Pope County DWI Records

Pope County DUI records are public documents held by the circuit court, sheriff's office, and related agencies in Russellville, Arkansas. This guide explains where to find DWI arrest records, court case files, and other DUI-related public records for Pope County.

Pope County Circuit Court

The Pope County Circuit Court in Russellville handles all felony DWI cases and appeals from district court. The circuit court phone number is (479) 968-2558. The circuit clerk's office maintains all criminal court records, including DUI and DWI case files. For any case-related questions or document requests, contacting the circuit clerk in Russellville is the most direct approach.

Pope County is one of the larger counties in Arkansas with a population of around 64,000. Russellville is a mid-size city with multiple law enforcement agencies making DUI arrests, including the Russellville Police Department, the Pope County Sheriff's Office, and the Arkansas State Police. All of these agencies feed their cases into the same circuit court system in Russellville.

For physical copies of court documents, contact the Pope County Circuit Clerk. Standard copies are $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus $1.00 per additional page. DUI case fines can be paid online through the Arkansas Court Payment portal. This system handles fines from any Arkansas court.

The Arkansas Association of Counties directory for Pope County lists contact information for the circuit clerk, sheriff, and other county offices. Use it to locate DUI records and court contacts in Russellville and the surrounding area.

CourtConnect and Online Case Search

Search Pope County DUI court records online at no cost through CourtConnect. The free portal is available 24/7. Enter a name or case number to find case type, charges, court dates, and case status for DUI and DWI cases filed in Pope County. The system covers most cases filed after January 1, 2009.

The Arkansas CourtConnect portal is the main online source for Pope County DUI case data. Search by name or case number for charges, case status, and court dates. For older records or physical document copies, contact the circuit clerk at (479) 968-2558.

Pope County courts handle both misdemeanor and felony DWI cases. First and second offenses are typically heard at the district court level. The circuit court steps in for third and subsequent offenses, which are felonies under ACA § 5-65-103. Both levels of court are searchable through CourtConnect. Records predating January 1, 2009 may have some details redacted under Administrative Order 19.

Pope County Sheriff and Arrest Records

The Pope County Sheriff's Office handles DUI arrests made by county deputies and operates the county jail in Russellville. For booking information on a recent DWI arrest, contact the sheriff's office directly. The sheriff handles records requests for arrests made by county personnel. Submit a written FOIA request under ACA § 25-19-101. The office must respond within three business days. No Arkansas residency is required.

Russellville is the county seat and has its own police department that also makes DUI arrests. Cases originating with the Russellville Police Department are filed with the Russellville city courts or the circuit court depending on offense level. For Russellville police arrest records, submit a FOIA request to the Russellville Police Department specifically, not the county sheriff.

Arkansas State Police troopers patrol Pope County roads, including Interstate 40, which runs through Russellville. Trooper DUI arrests are documented in state police records and shared with the ACIC statewide repository. I-40 enforcement generates significant DUI arrest activity in Pope County due to the volume of highway traffic.

DWI Law in Pope County

ACA § 5-65-103 is the DWI statute that applies in Russellville and across Pope County. A first DWI at 0.08% or higher BAC is a Class A misdemeanor: up to one year in jail, $150 to $1,000 fine, six-month 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 10 years is a Class D felony: one to six years in prison, $900 to $5,000 fine, four-year revocation. The 10-year lookback, updated from five years in 2021, governs how many prior DWI convictions count. No plea bargaining to a lesser charge is allowed. DWI stays in the record as DWI in Pope County the same as everywhere in Arkansas.

The implied consent law under ACA § 5-65-202 applies across Pope County. Refusing a chemical test triggers automatic license suspension by Arkansas DFA Driver Services. First refusal: 180 days. Second refusal within five years: two years. The DFA action is independent of the criminal case outcome in Pope County court.

For drivers under 21, ACA § 5-65-303 sets a BAC threshold of 0.02%. First underage DUI in Pope County: $100 to $500 fine, 90-day suspension, alcohol education. Third offense: license revocation until age 21 or three years, whichever is longer. No probation or plea deals allowed for underage cases.

Statewide Records and Background Checks

For a full DUI conviction history across Arkansas, use the Arkansas State Police criminal background check system. Name-based checks cost $22.00 with written consent. Mail-in requests are $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 shows people serving state prison time for felony DWI. It does not include county jail inmates. For Pope County jail information, contact the sheriff directly. Crash reports from DUI accidents in Russellville or elsewhere in Pope County are $10.00 at crashreports.ark.org.

Qualifying Cities in Pope County

Russellville is the only city in Pope County that qualifies for its own page based on population. DUI records in Russellville are handled by the city police department for city arrests and by the Pope County courts for case filings.

Nearby Counties

Pope County is in the Arkansas River Valley of northwest-central Arkansas. Neighboring counties also manage DUI records through their local courts and sheriffs.