Van Buren County DUI Records
Van Buren County DUI records are held by the county sheriff in Clinton and the circuit court clerk at the courthouse. The sheriff's website at vbcso.com provides an online inmate locator and a most wanted list. This guide covers how to find DWI arrests, court cases, and related public records in Van Buren County, Arkansas.
Van Buren County DUI Records
Van Buren County Sheriff's Office
The Van Buren County Sheriff's Office is at 184 Detention Drive in Clinton, AR 72031. The mailing address is PO Box 451, Clinton, AR 72031. The phone is (501) 745-2112. Fax is (501) 745-4898. Email is info@vbcso.com. The website is at vbcso.com.
The sheriff's website offers an Inmate Locator that lets you search for people currently in custody. Most Wanted rosters with photos are also posted online. Both tools are free to use. For DUI arrests, the inmate locator will show whether someone is in custody, what charges they face, and their bond status.
The Van Buren County Detention Center is at the same address, 184 Detention Drive. Its capacity is 52 inmates. Booking photographs, charge information, bond amounts, housing location, and release dates are all part of the detention center's public records for people in custody.
Formal records requests use the FOIA process under Arkansas Code Annotated ยง 25-19-101. Requests can be submitted in person, by mail, or by email at info@vbcso.com. The three-business-day response rule applies. There is no residency requirement. Fees apply at actual duplication cost. Active investigation records may be withheld in part.
The Van Buren County Sheriff's website provides the Inmate Locator and Most Wanted roster. For DUI court case records, use the Arkansas CourtConnect portal.
Van Buren County Circuit Clerk
The Van Buren County Circuit Clerk is at the courthouse in Clinton, AR 72031. The phone is (501) 745-4140. This office keeps all court records for cases filed in Van Buren County, including criminal DUI and DWI cases, traffic violations, civil matters, and marriage licenses.
When a DUI case is filed in circuit court, the clerk creates a case file that includes the charging document, arraignment details, bond and bail records, motions filed by both sides, hearing dates, plea information, sentencing orders, and probation terms if applicable. These are public records unless the court has sealed them or the case involves a juvenile.
Traffic court DUI records handled at the district court level are separate from circuit court records. If a DUI case began as a traffic citation and was handled in district court, those records may be at the district court level. The circuit clerk can help identify which court has the specific record if you are not sure.
To get copies, visit the courthouse in Clinton or call (501) 745-4140. A case number helps narrow the search. A name and approximate date also work. Fees are charged at the court's standard copy rate.
Online Tools and State Resources
Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov provides free public case searches. Van Buren County cases appear in the system. You can search by name, case number, or case type. DWI cases appear as criminal filings. The portal is available 24 hours a day with brief maintenance windows on weekends.
The CourtConnect portal above is the statewide free court case search tool. Van Buren County DUI criminal cases are searchable here at no cost. Pre-2009 records have some details redacted in the online view.
The Arkansas Department of Correction inmate search covers state prison sentences, not county jail detainees. For current Van Buren County jail status, use the sheriff's Inmate Locator at vbcso.com or call (501) 745-2112.
Criminal background checks through the Arkansas State Police cost $22 for a name-based check with written consent. The ACIC at (501) 618-8000 maintains the central criminal history repository for Arkansas. Mail-in requests cost $25.
Crash reports from DUI incidents in Van Buren County are available through the Arkansas crash report portal for $10 per report. License suspensions and reinstatement are handled by the DFA at (501) 682-1631. More at the DFA DUI/DWI information page.
DWI Law and Penalties in Arkansas
DWI in Arkansas applies to drivers 21 and older at 0.08% BAC or above. Drivers under 21 face DUI charges starting at 0.02% BAC. Once charges are filed in court, both types of cases become public records accessible through the circuit clerk or CourtConnect.
First DWI brings up to one year in jail, fines up to $1,000, and a six-month suspension. Second offense within 10 years adds a minimum of seven days and a 24-month suspension. Third offense means at least 90 days and a 30-month suspension. Fourth offense is a felony with one to six years prison and a four-year revocation. The 10-year lookback period was set in 2021, replacing the previous five-year period.
Arkansas does not allow plea bargaining DWI down to a lesser charge. This means when you search records, a DWI filing is likely to stay a DWI. Implied consent means all Arkansas drivers have agreed to chemical testing. Refusing triggers an automatic 180-day suspension for a first refusal, separate from any criminal proceeding.
Notifications and Payments
The VINE notification service is free for Van Buren County. Register to get alerts by phone, email, or text when someone held on DUI charges changes custody status or is released. MADD Arkansas at (501) 376-6100 supports victims of impaired driving crashes in Van Buren County and statewide.
Court fines and fees from DUI cases in Van Buren County can be paid through the Arkansas court payment portal. This covers outstanding citations and court fees without requiring a trip to Clinton.
Nearby Counties
Van Buren County is in north-central Arkansas in the Arkansas River Valley and Ozark foothills. Conway County is to the south, Cleburne County to the east, and Searcy County to the north.