Find Criminal Court Records in Franklin County
Franklin County criminal court records are managed by the Circuit Clerk's Office, which runs two courthouse locations to serve the county's northern and southern districts. Whether you need to look up a felony case, check a misdemeanor appeal, or get a certified copy of a court document, this page covers how to search Franklin County criminal court records through CourtConnect, by visiting either courthouse in Ozark or Charleston, or by submitting a mail or fax request to the clerk.
Franklin County Criminal Court Records
Franklin County Circuit Clerk Office
The Circuit Clerk for Franklin County is Monica G. Green. Her office is part of the 5th Judicial District and operates two courthouse locations to cover the whole county. This two-location setup is similar to Arkansas County's dual district system. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 16-20-102, the clerk is responsible for recording all court proceedings, issuing summons and warrants, and keeping files for every pending and closed case in the county.
The north courthouse is in Ozark at 211 West Commercial Street, Ozark, AR 72949. Phone is (479) 667-3818, fax (479) 667-5174. The south courthouse is in Charleston at 607 East Main Street, Charleston, AR 72933. Phone is (479) 965-7332, fax (479) 965-9322. Both offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. You can also email the clerk's office at franklinclerk@arkansasclerks.com for general questions about cases or records.
When you search online through CourtConnect, records from both courthouse locations appear in the same system. If you visit in person, staff can help you find records from either location. Cases are generally filed at the courthouse serving the part of the county where the incident occurred.
The Arkansas CourtConnect portal is the main online tool for searching Franklin County criminal court records by name, case number, or citation number at no cost.
Online Case Search for Franklin County
Franklin County participates in the Arkansas statewide CourtConnect system at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. Participation is partial, which means you get basic case index information but not full document images. You can search by party name or case number, filter by case type, and see general docket entries. No account or fee is needed to use the public search.
What shows up in a CourtConnect search for Franklin County criminal cases: party names, case numbers, filing dates, case status, scheduled hearings, and general docket activity. What you will not find are actual court documents, affidavits, exhibits, or transcripts. Sealed cases, juvenile records, and anything that predates the county's entry into the Contexte system will not appear in the online search either.
For records not in CourtConnect, contact the Circuit Clerk directly at one of the two courthouse locations. CourtConnect is a good first step to get a case number before making a formal request for copies. The system undergoes maintenance from 12:30 AM to 2:00 AM on weekdays and is down Saturday evening through Sunday noon.
Note: If your search returns nothing, the case may be older than the county's online records or may have been filed at the other courthouse location.
How to Request Franklin County Records
Going in person to either courthouse gives you full access to Franklin County criminal court records. Take a photo ID and any case details you have with you. Public inspection of records is free. Copies cost $0.25 per page, and certified copies are $5.00 per document. Staff can pull the records and let you know the cost before you pay. You can inspect records at a public access terminal before deciding what you need copies of.
Mail and fax requests are also accepted. Write your request and send it to either courthouse depending on where the case was filed. Include the case number if you have it, party names, the approximate date of filing, and the case type. Attach a check or money order for the estimated copy fees, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can return the copies. Fax requests go to (479) 667-5174 for the Ozark office or (479) 965-9322 for Charleston. Processing time for mail requests is typically 7 to 14 business days.
Under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101, the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, all public records must be made available during regular business hours. The office must respond to written FOIA requests within three business days. Normal court records can be delivered once payment is confirmed.
District Courts in Franklin County
Franklin County has two district courts that handle the first level of criminal cases. The Charleston District Court can be reached at (479) 965-2677, and the Ozark District Court at (479) 965-7577. These courts handle misdemeanor charges, traffic offenses, small claims, and preliminary hearings for more serious cases. When a district court case is appealed, or when a charge moves up to circuit court, the Circuit Clerk takes over record-keeping.
Misdemeanor cases that are not appealed stay in the district court's records. If you are looking for a case that was resolved at the district level, contact the appropriate district court directly. For felony cases and misdemeanor appeals, search CourtConnect or contact the Circuit Clerk at either courthouse.
Filing fees under Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-403 set the new case filing fee at $165.00 for circuit court cases, and $150.00 for district court appeals. Reopening a case costs $50.00.
Arrest Records and the Sheriff
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records, warrant information, inmate records, and incident reports. These records come from the Sheriff, not the Circuit Clerk, even though an arrest often leads to a criminal court case that ends up in the clerk's files. To get an incident report, submit a written FOIA request to the Sheriff. The office must respond within three business days under Arkansas law.
For statewide criminal background checks that cover all Arkansas counties, use the Arkansas State Police Criminal Background Check system. Name-based checks cost $22.00 per search. This is useful when you need a broader search that goes beyond just Franklin County's records.
The Arkansas Crime Information Center also offers a free sex offender registry search that covers all counties, including Franklin. You can search by name, county, or location at no cost.
What Criminal Records Contain
The Circuit Clerk in Franklin County keeps records for felony cases, misdemeanor appeals from the district courts, domestic matters that come to circuit court, and civil filings. Each criminal case file typically holds the charging document, any arrest warrant that was issued, bond records, motions and responses, plea agreements, final judgment, sentencing information, and the full docket sheet. The docket sheet shows every action taken in the case in order from filing to close.
Some records are not open to the public. Juvenile delinquency records are sealed under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-309. Courts can also seal or expunge other records. Social Security numbers, financial account details, and victim address information in domestic violence cases are redacted from public copies. Certified copies include the clerk's official seal and a statement that the document is a true and correct copy of the original on file.
For very old records, contact the Arkansas State Archives. Historical criminal court records from the county's earlier decades may be stored off-site or at the archives rather than in the active courthouse files.
Franklin County Record Resources
The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts lists contact information for every court in the state and provides court forms and self-help guides for people who need help with court processes. The Arkansas Association of Counties maintains a directory of circuit clerks and county officials statewide. For legal aid, Arkansas Legal Services can help low-income residents in Franklin County navigate court matters. The Arkansas Courthouse Kiosk program provides free public access terminals at select courthouses where you can search records and find legal forms.
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.