Lafayette County Criminal Court Records
Lafayette County criminal court records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk's Office in Lewisville, Arkansas. Whether you need to find a felony case, check a misdemeanor filing, or get certified copies of court documents, this page covers every way to search criminal court records in Lafayette County, from the free online CourtConnect portal to in-person visits at the Lewisville courthouse.
Lafayette County Criminal Court Records
Lafayette County Circuit Clerk Office
The Circuit Clerk for Lafayette County is Renita C. Walters. Her office maintains all circuit court filings under Ark. Code Ann. § 16-20-102, which sets the clerk's duty to record all court proceedings, issue warrants and summons, and keep files for every case that moves through the circuit court. The office handles felony charges, misdemeanor appeals from district court, civil filings, and domestic cases.
The courthouse is at 3rd and Spruce Streets, Lewisville, AR 71845. Mail goes to P.O. Box 215, Lewisville, AR 71845. Phone is (870) 921-4878 and fax is (870) 921-4209. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. General questions can go to lafayetteclerk@arkansasclerks.com, though staff can only answer general questions by email and cannot send confidential court documents that way.
Lafayette County is a smaller rural county, so the court system tends to be less busy than larger urban counties. That said, the Circuit Clerk maintains full records of all circuit court cases. Public access terminals may be available at the courthouse for self-directed searches.
CourtConnect is the state's free online tool for searching Lafayette County criminal court cases. You can look up cases by party name or case number without any account or fee. Lafayette County has partial participation, so you get case index data but not full document images.
Search Lafayette County Cases Online
CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is free and needs no account. You search by party name, case number, or citation number, with options to filter by court type and date range. For Lafayette County cases, the system shows party names, case numbers, filing dates, case status, disposition, and docket entries.
CourtConnect does not give you actual court documents, transcripts, or exhibits. Sealed cases and juvenile records are not in the system. Cases filed before Lafayette County entered the Contexte case management system are absent from the online database. The system goes down for maintenance from 12:30 AM to 2:00 AM on weekdays and Saturday evening through Sunday noon. Use CourtConnect first to confirm whether a case exists and to get the case number before you make a formal request.
Note: If your search returns nothing, the case may predate the Contexte system. Call the clerk at (870) 921-4878 for older records.
How to Request Criminal Court Records
Visiting the Lewisville courthouse in person is the fastest way to get Lafayette County criminal court records. Bring a photo ID, any known case details, and cash or a check for copies. Staff can help locate records and confirm fees before you pay. You can inspect public records for free during regular business hours.
Mail requests are accepted. Write to the Lafayette County Circuit Clerk at P.O. Box 215, Lewisville, AR 71845. Include the case number if you have it, both party names, the approximate filing date, and the type of case. Attach a check or money order for estimated fees plus a self-addressed stamped envelope for return mail. Processing by mail typically takes 7 to 14 business days.
Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 per document. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101, the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, public records must be available during normal office hours. If you qualify as indigent, the court may approve a fee waiver with a form filed in advance.
Arrest Records and the Sheriff's Office
Arrest records for Lafayette County come from the Sheriff's Office, not the Circuit Clerk. The Sheriff's office is at 5 Courthouse Square, Lewisville, AR 71845. Phone is (870) 921-4252. The Sheriff handles arrest records, warrant information, inmate records, and incident reports. These are separate from the criminal court records maintained by the Circuit Clerk.
To request incident reports, file a written FOIA request with the Sheriff's Office. Under Arkansas FOIA law, the office must respond within three business days. Provide the date, time, and location of the incident and names of parties involved if known. Warrant verification usually needs an in-person visit with valid ID.
For statewide checks, the Arkansas State Police Criminal Background Check system runs name-based searches across all 75 counties for $22.00. This is the right option when you need results beyond Lafayette County. The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts also maintains a statewide court directory.
Types of Criminal Records in Lafayette County
The Circuit Clerk keeps several categories of criminal court records. Felony cases are the most common at the circuit level, covering charges like drug offenses, violent crimes, theft, and other serious matters. Misdemeanor cases appealed from district court also end up in the circuit clerk's files. Each case file typically includes the charging document, any arrest warrant, bond records, plea agreements, judgment and sentencing orders, and a full docket sheet showing every step.
Some records are restricted. Juvenile delinquency records are sealed under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-309 and not available to the public. Expunged records and court-ordered sealed records are also off-limits. Social Security numbers, financial account data, and victim addresses in domestic violence cases are redacted from public copies. Certified copies carry the clerk's seal and a statement that the document is a true and correct copy.
Very old Lafayette County court records may be stored off-site or held by the Arkansas State Archives. For historical cases from many decades ago, the archives may be more useful than CourtConnect.
Lafayette County Court Records Resources
Several resources can help with Lafayette County criminal record searches. The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts website lists every court in the state with contact details and self-help guides. The Arkansas Courthouse Kiosk program provides free public access terminals at select locations for record searches and legal form access. The Arkansas Association of Counties maintains a statewide directory of circuit clerks and county officials. For federal criminal cases, the PACER system covers Western District of Arkansas federal court records.
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.