Independence County Arrest, Court, and Public Records

What are Independence County Public Records?

Based on the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, Independence County public records comprise all information, datasets and other related miscellaneous official documents and materials generated, preserved and collated by government agencies in the discharge of their officially approved duties and responsibilities. In addition, Independence County public records also include records in possession of private individuals for safekeeping or the government’s future usage. However, compilations of official documents, reports, or summaries that were not in existence when an open records request was submitted do not constitute public records. Only publicly-generated documents stored in various agencies’ silos are regarded as public records and not data types prepared in response to an open records request. The following information is not considered public records in Independence County:

State tax records
medical /adoption/education records
Archeological and historical information
Grand jury minutes
Unpublished drafts of judicial opinions
Undisclosed police investigations
Information that would create unfair competition
Identity of undercover law enforcement operatives
Computer security information
Military service discharge information
Records relevant to the security of the public infrastructure.

Independence County Crime Statistics

According to the Arkansas Crime Information Center, the central agency for crime statistics in Arkansas, Independence County recorded 706 crimes against persons in 2020. A breakdown of the figure shows that intimidation was the most prevalent crime with 307 reported cases, followed by 161 cases of simple assault, 28 cases each of forcible rape and forcible sodomy. Other reported crimes against persons were 7 cases of kidnapping/abduction, 4 murder cases and 1 case of negligent manslaughter. However, there were no reported cases of justifiable homicide, sexual assault with an object, forcible fondling, statutory rape, human trafficking for a sex act and human trafficking involuntary servitude. Comparing the reported crimes against persons between 2016 and 2020 revealed that intimidation increased by 41.5%, while simple assault, aggravated assault, and forcible sodomy increased by 3.01%, 11.18%, and 154.55%, respectively between the years 2016 and 2020. In addition, forcible rape increased by 75%, while kidnapping declined by12.9% between 2016 and 2020.

Are Independence County Criminal Records Public?

The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act ensures the rights of citizens of Independence County and the general public to view and obtain all documents kept by government agencies in the discharge of their public duties. This means that members of the public have unrestricted access to these records, except otherwise stated by the law. As a result, some Independence County criminal records may be classified, and the information not available to the local community if such records have been sealed or expunged. Generally, Independence County criminal records contain the following:

The birth date of the offender
All indictments (both past and more recent)
The arrest information and outstanding warrants
Disposition and conviction information

Public criminal records in Independence County are usually available online through third-party repositories. Typical, requestors have to provide the following information to gain access to these databases:

The record subject’s name, unless the subject is a juvenile
The record subject’s last known location, including cities, counties, and states.

How to Obtain Independence County Police Reports and Arrest Records?

Individuals interested in obtaining Independence County police reports and arrest records may fill out and submit the Freedom of Information Act request form on the website of the Independence County Sheriff’s Office. In other to expedite the records request, requestors should endeavor to fill out the following information:

Date of Incident (if known)
Time of Incident (if known)
Requestor’s Name (first, middle, and last name)
Requestor’s Address
Requestor’s Phone Number
Requestor’s Email Address
Information Being Requested

Individuals interested in Independence County police reports and arrest records may also wish to visit the County Sheriff’s Department at the following address:

Independence County Sheriff’s Office
1750 Myers Avenue
Batesville, AR 72501
Phone: (870) 793-8838
Email: contact@independencesheriff.org
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m - 4:30 p.m, Monday through Friday

Eligible requestors of Independence County police reports and arrest records, especially employers of labor who are mandated by law to conduct criminal background checks on potential employees, may visit the website of the Arkansas State Police for these records. The State Police provides Criminal Background Checks ($22.00 per search) and Open Criminal History Checks ($24.00 per search). Alternatively, eligible requestors of these records may visit the Arkansas State Police at the address listed below:

Arkansas State Police
One State Police Plaza Dr.
Little Rock, AR 72209
(501) 618-8000

Eligible requestors of Independence County police reports and arrest records may also explore the option of reviewing criminal history compiled by the Arkansas Crime Information Center. According to Arkansas law (A.C.A. § 12-12-1013), a person may review criminal history information compiled, maintained, and accessible through the Arkansas Crime Information Center upon positive verification of their identity. However, these criminal history records may only be reviewed by the subject, the subject’s attorney or other person authorized in writing by the subject. To initiate such a review, the Authorization for Review of Criminal History form should be completed and returned to the Arkansas Crime Information Center, Criminal History Division, 322 S. Main Street, Ste. 615, Little Rock, AR 72201, or faxed to (501) 682-2269.

Also, individuals seeking Independence County police reports and arrest records can access such information through third-party websites hosting Batesville City Police records or visit the Batesville City Police Department at the following address:

Batesville City Police Department
Batesville Municipal Building
500 E. Main Street
Batesville, AR
Phone: (870) 698-2400

How to Find Sex Offender Information in Independence County

Residents of Independence County and the general public can find information on sex offenders in Independence County by searching the Arkansas Sex Offenders Registry. The Arkansas Sex Offenders Registration Act mandates all sex offenders within its jurisdiction to be registered. Consequently, Independence County residents can obtain sex offenders information through the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC)’s Sex Offenders Registry Search. Furthermore, residents of Independence County can also receive sex offender information by registering for email and phone notifications anytime a sex offender moves within a specified radius of their registered home address(es). The email alerts are free of charge, and residents may register as many email addresses (each email is linked to an owned home property) as they wish.

The online database maintained by the Arkansas Crime Information Center has a search tool, must and interested residents can obtain the following information on registered sex offenders:

Name
Location
Date of Birth
Sex
Race
Offense
Eye Color
Hair Color
Scars/Tattoos

How to Find Independence County Inmate Records

Requestors of Independence County inmate records can obtain such information by searching the inmate list available on the County Sheriff’s website. By using the inmate lookup tool on the webpage, requesters can get the following information on inmates:

Name (first, middle, and last name)
Booking Number
Age
Gender
Race
Address
Arresting Agency
Bond Amount
Charges

Alternatively, interested parties may visit the office of the County’s Sheriff at the address below to obtain these records:

Independence County Sheriff’s Office
1750 Myers Avenue
Batesville, AR 72501
Phone: (870) 793-8838

Also, interested persons can search the Arkansas State criminal history database for records of Independence County inmates. Using the inmate lookup feature on the website attracts a non-refundable fee of $24.00 for every search performed. If a subject is identified based on the information provided, the requestor has the option to view and print the result at no additional cost. However, suppose the search returns a list of possible matches to the subject query. In that case, the requestor must determine if any of the individuals listed matches the subject query and then view one of the results listed. Subsequently, the requestor’s credit card will be charged $24.00 for each additional result the person chooses to view.

How Do I Visit an Inmate in Independence County Jail?

Individuals who are interested in visiting inmates at the Independence County Jail may do so at the address detailed below:

Independence County Jail
569 West Main Street,
Batesville, AR 72503
Phone: (870) 612-6880
Fax: (870) 612-6890
Email: central@independencesheriff.org

Prospective visitors to the County Jail are expected to abide by the following instructions:

Any person 12 years or younger must be accompanied by an adult.
A visitor must come along with a state-issued ID card or other official forms of identification to be able to visit an inmate.
Inmates are allowed only 20 minutes visits per week
A maximum of 4 persons are authorized to visit an inmate at a time
Only conservatively dressed women are allowed to visit inmates
Inmates serving punishments for unruly conduct will not be permitted visitation until the end of their disciplinary time.

The County Jail also provides a schedule of visitation for inmates with different offenses:

Felons visitation times are on Saturdays, 8:30 a.m to 11:30 a.m., with lunch breaks between 12:30 p.m and 1:45 p.m.
Misdemeanor visitations are on Sundays between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., with lunch breaks between 12:30 p.m and 1:45 p.m.
All visitations end at 2 p.m each day

Court Records

Court records are under the purview of public records available to interested members of Independence County and the general public. To understand how to access court records in Independence County, potential records applicants must comprehend how the county’s court system works. The court system in Independence County consists of the Independence County Circuit Court and the Independence County District Court. The contact addresses of the courts are as follows:

Independence County Circuit Court
192 E Main Street
Batesville, AR 72501
Phone: (870) 793-8833
Fax: (870) 793-8888

Independence County District Court
549 W Main Street
Batesville, AR 72501
Phone: (870) 793-8804
Fax: (870) 793-8875

Are Independence County Court Records Public?

According to the Arkansas Freedom of Information (FOIA) Act, Independence County court records are public records. Section 25-19-103 of the Act states that any documented records related to fulfilling governmental tasks involving public funds are public records. The statute protects the rights of Independence County citizens and the general public to see and copy public records for a charge. The FOIA Act, on the other hand, prohibits the public from obtaining the following records:

State tax records
Medical and adoption records
Grand jury minutes
Identities of undercover law enforcement agents
Unpublished drafts of judicial opinions

Furthermore, custodians of Independence County public records may deny public records requests submitted by convicted felons in a correctional facility. Custodians of these records may also decline ambiguous public records requests. Sequel to fulfilling requisite guidelines and payment of fees, public records requests may be submitted through the walk-in service, via mail, or other permitted electronic platforms.

How to Obtain Independence County Civil Court Case Records

The Office of the Circuit Clerk in Independence County maintains a comprehensive record of all court cases in the county. In general, the Circuit Clerk is the focal point for the orderly flow of paperwork through the courts in the county. Interested individuals may obtain Independence County civil court cases records from the Circuit Clerk’s Office by submitting the relevant forms in person, by mail, or online. However, for easy access to Independence County civil records, interested parties are advised to use the resources available for obtaining civil court case records, such as the Administrative Office of the Court’s website. The office of the Circuit Clerk in Independence County is located at the following address:

Independence County Circuit Clerk
192 East Main Street
Batesville, AR 72501
Phone: (870) 793-8833
Fax: (870) 793-8888

How to Obtain Independence County Criminal Court Records

Interested requestors of Independence County criminal records may submit a criminal case record request at the Circuit Clerk’s office. These criminal case record requests may be submitted via walk-in service, postal mail, or the internet. Residents of Independence County and the general public who wish to obtain the county’s criminal court case records can use the online search tool available on the Circuit Clerk’s website.

What are Independence County Vital Records?

Independence County vital records are government records of vital events, including births, deaths, marriages, divorces and other related records. Vital records in Independence County comprise the records in the databases of the Arkansas Department of Health. These records can be accessed by eligible persons who submit applications to the Arkansas Department of Health. These requestors may make the application submission for vital records from the Arkansas Department of Health through the following ways: online, by mail, or the walk-in services. In Independence County, records of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces older than 100 years are deemed public records. Therefore, any interested party may obtain a copy of such records. However, more recent vital records are not available in the public domain without authorization.

Where and How to Obtain Independence County Divorce Records

Independence County divorce records can be obtained from the Arkansas Department of Health. In Independence County, divorce records can be court records or vital records. A divorce court record in Independence County is a more comprehensive documentation of court proceedings that resulted in marriage dissolutions. This type of divorce record is maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Independence County. Divorce records from 1923 to date can be obtained directly from the Arkansas Department of Health. The contact address of the offices mentioned above are as follows:

Independence County Circuit Clerk (for detailed divorce court records)
192 East Main Street
Batesville, AR 72501
Phone: (870) 793-8833
Fax: (870) 793-8888

Arkansas Department of Health
Office of Vital Records, Slot 44
4815 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205

Independence County divorce records consist of divorce decrees, divorce certificates, and other divorce-related documents. A divorce certificate is a document that shows that a marriage has been dissolved. The certificate comprises primary information concerning the divorce parties, the date and place of termination of the marriage. The Arkansas Department of Health issues Independence County divorce certificates. Divorce decrees, on the other hand, are legal documents issued by the Independence County courts. A divorce decree is a detailed document detailing the property division, child custody agreements, and spousal support payments. The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Independence County is the custodian and recorder of such records.

Independence County divorce court records can be obtained in three ways:

Walk-In Service
Through Mail
Online

Walk-In Service: Independence County divorce records are preserved by the office of the Circuit Clerk, where the divorces were filed and finalized. The requisite information for obtaining these records include the following:

Full name of parties involved in the divorce
Date of divorce annulment
Place of divorce
Type of final decree
Relationship to the divorce parties
Purpose for which the record is sought
Requestor’s name and address

Through Mail: Requestors may submit a completed request form to the Clerk of the Circuit Court where the divorce was finalized. The request form must be signed by the requestor, a contact phone number included, and other stipulated requirements, including a copy of an accepted photo ID.

Online: Eligible individuals may also access Arkansas divorce records online. Other online sources include the State government’s public records search portals and third-party records websites that provide court records search tools.

Walk-In Service: In Independence County, interested persons can order divorce certificates by physically visiting the Vital Records office in Arkansas Department of Health at 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For requests submitted before 4:00 p.m, these requests are often fulfilled the same day. Eligible requestors must tender a valid photo ID and all other required information. Walk-in payment options include cash, credit/debit cards, checks, and money order. Requestors paying with a check or money order must make it payable to the Arkansas Department of Health (no temporary checks are allowed).

By Mail: Eligible requestors who wish to obtain Independence County divorce records may download and complete an Arkansas Divorce Certificate Application. The application form must be submitted with an enclosed copy of a valid government-issued ID and a check or money order for the copy fees. The Arkansas Department of Health charges $10.00 for each certified copy of a divorce certificate. The application request should be sent to the address below:

Arkansas Department of Health
Vital Records, Slot 44
4815 West Markam Street
Little Rock, AR 72205

Online: Using the online services of the Vital Records Office, Department of Health office, qualified requesters can order copies of Independence County divorce certificates. To achieve this goal, requestors must fill out and submit the divorce certificate request form. An applicant needs the following resources and documents to complete the order:

A credit card to pay for service, copy, and shipping fees;
A valid government-issued photo ID; and
Proof of relationship to one party in the divorce.

By Telephone: to order copies of divorce certificates by phone, eligible applicants may call the toll-free line at (866) 209-9482 and follow the instructions provided. Debit and credit cards are accepted for orders placed over the phone.

Where and How to Get Independence County Public Marriage Records

Independence County public marriage records can be obtained from the Arkansas Department of Health. Marriage records available at the State’s Health Department are from 1917 to date. Individuals interested in Independence County public marriage records may opt for any of the following alternatives:

Walk-in Service:
By Mail; or
By Phone

Online: Eligible persons may order copies of marriage records in Independence County through the Arkansas Department of Health portal, where they use the search tool to view marriage records for a standard processing fee of $5.00 and a non-refundable verification fee of $1.85. Specifically, visitors searching Independence County public marriage records may download the marriage certificate request and the Vital Records Authorization forms from the Arkansas Department of Health website. The cost of an Independence County public marriage record is $10.00 per copy. However, if no record is found or no copy is made, the government agency where the records search is being conducted is required by law to retain the $ 10.00 as a search fee. The online option for obtaining the county’s public marriage records offer multiple expedited shipping options through which service fee, certificate fee, and sundry charges can be paid by debit or credit card. Independence County public marriage records can also be obtained through third party online databases and the Arkansas Digital Archives.

By Mail: Requestors may also order a certified copy of Independence County marriage record by mailing a completed form, obtainable from the portal of the Arkansas State Department of Health, with a check or money order, and a copy of valid government-issued photo ID to the following address:

Arkansas Department of Health
Vital Records, Slot 44
4815 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205

Requestors are advised to allow for a 10 to 14 days processing period in addition to the mail delivery time.

Walk-In Service: Interested and qualified persons may also visit the Office of Vital Records at the Arkansas State Department of Health to obtain certified copies of Independence County public marriage records, provided the office has the records for the year(s) being requested. Interested individuals can visit the State Vital Records Office at the preceding address Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on state holidays. To obtain the records in question, requesters have to fulfill all necessary conditions, including making payments for the records request, providing valid identification, and proof of relationship to the person named on the records, if necessary.

Telephone: Requestors may also order copies of Independence County public marriage records through a toll-free line (866) 209-9482. Multiple expedited shipping options are available through this medium, while payment of service fee, certificate fee, and charges for any expedited shipping option can be made via a debit or credit card.

Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Independence County

The Arkansas Department of Health restricts access to marriage records, which means that only a select group of people can view these records. This group of individuals include the married persons named on the records, parents/guardians, and authorized attorneys. In Arkansas, marriage records are only made available to the public after 100 years. Marriage records often contain personal information of the parties, which may be subject to amendment in the near or distant future. Hence the preservation of these records is crucial. For this reason, marriage records are usually more difficult to obtain compared to other public records and may not be accessible through government sources or third party public record databases.

Where and How to Find Independence County Birth Records

Independence County birth records can be obtained from the Arkansas Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. These birth records are only issued to eligible applicants having a direct and tangible interest, primary family members, or legal representatives of the family. Independence County birth records may be purchased online through the Arkansas Department of Health’s website. The Vital Records Office of the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is the legal custodian of birth records for all events from 1914 to date. Some of the birth records services provided by the State Vital Records Office include the following:

The State’s Department of Health online service offers multiple expedited shipping options. To avail themselves of this service, eligible requestors have to pay the service fee, certificate fee, and charges for any expedited shipping options using a debit or credit card. Such requests usually take 7 to 14 days from the date of order approval, in addition to the shipping time. Requestors who choose to order online should know that a $5.00 standard processing fee and a $1.85 verification fee will be charged and added to any selected shipping option.

Eligible requestors of Independence County birth records can also order certified copies by mailing in completed application forms to the Arkansas Department of Health. Completed request forms may be submitted to the following contact addresses:

State Vital Records Office
4815 W. Markham Street,
Little Rock, AR 72205

For requesters sending by mail, the completed application form should be submitted with a US Money Order or certified check for the correct amount payable to the Arkansas Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, accompanied by a valid copy of the requestor’s government-issued photo ID. Requestors are advised not to send cash by mail. Interested persons who wish to acquire Independence County birth records are expected to pay $12.00 for a certified copy and $10.00 for each additional copy requested at the same time.

Eligible requestors of Independence County birth records may also choose to physically visit the Arkansas Department of Health’s vital records office. The office location is at 4815 West Markham St. Little Rock, AR 72205 and is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on state holidays. Often, certificate requests submitted by applicants who arrive before 4:00 p.m can be fulfilled on the same day, provided they are eligible to receive the requested records and have all the necessary information, including a valid government-issued photo ID. In-person payment options include cash, debit or credit cards, or checks and money orders payable to the Arkansas Department of Health.

Requestors of the county’s birth records may also call toll-free at (866) 209-9482. Multiple expedited shipping options are also available through this service. Payment of service fee, certificate fee, and charges for any expedited shipping option selected can be defrayed using a debit or credit card. In Independence County, only the following group of people can obtain birth records:

Individual named on the record (16 years or older)
Mother
Father (if named on the certificate)
Child
Spouse
Maternal grandparents
Grandchild
Guardian (with adequate legal documentation)

Where and How to Find Independence County Death Records

Eligible individuals may order an Independence County death record through any of the following methods: online, walk-in service, and by mail.

Online: Application for the county’s death records can be made through the Arkansas Vital Records website. The online service offers multiple expedited shipping services. Interested parties are expected to pay the service fee, certificate fee, and charges for any chosen expedited shipping option via debit or credit card. Requests such as this typically take between 7 and 14 days in addition to the shipping time.

By Mail: Interested persons may order certified copies of Independence County death records by mailing in a completed application form, a check or money order made out to the Arkansas Department of Health, and a copy or copies of their valid government-issued photo ID. The application form and other requisite documents should be sent to the address below:

Arkansas Department of Health
Vital Records, Slot 44
4815 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205

Applicants adopting the mail-in service are expected to allow for a 10 to 14 days period for processing, in addition to the mail delivery time.

Walk-in: Requestors for Independence County death records may visit the Arkansas Department of Health’s vital records office to pay a $5.00 standard processing fee and a $1.85 non-refundable identity verification fee in addition to the cost of any expedited shipping option selected. If no record is found or no copy is made, the state law mandates the relevant government agency to keep $10.00 as a search fee. Also, the processing fee for online orders is non-refundable, but all other fees, asides from the ones mentioned here, will be refunded. The Arkansas Department of Health website provides various information and forms to assist requestors of Independence County death records. These vital resources are listed as follow: