of every pending and past case. Ashley County criminal records include felony cases, misdemeanor appeals from Hamburg and Crossett district courts, and other circuit court matters.
The Ashley County website has general county information and office contacts. The Ashley County Circuit Clerk page provides direct access to clerk office details and services.
The Ashley County Circuit Clerk's Office in Hamburg handles all circuit-level criminal court records for the county, including felony cases and misdemeanor appeals from local district courts.
The Ashley County official website offers contact information, office directories, and links to county services including the Circuit Clerk and Sheriff's Office.
Search Ashley County Criminal Records Online
The state provides a free online search tool called CourtConnect. Find it at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. No account is needed. You can search by party name, case number, or citation. Ashley County has partial participation in CourtConnect, so you get basic case index data but not full document images.
A CourtConnect search for Ashley County criminal cases will show you party names, case numbers, filing dates, case status, scheduled hearings, and general docket entries. You will not find actual court documents, transcripts, or exhibits. Sealed cases and juvenile records do not appear. Cases filed before Ashley County joined the Contexte case management system are also not in the online database.
For records not in CourtConnect, contact the clerk's office directly. The system is down for maintenance from 12:30 AM to 2:00 AM on weekdays and from Saturday evening through Sunday noon. If you search and get no results, the case may predate the county's entry into the system.
Note: CourtConnect shows index-level data only for Ashley County. For certified copies or document images, contact the clerk at (870) 853-2030.How to Request Records in Ashley County
In-person visits are the most direct way to get Ashley County criminal court records. Bring a photo ID, any known case information such as the case number or party names, and cash or a check for copies. Public access terminals are available at the courthouse for self-directed searches. Staff can locate records and confirm copy fees before you pay.
Mail requests are accepted. Send a written request to the Ashley County Circuit Clerk at 215 East Jefferson Street, Hamburg, AR 71646, or P.O. Box 2050, Hamburg, AR 71646. Include the case number if you have it, both party names, the filing date, and the type of case. Attach a check or money order for estimated copy fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing by mail takes about 7 to 14 business days.
Standard copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 per document. New case filings carry a $165.00 fee, and fax filing is $1.00 per page. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101, public records must be available for inspection during regular business hours at no charge. Fee waivers may apply in cases where the court approves an indigency form.
District Courts and Case Filings in Ashley County
District courts in Ashley County handle misdemeanors, traffic cases, and small claims at the first level. When a district court case is appealed or involves a more serious charge, it moves to circuit court. The two district courts in Ashley County are Hamburg District Court at (870) 853-8326 and Crossett District Court at (870) 364-7620.
Filing fees for circuit court cases are set by Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-403. A new case filing costs $165.00. District court appeals to circuit court carry a $150.00 fee. Reopening a case costs $50.00. These fees go to the Circuit Clerk when the case enters the circuit court system.
Arrest Records and the Ashley County Sheriff
Arrest records for Ashley County come from the Sheriff's Office, not the Circuit Clerk. The Sheriff's Office is at 9781 SR 149, Hamburg, AR 71646. Phone is (870) 853-2040. The Sheriff handles arrest records, warrant information, inmate records, and incident reports.
To request incident reports, file a written FOIA request with the Sheriff's Office. Under Arkansas FOIA law, the office must respond within three business days. Include the date, time, and location of the incident, plus the names of parties involved if known. Warrant checks typically require an in-person visit with a valid ID.
For statewide background checks, the Arkansas State Police Criminal Background Check system runs name-based checks for $22.00 each. This is useful when you need a broader search that goes beyond Ashley County alone.
Note: Arrest records and court records are separate. An arrest record from the Sheriff's Office does not always mean a circuit court case was filed.Types of Criminal Records Kept in Ashley County
The Circuit Clerk holds several categories of criminal court records. Felony cases are the most common at the circuit level, covering charges like drug offenses, violent crimes, and property crimes. Misdemeanor appeals from Hamburg and Crossett district courts also land in the clerk's files. A typical case file holds the charging document, any arrest warrant, bond records, plea agreements, judgment and sentencing orders, and the full docket sheet showing every step of the case.
Some records are not public. Juvenile delinquency records are sealed under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-309. Expunged or sealed records do not appear in public searches. Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and domestic violence victim addresses are redacted from public copies. Certified copies include the clerk's seal, signature, and a certification statement.
Very old Ashley County court records going back many decades may be stored in the clerk's archives or held by the Arkansas State Archives. If you need records from many years ago, contact the archives directly in addition to the clerk's office.
Ashley County Court Records Resources
Several tools can help you find Ashley County criminal records beyond the courthouse. The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts website lists contact information for every court in the state and provides forms and self-help guides. The Arkansas Association of Counties directory lists circuit clerks and other county officials statewide. For federal criminal cases involving Ashley County residents, the PACER system provides access to U.S. District Court records at $0.10 per page.
Nearby Counties
If the case you need was filed in a neighboring county, these Circuit Clerk offices may have the records you are looking for.