Van Buren County Recent Arrests

Van Buren County recent arrests are handled by Sheriff Eric Koonce and his staff in Clinton. The county jail sits at 184 Detention Drive. Bookings happen 24 hours a day. Van Buren County runs a Most Wanted roster and posts arrest news on social media. To find Van Buren County recent arrests, use the sheriff site, state court search, or VINE for alerts. This page shows how to pull up jail info, file a records request, and track case status. The tools below work for most adult bookings in the county.

Van Buren County Sheriff and Recent Arrests

Sheriff Eric Koonce leads the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office. The main site is vbcso.com. Chief Deputy Derek Adams works under the sheriff. The CID is run by Lt. Chasta Harrison. Jail Administrator Jamie Love oversees the detention center. The sheriff staff can be reached at (501) 745-2112 Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. Email the office at info@vbcso.com.

The Van Buren County Sheriff handles patrol across the 724 square mile county. Deputies back up small town police and state troopers. Most adult arrests in the county end up at the Clinton jail. The booking process takes prints, a photo, and the full arrest report. An officer charges the person and sets holds based on the warrant or probable cause.

Under Arkansas Code § 16-81-106, an officer may arrest without a warrant if a felony has been committed and the officer has probable cause. The same code lets an officer arrest for a misdemeanor done in the officer's view. This is the basic rule for all Van Buren County recent arrests.

Van Buren County Jail and Inmate Info

The Van Buren County Jail is at 184 Detention Drive, Clinton, AR 72031. The main phone is 501-745-2112. The fax is 501-745-4898. The mailing address is PO Box 451, Clinton, AR 72031. The jail takes in adult arrests from across the county. It also holds some state prison transfers when bed space is tight at the Department of Corrections.

The sheriff posts a Most Wanted roster online with names, known addresses, charges, and mugshots. That list gets updated as deputies add new warrants. For general jail roster data, the county refers people to the portal at arkansasjailroster.com Van Buren County. That portal pulls booking info and posts it in an easy to search list.

Visit time at the Van Buren County jail is run through CitiTeleCoin video. You set up an account online, pick Arkansas, then Van Buren County, then the inmate name. Slots book up fast. The jail does not allow most in-person visits. Video visits replace the old face-to-face setup. Money on an inmate account goes through Tiger Commissary.

Van Buren County Court Records Search

Van Buren County sits in the 20th Judicial Circuit. The circuit court handles felonies, civil cases, and probate. District court handles small cases and misdemeanors. After a booking, the case moves through court within a few days. The clerk posts case data to the state CourtConnect system.

Search the state court site at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. Select Van Buren County. You can search by party name, case number, or filing date. The site shows the charge list, hearing dates, and the judge. Document images are not always posted. Call the clerk for copies of filed papers.

The Arkansas CourtConnect portal above covers every circuit in the state, including Van Buren. Use it as the first stop to track a court case after a booking. Data shows up the day after the clerk enters the file.

Van Buren County FOIA and Recent Arrests Records

Arrest records in Van Buren County are public under the state FOIA at Arkansas Code § 25-19-101. The sheriff has three work days to respond to a written request. Send the request in person, by mail, email, or fax. Include a clear description of the record you want. Fees cover copies only. The sheriff can redact info that is closed by law.

A standard Van Buren County arrest record lists the full name, date of birth, charges, booking date, and bond. Mugshots are public. The arrest report written by the deputy is also open in most cases. A few fields may be closed, such as victim info in some cases.

For a statewide background check, use the Arkansas Online Criminal Background Check at cbc.ark.org. ACIC fees for a name-based check are $22 for the public. See Arkansas Code § 12-12-1008 for the request form rules and § 12-12-1009 for fees. The ACIC site at acic.org has the full list of services.

Track an Inmate with VINE

VINE is the victim notification service at vinelink.com. Victims and family can register to get alerts on any change in custody. Pick Arkansas, then Van Buren County, then the inmate. Alerts come by phone call, email, or text. The service is free and runs all day and night.

For state prison inmates after sentencing, search the Arkansas DOC at apps.ark.org/inmate_info. That covers people who move from the county jail to state custody. The Arkansas Sheriffs' Association site at arkansassheriffsassociation.com links each county sheriff in the state.

Cities and Towns in Van Buren County

Clinton is the county seat and the largest town in Van Buren County. Other small towns include Fairfield Bay, Damascus, Shirley, and Dennard. None of these cities have populations over the qualifying threshold for a dedicated page on this site. The county sheriff is the main source for all recent arrests in the area. City police in Clinton run some of their own cases but use the county jail for bookings.

The 20th Judicial Circuit also covers Searcy and Stone counties. Cross-county warrants from those courts may end up at the Van Buren jail for a short stay. Sealing and expungement follow the rules in Arkansas Code § 16-90-1401. The petition goes to the court where the case was heard.

Van Buren County Court and Arrest Outcomes

Van Buren County recent arrests end with a court date. Most first dates happen within a day or two. The judge sets bond and a next hearing. Misdemeanor cases stay in district court. Felony cases pass through district court for arraignment, then move to circuit court. The circuit court sits in Clinton. Dockets post on CourtConnect.

Outcomes range from plea deals to trials. A plea may include a fine, probation, or jail time. A dropped or nolle prosequi case ends with no conviction. A not-guilty verdict clears the charge. Waitlist time to trial runs months. Check the CourtConnect docket for case updates. The Arkansas Code § 25-19-105 law makes most court papers open.

If the case ends in acquittal or dismissal, record sealing under Arkansas Code § 16-90-1401 may be faster. File the petition in the court that heard the case. The clerk sends the sealed order to ACIC. State records update within 30 days. Sealed files are closed to the public but open to police.

The bond system follows a set schedule for most counts. Judges can raise or lower bond at the first hearing. For warrant stops, call the sheriff at 501-745-6140 to check if a person is held. Attorney calls are free and not recorded. The Arkansas state bar has referral help for those who do not have counsel.

Nearby Arkansas Counties

Van Buren County borders counties in central Arkansas. Use these links to check nearby sheriff offices. Many families have to look in more than one county when a booking happens near a county line.