Benton County Criminal Court Records
Benton County criminal court records are kept by the Circuit Clerk's Office in Bentonville, one of the most active court systems in Arkansas. The county offers full CourtConnect participation along with its own dedicated search portal at bentoncircuitclerk.com. Whether you need to look up a felony case, check a misdemeanor appeal, or get certified copies of criminal filings, this guide walks through every way to search Benton County criminal records online and in person at the Bentonville courthouse.
Benton County Criminal Court Records
Benton County Circuit Clerk Office
Benda DeShields is the Circuit Clerk for Benton County. Her office is at 102 Northeast A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712. The main phone number is (479) 271-1015. The criminal division has a direct line at (479) 271-1016. Fax is (479) 271-1019, and email is circuitclerk@bentoncountyar.gov. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
The clerk's office operates under Ark. Code Ann. § 16-20-102, which requires the clerk to record all proceedings, issue warrants and summons, and keep complete files of all pending and past cases. Benton County is one of the most populated counties in the state, and the volume of criminal cases filed here reflects that growth in the northwest Arkansas region.
The Benton County Circuit Clerk's Office website at bentoncircuitclerk.com offers a dedicated case search portal, office contact details, and information on electronic filing for attorneys.
Search Benton County Criminal Records Online
Benton County has full participation in the state's CourtConnect system. You can search at caseinfo.arcourts.gov with no account needed. The county also runs its own case search portal at bentoncircuitclerk.com, which ties into CourtConnect and lets you search by name, case number, or business.
Full CourtConnect participation means Benton County provides more complete case data than many other Arkansas counties. You can see party names, case numbers, filing dates, case status, hearing schedules, docket entries, and real-time case updates. Document images may be available for some case types. Juvenile records, sealed cases, and active investigation files are still excluded regardless of participation level.
Attorneys can use TrueFiling for electronic case submission. Electronic filing has been mandatory for civil cases in Benton County since January 1, 2018. If you are a party searching for your own case, the public portal at bentoncircuitclerk.com is the fastest starting point before calling or visiting the office.
Note: The dedicated Benton County search portal may experience timeouts during peak hours. If it does not load, use CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov as a direct backup.How to Get Benton County Court Documents
In-person access at the Bentonville courthouse is the most complete way to get criminal court records. Self-service kiosks are available at the courthouse for independent searches. Staff can assist with complex searches and locate records that are not in the online system. Bring a photo ID and any case information you have. There is no fee to inspect public records in person.
To request records by mail, write to the Benton County Circuit Clerk at 102 Northeast A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712. Include the case number, party names, filing date, and the type of documents you need. Attach payment and a return envelope. Processing times vary but plan for up to two weeks.
Copy fees are $0.25 per page for standard copies. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus $0.50 per page over 10 pages. New circuit court case filings cost $165.00. Recording fees are $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page. Arkansas FOIA under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 entitles any person to inspect public records during regular business hours at no charge.
Arrest Records and the Benton County Sheriff
Arrest records and warrant information for Benton County come from the Sheriff's Office at 1300 SW 14th Street, Bentonville, AR 72712. Phone is (479) 271-1008. The Sheriff handles arrest records, warrant data, inmate records, and incident reports. For incident reports, submit a FOIA request in writing. The office must respond within three business days under Arkansas law.
For a broader statewide search, the Arkansas State Police Criminal Background Check system provides name-based criminal history searches for $22.00 each. This reaches records from all 75 Arkansas counties and is useful when a person's record may extend beyond Benton County.
Types of Criminal Records in Benton County
The Circuit Clerk keeps felony cases as the main category of criminal court records. Drug offenses, violent crimes, property crimes, and weapons charges all appear at the circuit level. Misdemeanor appeals from district courts in Bentonville, Rogers, Fayetteville, and other local courts also end up in the clerk's files. Each case file typically has the charging document, any arrest warrant, bond records, plea agreements, judgment and sentence orders, and a complete docket sheet covering every step of the case.
Not all records are public. Juvenile records are sealed under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-309. Sealed and expunged records do not appear. Copies going to the public are redacted to remove Social Security numbers, financial data, and domestic violence victim addresses per Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order 19.
Benton County Court Records Resources
Several tools support record searches in Benton County. The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts provides statewide court contacts and self-help forms. The Arkansas Association of Counties directory lists all circuit clerks statewide. For federal criminal cases, PACER covers U.S. District Court filings for the Western District of Arkansas, which serves Benton County. The Arkansas Attorney General's Office handles FOIA questions and public records disputes at (800) 482-8982.
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.