Poinsett County Criminal Court Records
Poinsett County criminal court records are filed and kept by the Circuit Clerk's Office in Harrisburg. This guide covers how to search case records online through CourtConnect, how to request copies in person or by mail, what the fees are, and where to go for arrest records and background checks in Poinsett County.
Poinsett County Criminal Court Records
Find Poinsett County Criminal Court Records
The Circuit Clerk for Poinsett County is Lisa R. McGhee. Her office sits at 406 Market Street, Harrisburg, AR 72432. You can also mail requests to P.O. Box 326, Harrisburg, AR 72432. The main phone is (870) 578-4420 and fax is (870) 578-4407. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
The clerk's office operates under Ark. Code Ann. § 16-20-102, which sets the clerk's duty to record all court proceedings, keep files of pending and past cases, and issue process documents. The office handles felony charges, misdemeanor appeals from district court, domestic cases, and civil matters filed in the 2nd Judicial Circuit.
Email contact for the clerk is poinsettclerk@arkansasclerks.com. You can send general questions by email, but staff cannot provide certified copies or confidential records through that channel. For document copies, visit in person or submit a written mail request.
Arkansas CourtConnect is the state's free online portal for searching criminal court records across all counties. Poinsett County participates with basic case index information available to the public at no charge.
Search Criminal Records Online
The state's free case search tool is CourtConnect, available at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. No login is needed. You can search by party name, case number, or citation number, and filter by court, case type, and date. Poinsett County has partial participation, meaning basic index data is available but full document images are not.
A CourtConnect search for Poinsett County cases will show you party names, case numbers, filing dates, case status and disposition, scheduled hearings, and general docket entries. What you won't find are the actual documents, affidavits, or transcripts. Sealed cases and juvenile records don't appear. Cases filed before the county joined the Contexte case management system may not be in the online database at all.
If you need documents, or if a case doesn't show up online, contact the clerk's office directly. CourtConnect is a good first step to confirm a case exists and get the case number before making a formal request. The system is offline for maintenance from 12:30 AM to 2:00 AM on weekdays and Saturday evening through Sunday noon.
For older records that predate the online system, a phone call or in-person visit to the Harrisburg office is the most reliable route.
How to Request Copies of Court Records
In-person requests at 406 Market Street in Harrisburg are the most direct way to get Poinsett County criminal court records. Bring a photo ID and any case information you have, such as the case number or party names. Public access terminals at the courthouse let you do a self-directed search before asking staff for help. Staff can tell you what exists and what the copy fees will be before you pay.
Mail requests are accepted. Write to Poinsett County Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 326, Harrisburg, AR 72432. 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 copy fees and a stamped return envelope. Mail requests generally take 7 to 14 business days to process. General questions can go to poinsettclerk@arkansasclerks.com, but don't expect documents back by email.
Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101, the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, public records must be available for inspection during regular business hours at no charge. Fee waivers may apply for those who qualify as indigent and have court approval.
New case filing fees under Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-403 are set at $165.00 for new cases and $150.00 for district court appeals to circuit court.
Arrest Records and the Sheriff's Office
Arrest records for Poinsett County come from the Sheriff's Office, not the Circuit Clerk. The Sheriff's Office is at 1500 Circle Drive, Harrisburg, AR 72432. Phone is (870) 578-5411. The Sheriff handles arrest records, warrant information, inmate records, and incident reports.
To get an incident report, file a written FOIA request with the Sheriff's Office. Include the date, time, and location of the incident and the names of parties involved if known. Under state law, the office must respond within three business days. Warrant checks typically need an in-person visit with valid ID.
For a statewide background check, the Arkansas State Police Criminal Background Check system runs name-based checks for $22.00 per search. This covers all Arkansas counties and is useful when you need results beyond Poinsett County alone.
Keep in mind that an arrest record from the Sheriff doesn't always mean a circuit court case was filed. The two offices are separate, and they maintain separate records.
Types of Records Kept by the Circuit Clerk
The Poinsett County Circuit Clerk maintains all criminal case files at the circuit level. Felony cases are the most common, covering drug offenses, property crimes, violent crimes, and other charges that exceed district court jurisdiction. Misdemeanor cases appealed from district court also land in the clerk's files.
A typical case file includes the charging document, arrest warrant if one was issued, bond records, plea agreement, judgment and sentencing order, and the full docket sheet. Each entry on the docket marks a step in the case, from initial filing through final disposition.
Some records are off limits to the public. Juvenile delinquency records are sealed under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-309. Expunged records and court-sealed records are also not available. Copies made available to the public have Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and victim addresses in domestic violence cases redacted.
Very old records from Poinsett County may be stored in the clerk's archives or at the Arkansas State Archives. If you're looking for historical records from several decades ago, contacting the archives may be the best starting point.
District Court and Lower Court Filings
District courts in Arkansas handle misdemeanors, traffic violations, and small claims at the local level. When a case is appealed or involves a more serious charge, it moves up to the Circuit Court, where the Circuit Clerk takes over record-keeping. Poinsett County District Court handles the first tier of criminal cases before they reach the circuit level.
Filing fees at the circuit level are set by statute. A new civil case costs $165.00 to file. Appeals from district court carry a $150.00 fee. Reopening a case is $50.00. These fees go to the Circuit Clerk when a case enters the circuit court system. The clerk's office can tell you the current fee schedule when you call or visit.
Additional Resources for Record Searches
Several tools are useful when searching Poinsett County criminal records. The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts website lists contact information for every court in the state and provides forms and self-help guides. The Arkansas Courthouse Kiosk program operates public access terminals at select courthouse locations where you can search records and find legal forms at no cost. The Arkansas Association of Counties directory lists contact information for circuit clerks and county officials statewide.
If you need legal help, Arkansas Legal Services provides free assistance to those who qualify based on income. The Arkansas Legal Services website has an online intake form. Law libraries at circuit courthouses also allow public access during business hours for self-represented parties doing legal research.
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.