Named after the river forming its northern and eastern boundaries, Little River County is located in the southwestern part of Arkansas. It was established in 1867 and covers an area of about 565 square miles with a population of about 13,000 residents. Little River County has its county seat in Ashdown and is known for its agricultural-based economy.

Courts in Little River County

Little River County's judicial structure comprises Circuit and District Courts. The Little River County Circuit Court adjudicates all criminal and civil cases, including felonies, misdemeanors, civil claims up to $25,000, and civil equity claims. The Circuit has a Family Law, Juvenile, and Probate Division.  The Family Court Division handles cases such as divorce, legal separation, annulments, and child custody cases. The Probate Division focuses on matters related to the administration of deceased estates. The Juvenile Division deals exclusively with cases involving minors.

The District Court in Little River County has jurisdiction over some criminal cases, including misdemeanors, preliminary hearings for criminal cases, and local ordinance violations. The Court has jurisdiction over civil cases for claims under $25,000. The District Court has a Small Claims Division for claims under $5,000.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Little River County

Public court records are legal documents open to the public for inspection and copying. All publicly accessible court records from the Circuit and District Courts are available online through ARCourts. Record seekers may also visit the courthouse during business hours to view and copy public court records. Additionally, the courts accept mail requests for public court records.

Types of Public Court Records in Little River County

Access to public records grants citizens access to the judiciary operations, enabling them to hold the judiciary system accountable for their decisions. The following court records are publicly available in Little River County:

• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanors
• Civil Court Records: Employment disputes, business litigations, contract disputes, injunctions, and evictions
• Family Law Records: Annulments, divorce, child custody, and spousal and child support
• Probate Records: Trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, estates, and wills
• Traffic Records: Driving without a license, driving under the influence, red light violations, illegal parking, and speeding tickets

Confidential Court Records in Little River County

Confidential court records are legal documents that are inaccessible to the public. Confidential court records contain private information sealed by the courts to protect sensitive information and the safety of the persons involved. Confidential court records in Little River County include:

• Grand jury proceedings
• Substance abuse treatment records
• Crime victims information
• Trade secrets
• Juvenile Court records

Court records contain personal identifiers which are confidential and excluded from the public. Personal identifiers are information that can uniquely identify a person. They are redacted from public court records to prevent unwarranted invasion of personal privacy and minimize the risk of fraudulent use of personal data. Examples of personal identifying information removed from court documents include:

• Health insurance identification numbers
• Medical records
• Passport number
• Social Security numbers
• Financial account information

Juvenile Delinquency in Little River, AR

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

In 2017, a total of 18 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Little River County. Of that total, 72% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 13 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Little River County, AR

https://arkansas.gov/

County Seat:	Ashdown
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1867
Total Square Miles:	565
2019 Population:	12,359
Persons/Square Mile:	0.05
County Contact:	351 N 2Nd St County Courthouse Ashdown , AR 71822-2753

Little River County, AR Courts