Union County Arrest Records

Union County recent arrests start at the Union County Sheriff's Office in El Dorado. Sheriff Charlie Phillips runs the jail and posts the current inmate roster online. You can find Union County recent arrests by name, date, or booking number. The sheriff site shows mugshots, charges, and bond info. El Dorado city police and small town departments also book people into the county jail. Union County sits in the south part of Arkansas near the Louisiana line. The tools on this page show how to look up bookings and file record requests.

Union County Sheriff and Recent Arrests

The Union County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Charlie Phillips. The main site is unioncountysheriff.net. The office handles patrol, investigations, civil papers, and the jail. Deputies cover the unincorporated parts of the county. They also back up El Dorado Police and small town forces. Staff take in people arrested for state crimes on local warrants. The sheriff has the lead role in most felony arrests outside city limits.

The image above shows the Union County Sheriff's Office homepage. From there you can reach the inmate roster, most wanted page, and office contact info. The site is the main public source for Union County recent arrests data.

Under Arkansas Code § 16-81-106, a sheriff deputy or officer can make an arrest with or without a warrant if there is probable cause to believe a felony happened. The same code covers misdemeanor arrests made in the officer's view. The Union County Sheriff follows this rule at every booking.

Union County Jail Roster and Bookings

The Union County jail posts its roster at unioncountysheriff.net/inmateRoster. The roster lists each current inmate by name, age, booking date, and charge. Most entries have a mugshot. Bond info shows up when set. The jail updates the roster as new bookings come in. Old entries drop off at release.

The Union County inmate roster page above is the quickest way to check on a recent booking. Type a full or partial last name. The list shows all current inmates who match. Click a name to see the charge list, booking date, and bond status.

The jail holds people on new arrests, court holds, and some out-of-county warrants. Booking takes prints, a photo, and personal info. An officer fills out a booking sheet with the charge code and statute. A magistrate then sets the first bond. Many people post bond in a few hours and are let go. Others stay in custody for a plea hearing the next court day.

Union County FOIA and Record Requests

Union County arrest records are public under the state FOIA at Arkansas Code § 25-19-101. The sheriff has three work days to answer a written request. Fees are small, mostly copy costs. Send the request in by mail, email, or in person at the sheriff office. Include the name, date of birth, and date range if known. The more info you give, the faster the search.

A typical Union County arrest record will show the full name, birth date, charges, arresting agency, booking date, and bond. Mugshots and the booking sheet are also public in most cases. Sealed files stay out of the public view. Juvenile records are not open to the public.

The Arkansas Attorney General posts a full FOIA guide at ag.arkansas.gov. It spells out what is open, what is closed, and how to appeal a denial. If the sheriff says no, you can take the matter to circuit court. The court can order the record released if the denial was not based on law.

For state-level checks outside the sheriff office, the Arkansas Crime Information Center runs the online background check at cbc.ark.org. ACIC fees are set by Arkansas Code § 12-12-1009. A name-based check runs $22 for the public and gives a ten-year look at arrests and convictions in the state.

Union County Court and Recent Arrests Case Files

Union County is part of the 13th Judicial Circuit. The circuit court is in El Dorado and hears felony cases. District court handles misdemeanors and traffic tickets. After a booking, most cases move to one of these courts within a few days. The clerk keeps the paper file and also posts data online.

Search court cases at the state CourtConnect portal, caseinfo.arcourts.gov. Pick Union County from the list. You can search by party name, case number, or date. The portal shows charges, hearing dates, and the judge. Document images are not always online. For a copy of a filed paper, call or visit the circuit clerk.

For sealed or expunged files, see Arkansas Code § 16-90-1401. Most non-violent misdemeanors can be sealed after the wait time. Some non-violent felonies also qualify. A judge rules on each request. Once sealed, the file drops off the public view but stays with ACIC for law enforcement use.

Tracking Release and VINE Alerts

Family and victims can track an inmate through the VINE service at vinelink.com. Pick Arkansas, then Union County. Register by phone, email, or text. VINE sends alerts when the inmate moves, posts bond, or is let go. The service is free and runs 24 hours a day.

For inmates who go to state prison after a felony case, use the Arkansas DOC Inmate Search at apps.ark.org/inmate_info. Search by last name or ADC number. The portal shows the current unit, sentence, parole date, and intake date.

Many Union County families also check the Arkansas Sheriffs' Association site at arkansassheriffsassociation.com. The site links to each county sheriff. It's handy when you are not sure where a person was booked.

Cities in Union County

El Dorado is the county seat and the largest city in Union County. Smaller towns like Smackover, Norphlet, Huttig, and Strong also sit in the county. Each small town has its own police or relies on the sheriff. All arrests end up at the county jail in El Dorado. The sheriff handles the booking for almost every adult arrest in the county.

El Dorado Police make most of the city arrests. After booking, the case goes to district court in El Dorado. From there, felony charges move up to the 13th Judicial Circuit. The circuit clerk is the main source for filed court papers. Small town bookings follow the same path.

Nearby Arkansas Counties

Union County borders several other counties in south Arkansas. People often check more than one jail when they are not sure where the booking happened. The border counties are Ouachita, Calhoun, Bradley, and Ashley.