Located in the north-central area of Arkansas, Baxter County is known for its rugged and mountainous landscape. According to the US Census Bureau, the county had a population of 41,627 residents and a land area of 553.9 square miles as of 2020. The county’s seat and largest city is Mountain Home.

Courts in Baxter County

Baxter County is home to the Circuit Court and the District Court. The Baxter Circuit Court is the highest trial court in the county. Its criminal jurisdiction covers all felony and misdemeanor cases. It also hears civil claims involving an amount in excess of $5,000. The court also hears domestic and family matters such as divorce, child support, and domestic violence. Probate matters, including cases on wills, guardianships, and administration of estates, also fall within the jurisdiction of the court. Furthermore, the circuit has a Juvenile Court that handles cases of juvenile delinquency and dependency. 

The Baxter District Court has jurisdiction over civil matters in which the plaintiff's claim does not exceed $25,000 in value. It also adjudicates over small claims of up to $5,000 using informal procedures.  The court’s criminal jurisdiction covers misdemeanors and traffic violations. Appeals from the District Court go to the Circuit Court, which tries the case afresh.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Baxter County

The office of the Baxter County County and Circuit Clerk maintains records of the Circuit Court, while the District Court Clerks maintain the District Court records.  Interested persons can obtain copies of these records by contacting the relevant office. Baxter County court records are also digitally accessible on the ARCourts case search portal.

Types of Public Court Records in Baxter County

Court records consist of documents and other material used, submitted, or generated in a court case. In Baxter County, such records are public in most cases, including:

• Civil cases
• Small claims
• Misdemeanors
• Traffic cases
• Felony cases

Confidential Court Records in Baxter County

Confidential court records are court records that are protected from public access by law or by court order. Some examples in Baxter County include:

• Adoption records
• Unpublished draft of judgments
• Trade secrets
• Juvenile case records.

Juvenile Delinquency in Baxter, AR

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Baxter County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Arkansas often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 259 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Baxter County. Of that total, 46% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 119 court cases. Another 24% were dependency cases that accounted for 61 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Baxter County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Baxter County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Baxter County, AR

https://arkansas.gov/

County Seat:	Mountain Home
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1873
Total Square Miles:	587
2019 Population:	41,355
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01
County Contact:	1 E 7Th St County Courthouse Mountain Home , AR 72653-4409 http://www.baxtercounty.org

Baxter County, AR Courts