CLEBURNE COUNTY DISTRICT COURT

How to find out where your case is located.

You should refer to your copy of the citation/ticket or other court documents you have received to determine in which department your matter is pending. You may contact the Court Clerk of that department to find the amount (fines & cost) of your citation/ticket if the ticket does not state, "MUST APPEAR". If your citation/ticket or court papers state that you, "MUST APPEAR," then you must appear at that Court location on the date and time set where the Judge will make a determination regarding the amount of fines and other possible punishment.

If your ticket/citation does not state "MUST APPEAR," and when you do not want to appear in Court you can make arrangements to pay your ticket/citation with the department prior to your court date.

If my case is not in District Court, where is it pending?

If a court case is pending and it has not been filed in District Court, it may be filed in Cleburne County Circuit Court. Inquiries about filing can be made at the Cleburne County Circuit Clerk's Office that is located at:

301 West Main Street, Heber Springs

Where should correspondence be sent and can fines be paid in locations other than the Department ticketed?

See our Contact Us page for more information. Click Here to go to Page

What happens if I do not show up for Court, fail to pay my ticket or if I ignore my ticket?

If you fail to appear on your Court date a warrant will be issued for your arrest.

Many traffic offenses and other violations do not require your appearance if you pay the ticket or enter into a payment agreement with the Court prior to the Court date. You should check with the Clerk if you have any questions regarding whether your appearance in Court is required.

For more information on warrants and how to resolve them, please contact the District Court. If you are arrested outside of Court, you will be required to post a bond at the jail or detention center where you are being held. Your driver's license will also be suspended if you fail to appear on your court date or fail to pay your fine. If you fail to appear on your Court date and a warrant has been issued, you consider appearing at the next date Court is in session.

Can I have a Public Defender appointed to represent me in District Court?

The services of the public defender are appointed to indigent individuals charged with a misdemeanor offense in peril of serving time in jail. Indigence is determined by the Judge. If you would like to make a request for a Public Defender, you should do that at your first appearance in court.

How can I pay my fine?

Payment can be made in person, by mail or by going to www.myfinepayment.com. Cash, money order, checks and credit cards are accepted. If you are paying by check, please contact the Clerk's office about what information will be required with your check.

Can the City or County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office give me personal legal advice?

No. The Prosecuting Attorney serves solely as the legal counsel for the State of Arkansas or City.

What is my duty as a victim or witness?

You must fully cooperate and stay in contact with the prosecuting attorney that is handling your case. You may also be required to appear in court to offer evidence in the case. It is imperative that you follow all orders issued by the court, such as a no contact order. You will be notified when you are required to appear in court by being served with a subpoena. Subpoenas are commonly served by the Sheriff's Office over the telephone. Failure to appear when a subpoena has been served on you could result in your arrest or being held in contempt of court.

What are court costs and why do I have to pay them if I did not appear in court?

The court cost is not a fee for appearing in court. It is a fee the court is mandated to collect by the State of Arkansas in each case. There are no additional fees for appearing in court. The court costs are collected by the Court and forwarded to the State of Arkansas Administrative Justice Fund or other fund to support various agencies, pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated §16-10-305. Court costs are set by the Arkansas General Assembly and are required to be assessed in all criminal and traffic matters and in some civil matters.

When will I receive my refund if I post a cash bond at the time of my arrest

The refunds checks are processed on a monthly basis. The process begins at the 1st of each month and takes approximately five (5) business days to prepare and issue all refund checks. Checks are mailed to the address that is filed with the Court.

When can I expect a restitution check if I am a victim and the Judge orders restitution?

The restitution checks are processed on a monthly basis. The process begins the 1st of each month and takes approximately five (5) business days to prepare all restitution checks. Restitution checks are due to the victim as long as the defendant is making payments toward the restitution. If the defendant fails to pay restitution as ordered, a warrant will be issued for his/her arrest. When a defendant makes payments for his/her obligation to the Court, the State of Arkansas requires that court costs are paid prior to paying out restitution.

Where can I retrieve information regarding a county jail inmate?

District Court will only confirm District Court appearance dates and District Court judgment information regarding inmates being held in the Cleburne County Detention Center. For all other information, you must contact the Sheriff’s Department or the Cleburne County Detention Center.

Click here to go to Sheriff's Office Website

How do I file a criminal case against an individual?

Individuals do not file criminal cases. A criminal proceeding is initiated by the government, either a prosecuting attorney or a law enforcement agency. Allegations of criminal behavior should be brought to the attention of the city law enforcement agency or the Cleburne County Sheriff's Office. You may also make inquiry with the prosecuting attorney's office.

Can I choose where I want to perform Community Service?

Locations to complete community service is determined and set by the Judge,  District Court Probation Officer, and the Cleburne County Work Program Supervisor. Make sure you complete your community service in the specified time given by the Court or a Warrant will be issued for your arrest.

Can my non-profit organization in Cleburne County utilize Community Service workers?

Judge Wright encourages and wants those ordered to community service to serve and better Cleburne County. There are numerous organizations included on our Community Service list. Please contact the Cleburne County District Court Clerk's Office to make a request to have your organization included. To see if your organization is included please see the attached list.

What happens if I do not complete all community service within the time period ordered by the Judge?

If you do not turn in all of your community service hours to the District Court Probation Officer or Community Work Supervisor, then a contempt warrant will be issued for your arrest and you may be sentenced to jail or additional fines.

If I do not live in Cleburne County, can I perform community service somewhere else?

The Judge generally requires that Community Service be completed in Cleburne County or within the City where you appear in Court. If you would desire to perform your community service outside of the jurisdiction, you must make that request to the Judge and a determination will be made on a case by case basis. In some situations the Judge will allow a portion of the community service to be completed outside of Cleburne County. It will be the community service worker's responsibility to assure that the Court has a record of the completion of community service within the time allocated by the Court.