Search Lafayette County DUI Records

Lafayette County DUI and DWI records are maintained by Sheriff Jeff Black, Circuit Clerk Dana Phillips, and the state court system in Lewisville, Arkansas. This guide covers how to access those records, what they contain, and where to go when you need more than what is available online.

Lafayette County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Jeff Black was elected in 2023 and oversees law enforcement for Lafayette County. The sheriff's office is at 5 Courthouse Square, Lewisville, AR 71845. Phone is (870) 921-4258. Fax is (870) 921-4256. The email address for the sheriff is jblack@lafcoso.us. The office provides patrol services for unincorporated areas and runs the county detention center.

DUI and DWI arrests by Lafayette County deputies are processed through the sheriff's office and booked into the county detention facility. Booking information becomes part of the public record once an arrest is made. To get an arrest report, submit a FOIA request in writing to the sheriff at 5 Courthouse Square. Use the email address if you want to submit electronically. Identify the subject by name and approximate arrest date. The agency has three business days to respond under ACA § 25-19-101.

Lafayette County is a small rural county in southwest Arkansas. It borders Miller, Hempstead, Nevada, and Columbia Counties. The Arkansas State Police patrol U.S. 82 and other main routes through the county. Trooper DUI arrests go into state records separate from the county sheriff's records. Contact the Arkansas State Police for trooper records. Lewisville city police handle arrests inside city limits.

The Arkansas Sheriffs' Association lists Lafayette County on its website at arsheriffs.org. You can find general contact information and agency details there. For records, use the direct FOIA process with the sheriff's office. The website does not serve as a formal records portal.

The Arkansas Sheriffs' Association page for Lafayette County shows contact information for Sheriff Jeff Black and the Lewisville office.

Lafayette County Circuit Court

The Lafayette County Circuit Court is at 3 Courthouse Square, Lewisville, AR 71845. The phone number is (870) 921-4878. Circuit Clerk Dana Phillips maintains the official court record for all criminal cases in the county, including DWI and DUI charges. Felony criminal cases, civil matters over $25,000, domestic relations, and other cases fall under this court's jurisdiction.

You can search Lafayette County court cases online at no charge through the Arkansas CourtConnect portal. Look up a case by the defendant's name or case number under Lafayette County criminal filings. Results show the charge, filing date, court dates, judge, and case outcome. Cases from before January 2009 may show limited detail online under Administrative Order 19.

Court records available from the circuit clerk include criminal charges, plea agreements, sentencing orders, fines, probation terms, and any required treatment or education programs. If a case went to trial, the verdict and sentencing are in the record. These files are public unless a judge sealed the case or it was expunged. To get paper copies, visit the circuit clerk at 3 Courthouse Square. Bring a case number if you have one. Copy fees apply.

Online fine payments for Lafayette County DWI cases may be available through the Arkansas Court Payment portal. Verify with the clerk that Lafayette County participates. The portal covers many Arkansas counties but not all.

Use the Arkansas CourtConnect portal to search Lafayette County court records for DWI and DUI cases at no charge, available any time of day.

DWI Laws in Lafayette County

Arkansas DWI law (ACA § 5-65-103) applies throughout Lafayette County. The 0.08% BAC limit applies to adults over 21. First DWI offense: up to one year in jail, $150 to $1,000 fine, six-month license suspension. No plea bargaining to a lesser charge is permitted under Arkansas law.

The 10-year lookback period means prior DWI offenses within 10 years count as priors for sentencing. Second DWI within 10 years: 7 days to one year jail, $400 to $3,000 fine, 24-month suspension. Third: 90 days to one year jail, $900 to $5,000 fine, 30-month suspension. Fourth or more within 10 years: felony, one to six years prison, four-year revocation. Ignition interlock device required before reinstatement for repeat offenders.

Underage DUI (ACA § 5-65-303) targets drivers under 21 with a BAC of 0.02% or more. First offense: $100 to $500 fine, 90-day suspension, community service, alcohol education. No plea bargaining. Second offense: $200 to $1,000 fine, one-year suspension, 30 days minimum community service. Third: $500 to $2,000 fine, revocation for three years or until age 21.

Implied consent (ACA § 5-65-202) treats driving as consent to chemical testing. First refusal: 180-day suspension. Second within five years: two-year suspension. Third within five years: three-year revocation. Fourth within five years: lifetime revocation. Refusal is admitted into evidence at trial. Drivers can request a separate independent test at their own cost after complying with the officer's test request.

State Records and License Suspensions

After a DWI arrest in Lafayette County, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration handles the administrative license suspension. This runs parallel to the criminal case. Contact DFA Driver Control at (501) 682-1631 or Drivercontrol@dfa.arkansas.gov. The DFA DUI/DWI information page explains what happens to a driver's license and what steps are needed to get it back.

Crash reports from DUI-related accidents in Lafayette County are available through crashreports.ark.org for $10 each. They document the officer's account of the crash, field sobriety observations, and BAC results if taken. For state prison inmates convicted of felony DWI, use the Arkansas Department of Correction inmate search. It is free and searchable by name. County jail records require direct contact with the Lafayette County Sheriff at (870) 921-4258.

Criminal background checks that include DWI convictions can be ordered from the Arkansas State Police background check system for $22. Written consent from the subject is required. The Arkansas Crime Information Center at (501) 618-8000 also manages statewide criminal records for authorized users. MADD Arkansas at (501) 376-6100 provides victim services and court monitoring for DUI cases across the state.

Nearby Counties

Lafayette County is in the southwestern corner of Arkansas, bordered by several counties and Louisiana to the south.