Union County DUI and DWI Records

Union County DUI records are available through the county sheriff in El Dorado and the circuit court clerk, as well as the statewide Arkansas CourtConnect portal. With 2,139 total arrests recorded in 2023, Union County is one of the more active jurisdictions in south Arkansas for law enforcement records. This guide covers how to find DWI arrest records, daily arrest logs, and court case filings in Union County.

Union County Sheriff's Office

The Union County Sheriff's Office is at 250 American Road in El Dorado, AR 71730. The phone is (870) 864-1970. The office website is at unioncountyar.com. Union County is the largest county in Arkansas by area at over 1,039 square miles, which makes the sheriff's patrol operation one of the more extensive in the state.

The sheriff publishes an online inmate roster with mugshots. Arrest logs are published regularly and include DUI and DWI bookings alongside other charge types. An active warrants database is also maintained and searchable online. Daily arrest logs are one of the more detailed public resources available in Union County, showing a running account of who was arrested and on what charges.

In 2023, Union County recorded 2,139 total arrests, with 1,846 adult arrests representing 86.3% of that total. The remaining 293 were juvenile arrests, which are not public records. DUI arrests fall within the adult arrest count. These statistics give some context for the volume of records the sheriff's office processes each year.

Formal records requests go through FOIA under Arkansas Code Annotated § 25-19-101. Requests can be made in person, by mail, or in writing. The three-business-day response rule applies. No residency requirement. Fees apply at actual duplication cost.

The Union County website provides access to sheriff's office resources including arrest logs and inmate information. Use the Arkansas CourtConnect portal for DUI court case searches.

Union County Circuit Clerk

The Union County Circuit Clerk is in El Dorado, AR 71730. The phone number is (870) 864-1910. This office holds all court records for criminal, civil, traffic, and probate cases filed in Union County.

DUI and DWI criminal case files include the charging document or information, arraignment records, bond information, motions, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and any probation or supervision conditions. These are public records unless sealed by court order. Juvenile records are not public. Case dispositions, whether the charge was dismissed, resulted in a guilty plea, or went to trial, are all part of the public case file.

Traffic court records, including DUI matters that began as traffic violations before elevation to circuit court, are also available through the clerk. Civil cases arising from DUI crashes, such as personal injury claims, are on file here as well. Both criminal and civil case types appear in the CourtConnect system.

To get copies, visit the clerk's office in El Dorado or call (870) 864-1910. A case number is the fastest way to locate a file, but a name and approximate date also work. Fees are set at the court's standard per-page rate.

Online Tools and Resources

Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov covers Union County court records including DUI criminal cases. Search is free, available 24/7, and lets you find cases by name, case number, or case type. Pre-2009 records have details removed from the online view under Administrative Order 19.

The Union County District Court resource above provides additional access to court records for El Dorado and Union County. For the full case record search including criminal DUI filings, the CourtConnect portal is the main statewide tool.

The Arkansas Department of Correction inmate search shows those in state prison, not county jail. For active Union County jail detainees, use the sheriff's online roster or call (870) 864-1970.

Criminal background checks cost $22 for a name-based check through the Arkansas State Police system. Written consent is required for most uses. Mail-in requests cost $25 and go to Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau in Little Rock.

Crash reports from DUI incidents can be ordered through crashreports.ark.org for $10 per report. Driver license suspension after a DUI conviction or test refusal is handled by the Arkansas DFA. Contact DFA Driver Control at (501) 682-1631 for reinstatement details.

DWI Laws and Penalties

Arkansas DWI applies to drivers 21 and older at 0.08% BAC or above. DUI applies to drivers under 21 at 0.02% or higher. Arkansas law prohibits plea bargaining DWI down to a lesser charge, which keeps the record accurate. The 10-year lookback period means older convictions can still affect penalty levels for new offenses.

First offense brings up to one year jail, fines of $150 to $1,000, and a six-month suspension. Second offense within 10 years means a minimum of seven days in jail and a 24-month suspension. Third offense adds at least 90 days and a 30-month suspension. Fourth offense is a felony with one to six years in state prison and a four-year license revocation.

Implied consent means all Arkansas drivers have agreed to chemical testing. Refusing triggers a separate 180-day license suspension. That refusal can also be introduced as evidence in court. Both the criminal case and any administrative license action can proceed at the same time.

Cities in Union County

El Dorado is the county seat and the only city in Union County that qualifies for its own DUI records page. It is also the largest city in the county and the primary center for court and law enforcement services.

Nearby Counties

Union County is in south Arkansas and is the largest county in the state by area at over 1,039 square miles. Ouachita County is to the north, Columbia County to the west, and Ashley County to the east.