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  1. Benton County Court
  2. Benton County Arrest Records

Benton County, Arkansas Arrest Records

Benton County arrest records are law enforcement documents created after an arrest is made that summarize the details of the incident. An arrest record is produced and maintained by the specific law enforcement agency (e.g., the Springdale Police Department or the Rogers Police Department) that made the arrest. The Benton County Sheriff's Office also maintains arrest records, as it is the primary law enforcement agency in the county, and the office also oversees the Benton County Jail that houses local arrestees.

Arrest records are classified as public information in accordance with the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act to ensure that openness and accountability are upheld in the dispensing of justice. It also ensures that law enforcement officers cannot make secret arrests that are untrackable.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Benton, Arkansas?

Yes, arrest records in Benton County are public records under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This means that members of the public can submit an FOIA request to local law enforcement to provide the details of an arrest. However, per the FOIA, a formal request can only be submitted by citizens of the State of Arkansas. Non-citizens do not have the statutory right to access arrest records in the state, although they generally do not face strict restrictions, especially when accessing online databases.

What Do Public Benton County Arrest Records Contain?

An arrest record in Benton County is divided into public-facing data and protected information. When a member of the public requests to view an arrest record from a law enforcement agency, they are most often provided with the public elements of the record, with the protected details redacted.

The following information constitutes the public side of an arrest record

  • The arrestee's name, age, gender, race, and physical descriptors (height, weight, hair, and eye color)
  • The booking photograph (mugshot)
  • The date, time, and location of the arrest
  • The arresting agency
  • The arrestee's booking number and housing unit
  • The arrest charges
  • Bond eligibility and amount

The protected portion of a Benton County arrest record includes

  • Social Security numbers (SSNs) or other government-issued identification numbers
  • Financial information, like credit/debit card numbers
  • The arrestee's fingerprint data
  • Juvenile names and details

Benton County, Arkansas Arrest Search

Benton County arrest records can be accessed at the state level through the Arkansas Department of Public Safety (DPS). The DPS, through the Arkansas State Police, receives and manages arrest entries from local law enforcement agencies. These arrest entries are part of what makes up an individual's criminal history. There are two primary methods to request a criminal history record in Arkansas, depending on whether the requester is seeking their own record or someone else's. 

Individuals conducting a personal search of their criminal record may submit a request via the Open Criminal History portal, while third-party requests may be submitted via the Criminal Background Checks portal. However, individuals requesting the record of another person must obtain a written consent from the person before submitting a request. Third-party researchers should note that only limited information may be returned after a search, and arrests that did not result in a conviction may not be shown. 

Requests for the Criminal Background Checks portal cost $22 per search, while requests on the Open Criminal History portal cost $24 per search.

Criminal records can also be requested through the Federal Bureau of Investigation. However, the FBI only entertains personal record requests and not requests from third parties. Individuals may submit a request online, by mail, or through an approved channeler.

Benton County Inmate Locator

The Benton County Sheriff's Office is the agency responsible for the Benton County Detention Facility and is consequently in charge of inmates in the jail. To access the arrest records of inmates maintained by the Sheriff's Office, individuals may visit the Jail Dashboard page. The dashboard offers an overview of the current inmate population, bookings, and releases, but it also gives detailed information on inmates currently in jail. Users may search the roster using the inmate's name, race, gender, arresting agency, booking date, and arrest date. An inmate's arrest records can also be accessed in person at the Sheriff's Office.

Benton County Sheriff's Office

1300 Southwest 14th Street

Bentonville, AR 72712

Phone: (479) 271-1008

Active Warrant Search in Benton County

An arrest warrant in Benton County is an order issued in court for the arrest of an individual. A warrant is issued by an authorized member of the judiciary, such as a magistrate or judge, when sufficient evidence showing that an individual committed a crime is found or when an individual violates a court order. Sufficient evidence may stem from the judge's or magistrate's personal knowledge or information provided to that official on an oath.

Under Arkansas Code § 16-81-104, an arrest warrant issued in Arkansas must include

  • The suspect's identity, including their name and physical descriptors
  • The criminal charges the suspect (defendant) is accused of committing
  • A command ordering a law enforcement officer to arrest the suspect and take them before a judge
  • The date and county of issuance
  • Bond amount (if applicable)
  • The signature and title of the issuing official

When a warrant is issued, it is sent to the Benton County Sheriff's Office Records Division, which is a civilian support unit responsible for filing all warrants, orders of protection, Governor's warrants, and body attachments. Warrants are generally public, so individuals can track outstanding, unexecuted warrants. Active warrants are available on the Warrants portal found on the Sheriff's website. Inquirers can also find out about warrants by visiting or contacting the Sheriff's Office on the phone.

Agency / Resource

Purpose

Search Methods

Notes

Benton County Sheriff’s Office

Maintains and serves warrants

Phone, online, in person

The online portal contains only unexecuted warrants

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Benton County

The Benton County Sheriff's Jail Dashboard is the primary platform for officially accessing arrest records in the county without paying a fee. The system displays all individuals currently held in custody, as well as recent releases. It includes the inmate's mugshot, full name, arrest date, gender, release date, and the arresting agency. However, the dashboard does not detail sensitive personal details and other confidential information.

Benton County Arrest Report

An arrest report is a police narrative written by the arresting officer that details the specifics of an arrest incident. The report contains the arresting officer's point of view of what happened, including an explanation of the scene, witness statements, probable cause statements, and other information. It is a more detailed report than an arrest record, which is a summary log of the arrest. 

Individuals can obtain a copy of the arrest report from the arresting department or from the Benton County Sheriff's Office. A Freedom of Information request can also be submitted online via the Sheriff's Record Request Portal.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Benton County

Individuals with arrest records in Benton County are provided with the legal option of sealing under certain circumstances. When a record is sealed, it is hidden away from public view; however, it is not physically destroyed or erased from law enforcement or court databases.

The sealing process in Benton County is governed by the Arkansas Comprehensive Criminal Record Sealing Act of 2013, codified in Arkansas Code 16-90-1401 et seq. Eligibility generally depends on the nature of the offense and the outcome of the case. Individuals are generally eligible to have their arrest record sealed if the arrest charges were not filed within one year of the arrest, or if the charges did not result in a conviction. 

Below are the general eligibility requirements to obtain a sealing order for individuals who were convicted in Arkansas.

  • The offense must be one that Arkansas law allows to be sealed
  • The individual must have completed their full prison sentence
  • The waiting period for the offense must have elapsed: misdemeanor convictions have no wait time, while felonies have a 5-year wait period.
  • The petitioning party must have no pending criminal charges or new disqualifying convictions.

The following offenses are not eligible to be sealed in the state.

  • Class Y felonies
  • Most Class A and Class B felonies unless they are designated as non-violent drug offenses under the Controlled Substances Act
  • Unclassified felonies carrying a potential prison sentence of more than 10 years

Individuals who are eligible to have their record sealed may file a uniform petition with the Benton County Circuit Court or District Court, depending on the court that handled the case. The petitioner is also required to serve a copy to the prosecuting attorney and the arresting agency within three days of filing in court. The prosecutor generally has 30 days from the service to file a notice of opposition with the court. If the notice is not filed, the judge will pass judgment after the 30-day period. However, if a notice is filed, the judge will examine the prosecutor's objections before passing judgment. 

How Do You Remove Benton County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Removing arrest records from the internet is different from sealing a government record. While a sealing order compels law enforcement agencies and the court to remove a record from public databases, it does not automatically force private websites and data brokers to erase the data from their databases.

Individuals who want to remove their arrest record from a website may contact the website, requesting the record to be taken down based on the sealing order issued by the court. If contacting these websites directly will be a hassle, individuals may employ the services of reputation management firms or data broker opt-out services.