Benton County, located in the northwestern part of Arkansas, was founded in 1836 and named after Thomas Hart Benton, a Senator from Missouri. The county has over 284,000 residents, making it one of Arkansas's fastest-growing cities. Bentonville, the county seat, is home to the headquarters of Walmart, the largest retailer in the United States.

Courts in Benton County

The judicial system in Benton County comprises Circuit and District Courts. The Benton County Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over criminal and civil matters. The court presides over felonies, misdemeanor criminal cases, and civil cases for claims up to $25,000. The court has specialized divisions presiding over juvenile, probate, and domestic relations cases.

The Juvenile Court focuses on cases involving minors. It oversees delinquency cases, dependency, and child neglect cases. The Probate Courts deal with probate and estate administration matters, including administering deceased persons' estates, validation of wills, and guardianships for minors. The Domestic Relations Court presides over family matters, such as divorce, child support, alimony, and child custody cases.

The District Courts in Benton County adjudicate misdemeanor criminal cases and civil cases involving up to $25,000. The District Court has two specialized divisions. The Small Claims Court handles civil disputes involving amounts up to $5,000, and the Traffic Court Division handles cases involving traffic violations, such as speeding, running red lights, and driving without insurance.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Benton County

Benton County public court records are the papers and documents from the courts accessible to the public. Persons seeking public court records may view the records electronically using the ARCourts Portal. Public court records are also available at the courthouse where the case was tried. Record seekers may visit the office during business hours to obtain the record. The office also permits mail requests for public court records.

Types of Public Court Records in Benton County

Public court records provide insights to Benton County residents on how its judiciary operates. The following public court records are accessible to Benton County residents:

• Civil Court Records: Property disputes, foreclosures, business litigations, personal injury claims, and employment disputes
• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanors, such as arson, murder, petty theft, and public intoxication
• Probate Records: Estate, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, trusts
• Family Court Records: Child support, child custody, divorce, annulment, alimony, and legal separation records
• Traffic Records: Speeding tickets, illegal parking, driving under the influence, and driving with expired licenses

Confidential Court Records in Benton County

Confidential court records are documents or information from the courts that are unavailable for public viewing or copying. Confidential court records are sealed or restricted to protect private and sensitive information. Some confidential court records in Benton County include:

• Juvenile court records
• Adoption records
• Mental health commitment records
• Grand jury proceedings
• Crime victim and witness information in criminal cases

Likewise, personal data within a court document are confidential and publicly inaccessible. Personal identifiers are redacted from public court documents to prevent identity theft, fraud, or misuse of sensitive information. Personal identifying information excluded from the public include:

• Social Security numbers
• Driver’s license number
• Passport numbers
• Bank account and credit card numbers
• Medical records

Juvenile Delinquency in Benton, AR

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

In 2017, a total of 1242 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Benton County. Of that total, 52% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 645 court cases. Another 15% were dependency cases that accounted for 187 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Benton County, AR

https://arkansas.gov/

County Seat:	Bentonville
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1836
Total Square Miles:	884
2019 Population:	266,300
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	215 E Central Ave County Administration Building Bentonville , AR 72712-5395 https://bentoncountyar.gov/

Benton County, AR Courts