Mississippi County DWI Records

Mississippi County DUI records are maintained by the county sheriff, two courthouse locations in Blytheville and Osceola, and the state's CourtConnect portal. This guide covers how to find DWI arrest records, court cases, and related public records for Mississippi County, Arkansas.

Mississippi County Sheriff and Jail Records

The Mississippi County Sheriff's Office handles DUI arrests made by county deputies throughout the area. The office covers both the Blytheville and Osceola areas of the county. The main phone number is (870) 658-2242. Booking information for current and recent inmates is available through the sheriff's online roster at mississippicountyjailar.org.

The online arrest roster shows booking numbers, dates, charges, and bond amounts for current inmates. DUI and DWI charges appear by name. If someone was recently arrested for DWI in Mississippi County, their booking information typically appears on this roster within hours of processing. For older records or case dispositions, the circuit clerk holds the court files.

To request arrest records formally, submit a written FOIA request to the sheriff's office. Under Arkansas Code § 25-19-101, the office must respond within three business days. Include the subject's full name, approximate arrest date, and charge type. There is no residency requirement to make a FOIA request in Arkansas. Copy fees are at the agency's actual cost of duplication.

The Arkansas CourtConnect portal provides free public access to Mississippi County court cases, including DUI and DWI criminal filings. Search by defendant name or case number to find case status, charges, and court dates.

Circuit Court and Case Records

Mississippi County has two courthouses. The primary seat is Blytheville, with a secondary courthouse in Osceola. The circuit clerk's office in Blytheville maintains criminal court records for the county. DUI cases that rise to the felony level, or that are appealed from district court, end up in circuit court files. First and second DWI offenses are typically handled at the district court level as misdemeanors.

You can search Mississippi County court cases online for free through CourtConnect. The system is available around the clock except for maintenance windows on weekday nights and weekends. Search by party name, case number, or case description. Records created before January 1, 2009 may have some details redacted per Administrative Order 19.

For physical copies of court documents, contact the circuit clerk in Blytheville. Standard copy fees are $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus $1.00 per additional page. If you are unsure which courthouse handles a specific case, call ahead before making a trip. The two-courthouse setup in Mississippi County can cause confusion about where records are filed.

Court fines for DUI cases in Mississippi County can be paid online through the Arkansas Court Payment portal. This applies to fines set by any Arkansas court, including district and circuit courts in Mississippi County.

Arkansas DWI Law in Mississippi County

The same state law applies here as in every Arkansas county. ACA § 5-65-103 makes it illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. A first offense is a Class A misdemeanor. Penalties include up to one year in jail, a fine from $150 to $1,000, and a six-month license suspension. Arkansas does not allow plea bargaining DWI down to a lesser charge, so all filings stay as DWI in the court record.

Second through fourth offenses bring increasing penalties. A fourth or subsequent DWI within the 10-year lookback period is a felony carrying one to six years in prison. The lookback period changed from five years to 10 years in 2021. This means prior DWI convictions going back a decade count when determining penalty level. Mississippi County courts apply these same escalating penalties.

For drivers under 21, ACA § 5-65-303 sets a lower BAC threshold of 0.02%. Underage DUI carries fines, license suspension, and mandatory alcohol education. No probation and no plea bargaining are allowed for these cases.

License suspension decisions come from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, not the courts. Refusing a breath test triggers an automatic suspension under ACA § 5-65-202. These DFA actions are independent of the criminal case and may result in a suspension even if the criminal case is dismissed.

Background Checks and State Records

For a statewide DUI conviction history, use the Arkansas State Police criminal background check system. A name-based check costs $22.00. Fingerprint checks are $13.00. Mail-in checks cost $25.00. All requests require written consent from the subject. Send mail requests to the Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau, 1 State Police Plaza Drive, Little Rock, AR 72209.

The Arkansas Department of Correction inmate search is free and shows people currently serving state prison sentences. A fourth or later DWI conviction may result in state prison time. The ADC search lets you filter by county of commitment, offense category, and name. It does not include county jail inmates. For county jail information, call the Mississippi County Sheriff at (870) 658-2242.

Crash reports involving DUI accidents in Mississippi County are available through crashreports.ark.org for $10.00 each. Arkansas State Police troopers also patrol Mississippi County roads, and their DUI arrest records feed into the ACIC statewide repository.

Nearby Counties

Mississippi County sits in the northeast corner of Arkansas. Neighboring counties also maintain DUI records through local sheriffs and clerks.