Arkansas State Prisons
19 facilities- AR DOC-Barbara Ester Unit
- AR DOC-Benton Unit
- AR DOC-Cummins Unit
- AR DOC-Delta Regional Unit
- AR DOC-East Arkansas Regional Unit
Federal Facilities in Arkansas
2 facilitiesArkansas County Jails
69 facilities- Arkansas County Adult Detention Center
- Ashley County Detention Center
- Baxter County Detention Center
- Benton County AR Detention Center
- Boone County AR Jail & Detention Center
Arkansas Department of Corrections
The Arkansas Division of Correction Offender Search allows searches by ADC number or name. Arkansas operates a split system - the Division of Correction handles sentenced inmates while the Division of Community Correction manages parole and probation.
The official inmate search is available at doc.arkansas.gov/offender-search. FCI Forrest City (Low and Medium) houses many Arkansas and surrounding-state federal inmates.
Visitation in Arkansas Facilities
All ADC visitors must be on the inmate's approved visitor list. Applications are submitted by the inmate and approved by the facility. Processing takes 3 - 4 weeks. No white clothing (matches inmate uniforms), no camouflage, no revealing clothing.
Always confirm visiting schedules directly with the facility before traveling. Find specific visitation rules on each facility's page in our Arkansas prison directory.
Sending Mail to Arkansas Inmates
Arkansas ADC requires the inmate's ADC number on all mail. Photos must be standard 4x6 prints. Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility (Little Rock's main jail) uses third-party mail processing - check current requirements before sending.
InmateAid delivers letters and photos, postcards, and magazines to Arkansas facilities. Want to receive letters without sharing your home address? Our Letters From Inmates service scans and delivers inmate mail to your account.
Phone Calls from Arkansas Facilities
Arkansas is not currently among the states that offer free inmate phone calls. Securus Technologies holds the ADC contract for most facilities.
Following the FCC's Martha Wright-Reed Order (effective April 6, 2026), per-minute rates for inmate calls are now federally capped at state and federal facilities. Find current carrier and rate information on each facility's page in our Arkansas prison directory.
Sending Money to Arkansas Inmates
Commissary funds let inmates purchase approved items from the facility store. Primary money transfer options for Arkansas:
- JPay (primary for ADC state facilities)
- Money orders mailed to ADC trust fund
- Facility-specific services for county jails
See our Send Money guide or navigate to the specific facility page for current provider information.
Reentry Resources in Arkansas
Planning for release is one of the most important things a family can do. These organizations provide support in Arkansas:
- Arkansas Division of Correction - Official inmate search and facility information
- Arkansas Parole Board - Parole hearings and release information
- Legal Aid of Arkansas - Free legal help across Arkansas
- Restore Hope - Reentry services in central Arkansas
Frequently Asked Questions About Arkansas Prisons
What is an ADC number in Arkansas?
ADC stands for Arkansas Division of Correction - the state agency that manages Arkansas's sentenced prison population. Every person committed to Arkansas state prison is assigned a unique ADC number at intake, and it stays with them for the duration of their sentence. The ADC number must appear on the outside of every envelope you mail to an ADC facility - without it, mail is likely to be returned or lost in the system. You can find your inmate's ADC number through the ADC Offender Search at doc.arkansas.gov, or your inmate can give it to you directly during a call or visit. Court commitment paperwork will also list it. Keep this number written somewhere accessible - you'll need it for mail, JPay deposits, visitor applications, and any time you call ADC Central Records.
Where is Arkansas's death row?
Arkansas's death row for male inmates is located at the Varner Unit in Grady, in Lincoln County about 90 miles southeast of Little Rock. The adjacent Tucker Unit houses other maximum-security male inmates, and the Maximum Security Unit nearby holds administrative segregation cases. Arkansas carried out a series of executions in April 2017 that drew significant national and international attention due to concerns about the execution drugs and the pace of the schedule. Visits to death row inmates are conducted under more restrictive conditions than general population visits - contact ADC directly for specific protocols. If your family member is on death row, connecting with advocacy organizations like the Arkansas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty may provide both practical support and community.
Does Arkansas have free prison phone calls?
No - Arkansas has not eliminated phone fees for state prison inmates. Securus Technologies holds the ADC contract for most facilities. The FCC's Martha Wright-Reed Order (April 2026) capped per-minute rates at state and federal facilities, reducing costs significantly from historical Arkansas highs. However, capped still means a real cost per call - the FCC caps are not free service. County jail rates in Arkansas vary by jail and provider and are not subject to the same federal rate caps as state facilities. If phone costs remain a barrier, written mail and JPay electronic messaging are the most cost-effective alternatives for maintaining regular meaningful contact with your inmate.
How do I send money to an inmate at Pulaski County Jail?
Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility in Little Rock operates under a different money transfer system than Arkansas state prisons. TouchPay is the primary platform - deposit online at touchpay.com or by calling their automated line. Money typically posts within a few hours through TouchPay. JPay does not work at most Arkansas county jails. Verify the current accepted method by calling Pulaski County directly at 501-340-6000 before sending anything, because money transfer providers at county jails can change. Keep any confirmation number from a transaction in case there is a dispute about whether funds posted. If money you sent hasn't appeared in your inmate's account after 48 hours, start with the provider's customer service before calling the jail.
What is FCI Forrest City?
FCI Forrest City is a federal correctional complex in eastern Arkansas, in St. Francis County near the town of Forrest City, about 80 miles east of Little Rock and 45 miles west of Memphis. The complex includes two distinct BOP facilities - a Low security institution and a Medium security institution - that share a location but are separately operated with different mailing addresses, visiting schedules, and phone systems. Federal inmates from Arkansas and from neighboring states including Missouri, Tennessee, and Mississippi are commonly placed there. Before sending mail or planning a visit, confirm through the BOP inmate locator at bop.gov exactly which Forrest City institution your inmate is at - confusing the Low and Medium facilities means your mail may go to the wrong place.
Can I visit an Arkansas inmate without being on the visitor list?
No - you cannot visit an ADC inmate without being pre-approved on their visitor list. The process starts with your inmate submitting a request to add your name to their approved visitor list. Once added, you'll complete an application and ADC conducts a background check. Do not drive to an ADC facility without written confirmation of approval - you will be denied entry at the gate regardless of how far you've traveled, and the wasted trip cannot be undone. Processing typically takes 3 - 4 weeks. A prior felony conviction may affect eligibility - ADC reviews each case individually, but certain convictions are more likely to result in denial. Contact the specific facility's visiting office directly if you have eligibility questions before putting in an application.