Drew County Jail Bookings

Drew County 24 hour booking records hold the names of people booked into the county jail in Monticello over the last day. The Drew County Sheriff's Office runs the jail and keeps the booking log. You can search by name, by date, or by charge. Arrests by the Monticello Police Department and the University of Arkansas at Monticello Police also book into the county jail. This page shows how to find 24 hour booking info in Drew County and how to get a copy under Arkansas FOIA.

Drew County Sheriff and Booking Records

The Drew County Sheriff's Office is at 778 Scogin Drive, Monticello, AR 71655. Main line: (870) 367-6211. Fax: (870) 367-8736. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The sheriff runs the county jail and keeps 24 hour booking records for every arrest made in Drew County. That includes deputy arrests and city police arrests from Monticello.

Jail staff log each arrest into the system. The log has the name, date of birth, charge, bond, and arresting agency. Basic booking info is public under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-103. The sheriff must give access to any Arkansas citizen who asks. A quick phone call is often the fastest way to check custody status.

For a written booking sheet, send a short note with the name and booking date. The sheriff has three business days to reply under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105. Copy fees run 25 cents per page. You must be an Arkansas citizen to make a FOIA request. That rule is set out in Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105(a)(1)(A).

Drew County 24 Hour Booking Records Online

Drew County tends to use a phone first system for booking lookups. Call (870) 367-6211 and ask for the jail desk. Staff can confirm if a name is in custody and read off the charge and bond amount. For a copy of the booking sheet or mug shot, send a short FOIA request by email or fax.

The image below shows the Arkansas Counties Association page.

From the directory you can click through to Drew County and the sheriff. The site also links to clerks, assessors, and treasurers across the state.

For statewide custody tracking, use VINELink. The free service covers most Arkansas jails and state prisons. It sends free alerts when custody changes. Once a case moves past booking, Arkansas CourtConnect may pick it up. A name search pulls statewide results from the counties that take part.

Monticello Police and UAM Police

The Monticello Police Department is the main city force in Drew County. Non emergency line: (870) 367-5304. Officers book arrests into the county jail. So a Monticello PD arrest shows up on the same 24 hour booking roster as a sheriff arrest.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello has its own campus police. Non emergency line: (870) 460-1022. UAM Police handle calls on the university campus. Arrests by UAM Police book into the Drew County jail. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors can all end up on the same 24 hour booking log.

Ask the city or university department for the arrest report. Ask the sheriff for the booking sheet. The arrest report has narrative. The booking sheet has data fields. Both can be open under Arkansas FOIA. Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105(b) may shield parts of a report while a case is under investigation.

Request Drew County Booking Records

The Arkansas FOIA is set out in Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq. It is one of the strongest sunshine laws in the country. Booking records are public records under the Act. The Arkansas FOIA Handbook has sample letters and the full rules. It is issued by the state Attorney General.

You can make a FOIA request by phone, email, or in writing. You do not need a form. You do not need to say the word FOIA. You do not need to give a reason. The Handbook puts it plain: a citizen need only make a verbal or written request for access to public records.

Send the sheriff the name of the person, the date of the booking, and what file you want. Booking sheet, mug shot, charge list, and bond sheet are all open. The sheriff has three business days to reply. Copy fees run 25 cents per page under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105(d).

The Attorney General FOIA page runs a hotline at (501) 682-2007. If the sheriff denies a request you think should be open, Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-107 lets you sue in circuit court to get access.

What a Drew County Booking Sheet Holds

A Drew County booking sheet has the same core fields as any Arkansas jail. Main data:

• Full name and date of birth
• Booking number, date, and time
• Sex, race, height, and weight
• Address and arresting agency
• Charges with Arkansas Code cites
• Bond type and amount
• Mug shot

Mug shots are public under Arkansas FOIA. The FOIA Handbook says so plain. A written request may be needed for a print. Some sheriffs hand them over on the spot, others want it in writing first.

Juvenile records are closed under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-309. A juvenile booking does not appear on a public roster. The jail will not confirm custody of a juvenile to a stranger. A parent or legal guardian can get that info. Medical and mental health screens in the booking file are also closed.

Bond types in Drew County include cash, surety, property, and own recognizance. The judge sets the bond at first appearance. Most people post bond within a day or two of the booking. Those who cannot stay in the jail until the case is heard.

Drew County Court Records After Booking

Drew County Circuit Court handles felony cases. District court takes traffic, misdemeanor, and small civil claims. The Circuit Clerk in Monticello holds the full case file. Clerk files have the charging document, the bond order, motions, and the final judgment.

For recent cases, try Arkansas CourtConnect first. A name search is free and fast. It shows case style, filing date, charges, judge, and next court date. For older paper files, go to the Circuit Clerk in Monticello. Copy fees run 25 cents per page.

District court in Monticello handles first appearance on most bookings. That is where bond is set. The judge looks at the charge, the record, and the facts of the arrest. Bond schedules may set bond before the judge sees the case for common charges.

Related State Agencies

The Arkansas Crime Information Center runs a $22 name based background check. It covers statewide arrests and outcomes but not jail rosters. The ADC inmate search covers state prison only.

The Division of Community Correction tracks parole and probation cases. The Arkansas Sex Offender Registry is a public search for people who must register under state law. It shows photos, addresses, and prior offenses.

The Arkansas Counties Association is a good first stop for any county lookup in the state. It links to every county office including the Drew County sheriff.