Find Criminal Court Records in Cleburne County
Cleburne County criminal court records are held by the Circuit Clerk's Office in Heber Springs, covering all felony cases, misdemeanor appeals, and other matters brought before the circuit court in the Fifth Judicial District. If you need to search a criminal case, get a certified copy of a court document, or find out how to submit a records request, this guide walks you through each option available in Cleburne County. That includes the state's free CourtConnect online portal, an in-person visit to the Heber Springs courthouse, and a written mail request to the Circuit Clerk's office.
Cleburne County Criminal Court Records
Cleburne County Circuit Clerk's Office
The Circuit Clerk for Cleburne County is Dana Smith. The office is at 301 W Main Street, Heber Springs, AR 72543. Phone is (501) 362-8149. Fax is (501) 362-4659. You can also reach staff by email at cleburneclerk@arkansasclerks.com. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk's county website is at cleburnecountyar.com.
The clerk operates under Ark. Code Ann. § 16-20-102, which requires the clerk to record all court proceedings, issue summons and warrants, and keep files for all pending and closed cases. Cleburne County criminal court records include felony charges, misdemeanor cases appealed from district court, and all other matters handled at the circuit level. The clerk's office archives cover the full history of criminal cases in the county.
The Cleburne County Circuit Clerk's website provides contact information, office hours, and details for accessing criminal court records at the Heber Springs courthouse.
Search Cleburne County Cases Online
The state provides a free online case search tool called CourtConnect. Access it at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. No account is required. Cleburne County has partial participation, which means CourtConnect returns basic case index data but not full document images. You can search by party name or case number and review basic case information at no cost.
For Cleburne County criminal cases, a CourtConnect search shows party names, case numbers, filing dates, case status, disposition entries, and scheduled hearing dates. What is not available online: the actual court documents, affidavits, transcripts, and exhibits. Sealed cases and juvenile records do not appear. Cases filed before Cleburne County entered the Contexte system are also absent from the online database. For those records, or any time you need the actual documents, you contact the Circuit Clerk directly or visit the courthouse.
Note: CourtConnect is down for maintenance from 12:30 AM to 2:00 AM on weekdays and has extended windows on weekends.
How to Get Cleburne County Criminal Records
Visiting the courthouse in person is the most direct way to access Cleburne County criminal court records. The office is at 301 W Main Street, Heber Springs, AR 72543. Bring a photo ID and any case details you have. Public access terminals at the courthouse let you search records before asking staff. Staff can help locate specific case files and tell you the copy costs before you pay. There is no charge to inspect records in person.
For mail requests, send a written letter to Cleburne County Circuit Clerk, 301 W Main Street, Heber Springs, AR 72543. Include the case number if you have it, the names of both parties, the approximate filing date, and the type of case. Attach a check or money order for estimated fees along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow 7 to 14 business days for processing. Standard copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 per document. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101, Arkansas FOIA guarantees access to public records during regular business hours. Fee waivers for indigent parties require court approval.
Cleburne County Sheriff and Arrest Records
Arrest records for Cleburne County come from the Sheriff's Office at 914 S 7th St, Heber Springs, AR 72543. Phone is (501) 362-2593. The Sheriff's website is at cleburnecountysheriff.com. The Sheriff maintains arrest records, warrant information, inmate data, and incident reports. These are separate from the Circuit Clerk's court files. An arrest does not always mean a court case was filed.
The Cleburne County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records, warrant checks, and inmate information that are separate from the criminal court case files maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Heber Springs.
To get incident reports, file a written FOIA request with the Sheriff's Office. Arkansas FOIA law requires a response within three business days. Include the date, time, and location of the incident. For statewide background check results, the Arkansas State Police Criminal Background Check system runs name-based searches for $22.00 per request. It covers all Arkansas counties and is useful when you need results beyond Cleburne County alone.
Types of Criminal Records in Cleburne County
The Circuit Clerk keeps multiple types of criminal court records. Felony cases are the most common at the circuit level. They cover drug charges, violent offenses, property crimes, and more. Misdemeanor cases appealed from district court also enter the circuit clerk's files. Each case file typically contains the charging document, any arrest warrant, bond records, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and the full docket sheet from first filing to final disposition.
Not all records are public. Juvenile delinquency records are sealed under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-309. Records that a court has sealed or expunged do not show in public searches. Social Security numbers, financial account data, and victim addresses in domestic cases are redacted from public copies. Certified copies include the clerk's official seal and signature as confirmation the document is a true and correct copy. Filing fees under Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-403 set new case filings at $165.00 when a matter enters the circuit court system.
Cleburne County Court Record Resources
Beyond the clerk's office and CourtConnect, several other resources can help with Cleburne County criminal record research. The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts lists contact information for every Arkansas court and offers self-help forms and guides. The Arkansas Association of Counties maintains a directory of circuit clerks and county officials for all 75 counties. For federal criminal cases, the PACER system gives access to U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas filings. The Arkansas State Archives holds older historical court records that predate modern filing systems. The Arkansas Attorney General's FOIA guidance at arkansasag.gov explains your rights when requesting public records from any Arkansas government office.
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.