Lonoke County is located in the central part of Arkansas. It is named after a lone oak tree that served as a landmark for early settlers. Established in 1873, the county covers an area of 803 square miles and is home to over 74,000 Arkansans. Its county seat, Lonoke City, is known for its agricultural heritage.

Courts in Lonoke County

The judicial system in Lonoke County comprises Circuit and District Courts.  The Lonoke County Circuit Court has jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases. The Circuit Court has Civil, Criminal, Domestic Relations, and Juvenile Divisions. The Civil Division handles cases, including forfeiture, malpractice, fraud, foreclosures, and name changes.  The Criminal Division presides over all types of felony cases, including aggravated assaults, murder, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct. The Domestic Relations Division deals with matters involving family disputes, such as domestic abuse, paternity, and divorce. The Juvenile Division adjudicates lawsuits involving minors, such as emancipation, foster care, and juvenile delinquency cases.

The District Court in Lonoke County has limited jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases such as misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil cases up to $ 25,000. The District Court has a Small Claims Division handling cases for disputes under $5,000.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Lonoke County

Public court records are documents and papers maintained by the courts that are open to the public for inspection and copying. Persons seeking Lonoke County court records may access the documents online using ARCourts. Alternatively, record seekers may mail requests for the records to the Clerk of Court Office or visit the office during business hours to access public court records.

Types of Public Court Records in Lonoke County

The availability of public court records helps build public trust and confidence in the county legal system. The following court documents are open to the public in Lonoke County:

• Criminal Court Records: Felonies, such as Manslaughter and kidnapping. Misdemeanors, including trespassing and loitering
• Civil Court Records: Defamation, evictions, real estate disputes, property damage, and medical malpractices
• Domestic Court Records: Divorce, child custody, spousal and child support, legal separation, and child visitation
• Probate Records: Wills, executors, trusts, conservatorships, and guardianships
• Traffic Records: Speeding tickets, reckless driving, illegal parking violations, failure to yield, and expired vehicle registration

Confidential Court Records in Lonoke County

Confidential court records in Lonoke County are documents from legal proceedings unavailable to the public. Confidential records are sealed to protect individuals from potential harm, safeguard proprietary information, or comply with state or federal law on the confidentiality of certain information. Examples of confidential court records include:

• Juvenile court records
• Mental health records
• Trade secrets
• Crime victims information
• Grand Jury proceedings

Confidential court records also include personal data contained in public court records. Personal identifiers in court documents are removed to prevent fraudulent use of personal data. The courts redact the following information from court records to maintain confidentiality:

• Social Security numbers
• Vehicle plate numbers
• Bank account and credit card numbers
• House address, birthdates, and phone numbers
• Medical records

Juvenile Delinquency in Lonoke, AR

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Lonoke 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 381 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Lonoke County. Of that total, 42% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 160 court cases. Another 51% were dependency cases that accounted for 196 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Lonoke County, AR

https://arkansas.gov/

County Seat:	Lonoke
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1873
Total Square Miles:	803
2019 Population:	72,898
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01
County Contact:	301 N Center St County Courthouse Lonoke , AR 72086-2892

Lonoke County, AR Courts