Benton County DUI Records
Benton County is the most populous county in northwest Arkansas, and it processes a substantial volume of DUI and DWI cases through its courts and jail system. DUI records in Benton County are held by the sheriff's office in Bentonville, the circuit clerk, and the state court system. This guide covers how to search for DUI arrest records, court filings, and inmate information specific to Benton County.
Benton County DUI Records
Benton County Sheriff and Jail
The Benton County Jail is at 1300 SW 14th Street, Bentonville, AR 72712. The phone number is (479) 271-1008. The detention center houses inmates from multiple jurisdictions across the county, including those arrested for DUI and DWI. The jail roster is available online through the sheriff's office website, so you can search for an inmate by name at any time without having to call.
The Benton County Sheriff maintains an online inmate search at the county website. You can find current booking information, charges, and basic inmate details. A sex offender GIS map is also available through the sheriff's office for those doing safety checks in specific areas. For formal arrest record requests, submit a written FOIA request under ACA § 25-19-101. The agency must respond within three business days.
The Benton County government website links to the sheriff's office, circuit clerk, and other county departments. It is the central hub for accessing Benton County records online, including inmate rosters and recorded court documents.
Circuit Clerk and Court Records
Benton County has full participation in the Arkansas CourtConnect system. Court case dockets, case records, and judgments are available through the portal at no cost. You can search by party name, case number, or case description. The system covers DUI and DWI criminal cases filed in both Benton County District Court and Benton County Circuit Court.
The CourtConnect case search provides free access to Benton County criminal case records, including DUI and DWI filings. Results show charge descriptions, court dates, and case status for both misdemeanor and felony cases.
Recorded documents for Benton County, including mortgages, deeds, judgment dockets, and liens, are also available through the county's records system. Property records and tax information can be found through the county assessor and ARCountyData database. For DUI-related court records specifically, CourtConnect is the main resource. Copy fees run $1.00 per page for standard copies and $5.00 for certified copies.
Pay fines and court costs for Benton County DUI cases through the Arkansas Court Payment portal. This covers citations and court-ordered payments for cases across the state, including Benton County.
Note: Court records before January 1, 2009 have confidential details redacted online under Administrative Order 19.
DWI Laws and Penalties in Benton County
Arkansas Code § 5-65-103 makes it illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. Benton County courts handle a high volume of DWI cases due to the county's large population and busy road network. First offense DWI is a misdemeanor with up to one year in jail, $150 to $1,000 in fines, and a six-month license suspension. Arkansas does not allow DWI charges to be plea-bargained down to a lesser offense.
The 10-year lookback period means every DWI from the past decade counts toward determining offense number. A second offense brings 7 days to 1 year in jail, fines of $400 to $3,000, and a 24-month suspension. Third offense: 90 days to 1 year jail, $900 to $5,000 fine, 30-month suspension. A fourth or subsequent offense becomes a Class D felony with 1 to 6 years in prison. Benton County Circuit Court handles all felony DWI cases.
The implied consent law under ACA § 5-65-202 automatically suspends a driver's license if they refuse a chemical test. First refusal is 180 days. A second refusal within five years is two years. Third refusal is three years. Fourth refusal within five years brings lifetime revocation. The refusal itself can be introduced as evidence of guilt in the criminal proceeding.
The Arkansas DFA handles administrative license actions separately from the court. DFA Driver Control can be reached at (501) 682-1631 for questions about suspension, reinstatement, and ignition interlock requirements.
Statewide Resources for Benton County DUI Searches
The Arkansas Department of Correction inmate search shows people serving state prison sentences. If you know someone received a felony DWI sentence, this free tool lets you find their location, release date, and charge information. This system does not include county jail inmates.
For formal criminal history reports that include DUI convictions, the Arkansas State Police background check system handles name-based searches for $22.00 per request, or mail-in requests at $25.00 each. Consent from the subject is required. Send mail requests to: Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau, 1 State Police Plaza Drive, Little Rock, AR 72209.
Accident reports for DUI-related crashes are at crashreports.ark.org for $10 per report. The VINE notification system lets you register for alerts when an offender's custody status changes.
Cities in Benton County
Benton County includes several major cities with their own DUI records pages. Each city has its own police department records in addition to the county sheriff records.
Nearby Counties
Benton County borders Washington County to the south and Carroll County to the east. DUI records from these counties are searchable through the same state court system.