Columbia County Criminal Court Records
Columbia County criminal court records are filed and maintained by the Circuit Clerk's Office at the courthouse in Magnolia, Arkansas. If you need to search for a felony case, look up a misdemeanor appeal, or get copies of court documents, this page explains how to find criminal court records in Columbia County through the state's online portal, in-person visits to the Court Square location, and requests to Circuit Clerk Angie Evans.
Columbia County Criminal Court Records
Columbia County Circuit Clerk Office
Angie Evans is the Circuit Clerk for Columbia County. Her office at 1 Court Square, Magnolia, Arkansas keeps all criminal court records filed in the county, along with civil cases and domestic matters. The clerk's duties under Ark. Code Ann. § 16-20-102 include recording all court proceedings, issuing warrants and summons, and maintaining complete files from initial charge through final judgment.
The office sits at 1 Court Square, Magnolia, AR 71753. Mailing address is P.O. Box 310, Magnolia, AR 71754. Phone is (870) 235-3700. Fax is (870) 234-3154. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Columbia County website provides basic contact information and office details for the clerk and other county departments.
The Columbia County Circuit Clerk's Office at 1 Court Square in Magnolia handles all criminal court filings for the county and is the main point of contact for record requests and certified copies.
Search Columbia County Criminal Records Online
CourtConnect is the free statewide case search portal at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. No account is needed. You can search by party name, case number, or citation number, with filters for case type, court location, and date range. Columbia County has partial participation status, meaning basic case index information is available but document images are not.
A CourtConnect search for Columbia County returns party names, case numbers, filing dates, case status and disposition, scheduled hearings, and basic docket entries. The actual documents, signed orders, affidavits, and transcripts are not available online. Sealed cases and juvenile records don't appear at all. Cases filed before the county joined the Contexte system are also not in the database.
CourtConnect shows docket entries for recent cases, which makes it useful for checking hearing dates and confirming a case is still open or has been resolved. For anything older or for document copies, contact the clerk directly. The system is offline for maintenance from 12:30 AM to 2:00 AM on weekdays and from 10:00 PM Saturday to noon Sunday.
Note: If a name search returns no results, try a case number search if you have it, or call the clerk at (870) 235-3700 for older files not in the system.
How to Request Columbia County Court Records
In-person visits to the Circuit Clerk at 1 Court Square, Magnolia are the most direct way to get records. Bring a photo ID and any known case details. Staff can locate the file and pull the docket sheet for you. Viewing records in person is free. Copies cost $0.25 per page and certified copies are $5.00 per document. Recording fees are $15.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page when new documents are filed.
Mail requests go to P.O. Box 310, Magnolia, AR 71754. Your letter should include the case number if known, both party names, approximate filing date, and type of case. Attach a check or money order for estimated copy fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail requests take 7 to 14 business days to process. For general questions, you can email columbiaclerk@arkansasclerks.com, but records cannot be sent by email.
The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101, requires public records to be available during normal business hours. Most criminal court records in Columbia County are public. The exceptions are sealed orders, expunged records, and juvenile matters.
Columbia County District Court
District courts in Arkansas handle misdemeanors, traffic violations, and small claims. When a district court case is appealed or involves a more serious charge, it moves up to circuit court and the Circuit Clerk takes over record-keeping. Columbia County District Court can be reached at (870) 234-4100. Misdemeanor appeals from district court are a common source of new criminal filings at the circuit level in Columbia County.
Filing fees for new circuit court cases are set under Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-403. The new case filing fee is $165.00. District court appeals carry a $150.00 fee. Reopening a closed case costs $50.00. These fees go to the Circuit Clerk when the case enters the circuit court system.
Arrest Records and the Columbia County Sheriff
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office is at 1 Court Square, Magnolia, AR 71753. Phone is (870) 234-5331. The Sheriff maintains arrest records, warrant information, inmate records, and incident reports. These are separate from the criminal court records kept by the Circuit Clerk. An arrest record with the Sheriff does not always mean a circuit court case was filed.
To request an incident report, file a written FOIA request with the Sheriff's Office. Arkansas law requires a response within three business days. Your request should name the date and location of the incident and the parties involved if known. Warrant checks typically require an in-person visit with valid ID.
For a statewide background search, use the Arkansas State Police Criminal Background Check portal at $22.00 per name-based search. That system covers all 75 Arkansas counties and is useful when you need a broader result than a Columbia County search alone can provide.
Types of Criminal Records in Columbia County
The Circuit Clerk in Magnolia keeps felony criminal cases, misdemeanor appeals, domestic cases, and civil matters. Felony files are the most common at the circuit level and cover drug charges, violent crimes, theft, and similar offenses. Each case file normally contains the original charge, arrest warrant if one was issued, bond records, plea documents, sentencing orders, and a full docket sheet listing every action in the case.
Some records are restricted. Juvenile delinquency records are sealed under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-309. Records sealed or expunged by court order do not appear in public searches. Copies provided to the public have Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and victim address information in domestic violence cases removed. Historical records from many decades ago may be stored at the Arkansas State Archives.
Columbia County Court Records Resources
The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts website lists contact details for all state courts and provides forms and self-help guides. The Arkansas Association of Counties covers circuit clerks and county officials statewide. For federal criminal cases involving Columbia County defendants, the PACER system covers the Western District of Arkansas. The Arkansas Courthouse Kiosk program offers free public access terminals at select Arkansas courthouses for record searches and legal forms at no cost.
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.