Franklin County DUI Records

Franklin County DUI records are public documents available through the county sheriff, the circuit clerk, and the Arkansas CourtConnect system. Franklin County has two county seats: Ozark serves the western district and Charleston serves the eastern district. DUI and DWI cases may be filed in either location depending on where the arrest occurred. This page covers the key sources for DUI records in Franklin County and how to request them.

Finding DUI Records in Franklin County

Franklin County was formed in 1837 and is one of the older counties in Arkansas. It sits in the Arkansas River Valley in the northwestern part of the state. Like Craighead County, Franklin County has two county seats. The western district courthouse is in Ozark and the eastern district courthouse is in Charleston. DUI arrests can come from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, local police departments in Ozark and Charleston, and Arkansas State Police on area highways.

The best free online starting point is the Arkansas CourtConnect portal. Franklin County participates in this statewide court system. Search by name or case number to find DWI and DUI case information including charges, court dates, and case status. CourtConnect is free and available at any hour. Records before January 2009 may have details redacted per state court order.

For arrest records, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office is the primary source. The sheriff's information is listed with the Arkansas Sheriffs' Association at arsheriffs.org. Call or visit the office to request booking records or submit a written FOIA request.

The Arkansas Sheriffs' Association Franklin County page lists contact information for Sheriff Johnny Crocker and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office in Ozark.

Franklin County Sheriff DWI Arrest Records

The Franklin County Sheriff is Johnny Crocker. The office is at 248 Airport Road, Ozark, AR 72949. The phone number is (479) 667-4127. The fax is (479) 667-1857. The email is jcrocker.fcso@outlook.com. The sheriff's office handles law enforcement for unincorporated Franklin County and operates the county detention facility.

DUI arrest records from the Franklin County Sheriff are public under Arkansas FOIA. Records you can request include booking information, arrest records, warrant information, and inmate data. To submit a request, call the office, email Sheriff Crocker, or mail a written FOIA request to the Airport Road address. Include the subject's full name and approximate arrest date in your request. The office must respond within three business days.

For current inmates in the Franklin County jail, contact the detention facility directly. The sheriff's office can confirm whether someone is in custody, their charges, and bond amounts. If you need to check on someone who may have been transferred to a state prison, use the ADC Inmate Search.

Note: Franklin County covers rural terrain and the sheriff's office may have limited administrative staff. Response times for records requests may run close to the three-day limit allowed under Arkansas FOIA.

Circuit Court Records and CourtConnect

Franklin County DUI and DWI cases go through the circuit court. Because the county has two districts, the case may be filed in Ozark or Charleston depending on where the arrest took place. The circuit clerk maintains all case files for both districts. To find which court holds a specific case, search CourtConnect first. The results will tell you which courthouse has the file.

Once you have the case number, contact the circuit clerk's office to request copies or schedule an in-person review. Copy fees apply. Certified copies cost more than standard ones. Call ahead for current fees and office hours. Court fines and fees from DUI convictions in Franklin County can be paid online through Arkansas Court Payment.

The Arkansas CourtConnect portal covers Franklin County DUI and DWI case information. Search by name to find cases filed in either the Ozark or Charleston circuit courts.

DUI and DWI Laws in Arkansas

Arkansas DWI law under ACA § 5-65-103 applies to any driver 21 and over with a BAC at or above 0.08%. A first conviction carries up to one year in jail, a fine of $150 to $1,000, and a six-month license suspension. Second and third offenses within the 10-year lookback period mean harsher penalties. A fourth DWI in 10 years is a felony with one to six years in state prison.

The state changed the DWI lookback from five to ten years in 2021. All prior convictions in that window count toward escalating penalties. Arkansas does not permit plea bargaining DWI charges to lesser offenses.

For drivers under 21, ACA § 5-65-303 defines DUI as a BAC between 0.02% and 0.08%. A first offense means a fine, 90-day suspension, community service, and alcohol education. Under the implied consent law at ACA § 5-65-202, any Arkansas driver is treated as having consented to chemical testing. Refusing triggers an automatic 180-day suspension and the refusal is admissible in court. License suspensions are handled by the Arkansas DFA Driver Services, not the court.

FOIA Records Requests in Franklin County

Arkansas FOIA under ACA § 25-19-101 gives anyone the right to government records. Agencies must respond within three business days. To request DUI arrest records from the Franklin County Sheriff, submit a written request to 248 Airport Road, Ozark, AR 72949 or email jcrocker.fcso@outlook.com. For court records, contact the circuit clerk's office in Ozark or Charleston.

Fees are limited to duplication costs and staff time. Fee waivers apply to journalists and nonprofits. Records exempt from FOIA include active investigations, sealed cases, juvenile records, and grand jury materials. If a request is wrongly denied, contact the Arkansas Attorney General's FOIA Hotline at (800) 482-8982.

Other State Resources

The ADC Inmate Search covers state prison inmates from Franklin County. Crash reports from DUI accidents on Franklin County roads cost $10 each and are available through crashreports.ark.org. The Arkansas State Police covers DUI arrests on state highways in the county. Criminal background checks with written consent are processed through cbc.ark.org.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County is in the Arkansas River Valley region. Adjacent counties each have their own circuit courts and sheriff offices handling DUI cases.