Drew County Criminal Court Records
Drew County criminal court records are kept by the Circuit Clerk's Office in Monticello, Arkansas, part of the Tenth Judicial District of Arkansas. If you need to find a felony case, look up a misdemeanor appeal, or get certified copies of court documents, this page explains how to search criminal court records in Drew County through CourtConnect, the county kiosk portal, in-person visits to the South Main Street courthouse, and requests to Circuit Clerk Beverly Burks.
Drew County Criminal Court Records
Drew County Circuit Clerk Office
Beverly Burks is the Circuit Clerk for Drew County and is currently serving her fourth term in the role. Her office at 210 South Main Street, Monticello handles all criminal court records, civil filings, and domestic matters for the county. Drew County is part of the Tenth Judicial District of Arkansas. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 16-20-102, the clerk records all proceedings, issues warrants and summons, and maintains complete case files from initial charge through final judgment.
The office address is 210 South Main Street, Monticello, AR 71655. Mailing address is P.O. Box 505, Monticello, AR 71657. Phone is (870) 460-6200 and fax is (870) 460-6246. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk's office recently received a grant for a new land records system, which means property record access in Drew County is being updated and digitized.
Staff can help you locate case files, pull docket sheets, and process copy requests during regular hours. If you call ahead, staff can confirm whether a specific record is available before you make the trip to Monticello.
Search Drew County Criminal Records Online
Drew County is covered by the Arkansas Courthouse Kiosk program. You can access case information through the Drew County Court Kiosk and through the statewide CourtConnect portal at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. Neither requires an account. CourtConnect covers Drew County with partial participation status, meaning you get basic case index information but not full document images.
A search in CourtConnect for Drew County criminal cases returns party names, case numbers, filing dates, case status and disposition, scheduled hearings, and general docket entries. The actual court documents, signed orders, exhibits, and transcripts are not available online. Sealed records and juvenile matters don't appear. Cases from before the county joined the Contexte case management system also won't show up.
The courthouse kiosk at the Drew County courthouse provides free public access to record searches, legal forms, and information about record-sealing options at no cost. This is a good resource if you prefer to do the search on-site with assistance available nearby. The CourtConnect system goes offline for maintenance from 12:30 AM to 2:00 AM weekdays and 10:00 PM Saturday through noon Sunday.
How to Get Drew County Court Records
Visiting the Circuit Clerk at 210 South Main Street, Monticello is the most direct way to get records. Bring a photo ID and any case details you have. Public inspection is free. Standard copies are $0.25 per page and certified copies cost $5.00 per document. Staff will pull the file and let you review the docket before you decide what to copy.
Mail requests are accepted. Write to the Drew County Circuit Clerk at P.O. Box 505, Monticello, AR 71657. Include the case number if known, both party names, the approximate filing date, and the type of case. Attach a check or money order for estimated copy fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return. Allow 7 to 14 business days. Email drewclerk@arkansasclerks.com for general guidance; the office cannot send records by email.
Under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101, the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, public records must be available during regular business hours. Most criminal court records in Drew County are public unless a court has ordered them sealed or expunged.
Note: For records that predate the county's entry into the Contexte system, a phone call or in-person visit is the only way to locate them.
Drew County District Court
District courts in Arkansas handle misdemeanors, traffic violations, and small claims at the first level. When a case is appealed or upgraded to a more serious charge, it moves to circuit court and the Circuit Clerk takes over all record-keeping. Drew County District Court can be reached at (870) 367-8304. Cases that move from district court up to circuit court in Monticello become part of the criminal court records held by Beverly Burks's office.
Filing fees that apply when a case enters the circuit court level are governed by Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-403. The new case filing fee is $165.00. District court appeal fee is $150.00. Reopening a closed case costs $50.00.
Drew County Sheriff and Arrest Records
Arrest records for Drew County come from the Sheriff's Office. The Drew County Sheriff's Office can be reached at (870) 367-6211. Email is info@drewcountysheriff.com. The website is drewcountysheriff.com. The Sheriff's Criminal Investigation Division prepares warrants and maintains active case files during investigations. These are separate from the criminal court records held by the Circuit Clerk.
The Drew County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records, warrant information, and inmate records for the county. The Criminal Investigation Division prepares warrants and maintains case files during active investigations.
To request an incident report or arrest record, file a written FOIA request with the Sheriff's Office. Arkansas law requires a response within three business days. Include the date and location of the incident and any names involved. Warrant checks require an in-person visit with valid identification. An arrest record from the Sheriff is separate from a court record and does not mean a circuit court case was filed.
For a statewide background search, the Arkansas State Police Criminal Background Check system processes name-based searches for $22.00 each and covers all 75 Arkansas counties.
Types of Criminal Records in Drew County
The Circuit Clerk in Monticello keeps several categories of records. Felony criminal cases make up the bulk of the circuit court docket, covering drug offenses, violent crimes, property crimes, and other serious charges. Misdemeanor appeals from district court also come into the Circuit Clerk's files. The office also holds civil cases, domestic relations matters, and juvenile cases. Juvenile records are restricted under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-309 and are not available to the public.
Each criminal case file typically contains the original charge, arrest warrant if one was issued, bond records, plea documents, judgment and sentencing orders, and a full docket sheet. Drew County land records are currently being digitized as part of a recent grant project, which will eventually make older property records more accessible online. For very old historical court records, the Arkansas State Archives may hold files that are no longer at the courthouse.
Drew County Court Records Resources
The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts website lists contact information for every Arkansas court and provides court forms and self-help guides. The Drew County Courthouse Kiosk offers free public access terminals for record searches and legal forms at the courthouse. The Arkansas Association of Counties covers circuit clerks and county officials statewide. For federal cases involving Drew County defendants, the Eastern District of Arkansas uses the PACER system for online access.
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.