Polk County DUI Records
Polk County DUI records are public documents held by the county sheriff and circuit court in Mena, Arkansas. This guide covers how to find DWI arrest records, court cases, and other DUI-related public records for Polk County.
Polk County DUI Records
Polk County Sheriff's Office
The Polk County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Scott Sawyer. The office is at 507 Church Avenue, Mena, AR 71953. The phone number is (479) 394-2511. The fax is (479) 394-1975. Sheriff Sawyer can be reached by email at ssawyer@polkcountyar.org. The sheriff's office handles law enforcement, jail operations, and warrant service for Polk County.
DUI arrests made by county deputies are processed through the Polk County Sheriff. For booking information on a recent DWI arrest in Mena or elsewhere in the county, contact the sheriff's office directly. Arrest records are public under Arkansas Code § 25-19-101. Submit a written FOIA request with the subject's name and approximate arrest date. The office must respond within three business days. No Arkansas residency is required to request records.
The Arkansas Sheriffs' Association listing for Polk County provides the sheriff's contact details and links to additional resources for finding DUI and DWI arrest records in Mena and across the county.
Circuit Court Records and CourtConnect Search
The Polk County Circuit Court in Mena handles DWI felony cases and appeals from district court. The circuit clerk's office maintains criminal court records. First and second DWI offenses as misdemeanors go through district court. Third and later offenses within the 10-year lookback become felonies and move to circuit court.
Search Polk County DUI court records for free online through CourtConnect. The portal is free and available 24 hours a day. Enter a name or case number to find case type, charges, status, and hearing dates. Records from before January 1, 2009 may have some details restricted per Administrative Order 19.
The Arkansas CourtConnect portal gives free public access to Polk County court case data. Search by name or case number to find DUI and DWI case records. For physical copies or older records, contact the Polk County Circuit Clerk in Mena directly.
Certified copies of court records cost $5.00 plus $1.00 per additional page. Standard copies are $1.00 per page. Court fines for DUI cases in Polk County can be paid online at pay.arcourts.gov.
For court records not available online, call the Polk County Circuit Clerk in Mena before making an in-person visit to confirm availability and hours.
DWI Laws That Apply in Polk County
ACA § 5-65-103 governs DWI in Polk County as in every other Arkansas county. A first DWI with a BAC of 0.08% or higher is a Class A misdemeanor. Penalties: up to one year in jail, $150 to $1,000 fine, six-month license suspension. Second within 10 years: seven days to one year, $400 to $3,000 fine, 24-month suspension. Third within 10 years: 90 days to one year, $900 to $5,000 fine, 30-month suspension.
A fourth or later DWI within the 10-year lookback period is a Class D felony. Penalties: one to six years in prison, $900 to $5,000 fine, four-year license revocation. The lookback changed from five to 10 years in 2021, allowing more prior DWI convictions to be counted when setting the offense level in Polk County court. No plea bargaining is allowed for DWI charges in Arkansas, so all DWI filings stay in the record as DWI.
Polk County borders Oklahoma to the west, and U.S. Highway 71 runs through Mena. Highway enforcement contributes to DUI arrest activity in the county. The Arkansas State Police also patrol Polk County roads and log DUI arrests in state records shared with ACIC. Test refusal triggers administrative license suspension by the Arkansas DFA Driver Services under ACA § 5-65-202.
Underage DUI under ACA § 5-65-303 applies to drivers under 21 with a BAC of 0.02% to 0.08%. First offense: $100 to $500 fine, 90-day suspension, mandatory alcohol education. No plea deals or probation are allowed for underage DUI anywhere in Arkansas.
Statewide Records and Background Checks
For a complete DUI conviction history across all Arkansas counties, use the Arkansas State Police criminal background check system. Name-based checks cost $22.00 with written consent. Mail-in requests cost $25.00 to Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau, 1 State Police Plaza Drive, Little Rock, AR 72209.
The free Arkansas Department of Correction inmate search covers people currently in state prison for felony DWI convictions. It does not include county jail inmates. For current Polk County jail information, contact the sheriff at (479) 394-2511. Crash reports from DUI accidents in Polk County are $10.00 at crashreports.ark.org.
Nearby Counties
Polk County is in the far west of Arkansas along the Oklahoma border. Adjacent counties also maintain DUI records through their local courts and sheriffs.