Criminal Court Records in Lincoln County
Lincoln County criminal court records are filed with the Circuit Clerk's Office in Star City, where Carolyn J. Burt serves as clerk. If you need to find a felony case, look up a misdemeanor appeal, or get certified court documents, this guide explains how to search Lincoln County criminal court records online through CourtConnect, in person at the Star City courthouse, or by submitting a written request to the clerk's office.
Lincoln County Criminal Court Records
Lincoln County Circuit Clerk Details
Carolyn J. Burt is the Circuit Clerk for Lincoln County. Her office is at 300 S Drew Street, Star City, AR 71667. The mailing address is P.O. Box 25, Star City, AR 71667. Phone is (870) 628-5114, fax (870) 628-4022. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Email is lincolnclerk@arkansasclerks.com. The county maintains a website at lincolncounty.arkansas.gov with office and contact information.
The Circuit Clerk maintains all criminal court records under Ark. Code Ann. § 16-20-102, which requires recording all court proceedings, keeping case files current, and issuing required legal process. The office holds records for felony cases, misdemeanor appeals, and all other criminal matters that reach the circuit court level.
CourtConnect is the official Arkansas case search tool and the best starting point for searching Lincoln County criminal court records online. Search by name, case number, or citation at no cost.
Search Lincoln County Records Online
CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is the free statewide case search tool. No login needed. You can search by party name, case number, or citation. Filter results by case type, court location, and filing date. Lincoln County participates partially in the Contexte case management system, so basic case index data is available but full document images are not online.
Search results for Lincoln County cases show party names, case numbers, filing dates, current status, hearing dates, and general docket entries. Actual documents, such as charging papers, orders, and transcripts, are not available through CourtConnect. Sealed and juvenile records do not appear. Cases filed before the county joined Contexte are also not in the online database.
When CourtConnect does not have what you need, contact the clerk directly. Use the system first to get the case number, then contact the office for copies. The portal goes offline for maintenance from 12:30 AM to 2:00 AM on weekdays and from Saturday night through Sunday noon.
Requesting Records from the Courthouse
In-person visits to 300 S Drew Street in Star City are the most direct way to get Lincoln County criminal court records. Bring a photo ID and as much case information as you have, such as a case number or the names of the parties. Public access terminals at the courthouse let you search on your own before asking clerk staff for help. Staff can pull the file and tell you the exact copy fees before you commit to anything.
Mail requests go to P.O. Box 25, Star City, AR 71667. Your letter should include both party names, the case type, the approximate filing date, and the case number if available. Attach a check or money order for estimated fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail processing runs 7 to 14 business days. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101, the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, public records must be available during business hours. Written FOIA requests must be answered or denied in writing within three business days.
Copies are $0.25 per page in Lincoln County. Certified copies are $5.00 each. Viewing records in person costs nothing. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-403, new case filing fees at the circuit level are $165.00.
Note: Bringing the case number speeds up any records request. If you do not have it, CourtConnect can often help you find it before you visit or mail in a request.
Sheriff and Arrest Records in Lincoln County
Arrest records come from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, not the Circuit Clerk. The Sheriff's Office is at 300 S Drew Street, Star City, AR 71667. Phone is (870) 628-5111. The Sheriff handles arrest records, inmate records, warrant information, and incident reports. These records are separate from the criminal court files kept by the Circuit Clerk.
To request incident reports or arrest records, file a written FOIA request with the Sheriff's Office. Include the date and location of the incident and the names of the parties. The office must respond within three business days. Warrant checks require an in-person visit with valid ID.
For a statewide search across all 75 Arkansas counties, use the Arkansas State Police Criminal Background Check system. Name-based checks cost $22.00 each. This pulls from the ACIC statewide database and covers records from every county, not just Lincoln County.
Criminal Records Types and Access Rules
The Circuit Clerk in Star City maintains several categories of criminal court records. Felony cases form the bulk of the circuit-level caseload. These include drug offenses, property crimes, violent crimes, and fraud. Each file typically contains the charging document, any arrest warrant, bond records, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and the complete docket sheet showing every step of the case.
Misdemeanor appeals from district court also come to the circuit clerk's office. When a defendant challenges a district court guilty verdict, the case file moves up and the Circuit Clerk takes custody of the record through the appeal process.
Some records are not public. Juvenile records are sealed under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-309. Expunged or court-sealed records do not appear in public searches. Social Security numbers, financial account data, and victim home addresses in domestic violence cases are redacted. Certified copies carry the clerk's seal and official certification language.
State Resources and Legal Help
The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts has forms, court directories, and plain-language guides for searching court records. The Arkansas Courthouse Kiosk program offers free public access terminals at courthouse locations where you can search records and get legal forms.
The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts is the central resource for court information, clerk directories, and self-help tools covering Lincoln County and all of Arkansas.
Legal Aid of Arkansas serves low-income residents and can help with questions about accessing court records or filing for expungement. The Arkansas Bar Association can connect you with a local attorney through its lawyer referral service. Federal cases involving Lincoln County residents go to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas and are searchable through PACER.
The Arkansas State Archives holds older court records that predate current electronic systems. For Lincoln County cases from decades past, contacting the archives may be more productive than searching through modern databases.
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.