Find Public Records in Benton, Arkansas
Public records for the city of Benton, Arkansas are maintained by city offices and by Saline County agencies. The Benton City Clerk holds city council documents, ordinances, and official city records. Police reports and arrest records are with the Benton Police Department. Court cases filed in Saline County, including those from Benton, are at the Saline County Courthouse in Benton. This page explains each office, what it holds, and how to submit a records request under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.
Benton City Records Overview
Benton City Clerk Records
The Benton City Clerk is at 114 S. East Street, Benton, AR 72015. Phone: (501) 776-5970. Fax: (501) 776-5973. Email: cityclerk@bentonar.org. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Jennifer Allison serves as City Clerk.
The City Clerk keeps the city's official records. These include City Council meeting minutes and agendas, city ordinances and resolutions, the municipal code, and board and commission records. Some materials are posted on the city website at bentonar.org. For records not online, you can submit a written FOIA request to the City Clerk's office.
The screenshot below was taken from the Benton City Clerk page, which outlines available city documents and how to get them.
Under Arkansas Code 25-19-105, the city must respond to public records requests within three business days. Copy fees may apply per page. Certified copies carry an additional fee.
Note: The City Clerk does not hold property records, court filings, or arrest records. Those are maintained by Saline County offices.
Benton City Clerk Online Services
Benton also provides an additional web page for city clerk resources. The city clerk department page at bentonar.org has links to ordinances, agendas, and meeting minutes.
The screenshot below shows the Benton City Clerk department page, which gives more detail on services offered and how to contact the office.
Records that are available online can typically be downloaded at no cost. Printed copies from the office will carry a small copy fee. If you need records from prior years or older ordinances, contact the City Clerk by phone or email first to confirm availability before making a trip to the office.
Benton Police Records
The Benton Police Department is at 114 S. East Street, Benton, AR 72015. Non-emergency: (501) 776-5947. Records Division: (501) 776-5960. Emergency: 911.
The Police Department holds incident reports, accident reports, and arrest records for incidents that occurred in the city of Benton. Records Division staff can help you request a copy of a specific report. You can call (501) 776-5960 or visit in person during regular business hours. Requests may also be submitted in writing.
For a statewide criminal history check, the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) handles those requests through authorized providers. Individual arrest records from Benton PD are available under the Arkansas FOIA, but comprehensive background checks require ACIC. The Arkansas Department of Corrections inmate search is publicly available for anyone held in state prison.
Benton Municipal Court
Benton Municipal Court is at 114 S. East Street, Benton, AR 72015. Phone: (501) 776-5974. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. More info is available at bentonar.org.
Municipal court hears misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and city ordinance violations. Felony cases and most civil matters go to the Saline County Circuit Court instead. If you need records from a municipal court case, contact the court clerk directly. Written requests for case records are accepted by mail or in person.
You can also search municipal and circuit court case records through Arkansas CourtConnect at no cost. The tool lets you search by party name or case number. It covers many case types across all Arkansas counties. Not all older records have been digitized, but most active cases are there.
Saline County Circuit Court Records
Benton is the county seat of Saline County, and circuit court records for cases filed in the county are kept by the Saline County Circuit Clerk. This includes civil filings, felony criminal cases, domestic relations, divorce records, and probate matters.
The Saline County Courthouse is in Benton. The Circuit Clerk's office is the official recorder for the county and handles deed recordings, mortgage filings, and judgment liens in addition to court case records. Property and land records are also recorded here. Copy and certification fees apply for official certified documents. Certified copies of orders and judgments can be obtained in person at the courthouse or by mail request.
If you are looking for a specific court filing from Saline County, the quickest way to check is through Arkansas CourtConnect. You can search by name, case number, or attorney. For older records not yet online, a visit to the Circuit Clerk's office is needed. The Saline County Assessor also maintains property records and valuation data for parcels in Benton online at no charge.
Vital Records and Other Sources
Birth and death certificates for events in Benton are held by the Arkansas Department of Health, not the city or county clerk. You can request vital records by mail or through the Department of Health's online portal. Marriage licenses for Saline County are issued by the Saline County Clerk, not the City Clerk.
Business entity registrations and UCC filings for businesses in Benton are searchable through the Arkansas Secretary of State's website. Property tax records for Benton parcels are handled by the Saline County Collector and Assessor. If you need records from a federal agency regarding someone who lived in Benton, federal courts and federal agencies maintain their own records systems separate from the city and county.
Note: For probate records and estates filed in Saline County, contact the Saline County Clerk, not the Circuit Clerk. Probate matters in Arkansas are often handled by the county clerk's office depending on the jurisdiction.
Nearby Arkansas Cities
These qualifying cities are near Benton and each has its own public records page.