Yell County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Named after the second governor of Arkansas Archibald Yell, Yell County was formed from Scott and Pope counties in 1840. About 20,300 people live within its 949 square miles of land. It has two county seats, Danville in the west and Dardanelle, its largest city, to the east. Yell County's judicial system comprises circuit and district courts.

The Yell County Circuit Court has locations in both county seats in Danville and Dardanelle, serving residents in the western and eastern regions of the county, respectively. The court has general jurisdiction over major criminal cases such as felonies, including armed robbery, rape, murder, and drug trafficking. It also handles civil cases involving sums above $25,000, personal injury claims, and property disputes. In addition, the Circuit Court hears appeals from the District Cout and deals with domestic relations matters, including divorce, annulments, legal separations, domestic violence, adoption, and juvenile cases. Its Probate Division oversees the administration of estates, trusts, guardianships, and admission of wills. The Yell County District Court, located in both county seats, has limited jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases. The court hears traffic infractions, municipal ordinance violations, misdemeanors, civil claims for dispute claims below $25,000, and preliminary felony hearings.

According to the Arkansas Department of Public Safety, Yell County recorded 231 crimes against persons, 300 crimes against property, and 864 crimes against society in 2023. Hence, the total crime in the county was 1,403 and the crime rate was 6,972 crimes per 100,000 people. The Yell County courts handle about 1,500 cases annually, of which about 350 are criminal, and about 200 are civil. The Yell County Circuit and County Clerk maintains court records in the county and grants electronic access to public court records using the state-provided ARCourts Case Search Platform. Record seekers may also visit the courthouse to view and obtain public court records. However, some records, made confidential by default under Arkansas laws or court orders, are closed to the public and can only be accessed by authorized persons or court orders. These records include juvenile records, adoption records, identifying information about confidential informants in criminal prosecutions, medical and mental health records, information about jurors, and person-identifiable information.

In summary, Yell County's court system is dedicated to delivering justice for all legal issues and is a crucial part of the county's governance. Yell County's Superior and District Courts are well-equipped to manage the judicial demands of its residents. The transparent management of court records in Yell County increases the public's confidence in the judicial system. The county continues to diligently perform its legal responsibilities and serve as a model for efficient judicial administration in Arkansas.