How to Send Money to an Inmate in a Prison or Jail
Table of Contents
What is Arkansas Inmate Search?
An Arkansas inmate search provides information on individuals currently or formerly held in Arkansas prisons or jails. Anyone can conduct an inmate search in Arkansas to find the inmate's location, charges, sentence details, custody status, and release dates.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) typically maintains the state's inmate search system to ensure transparency and accountability within its prison system. Relatives, organizations, or researchers can use the ADC inmate search tool to find someone incarcerated in Arkansas. They may also visit county jails, send emails, or call local law enforcement agencies in Arkansas to request jail records.
Are Inmate Search Records Open to the Public in Arkansas?
Yes. According to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, members of the public can view or request copies of Arkansas jail records. However, the state's FOI Act prohibits public access to sealed or expunged inmate records. Also, inmate's account details, personal correspondence, mental health records, and medical records are not publicly accessible. Interested persons may obtain court permissions or visit the ADC correctional facilities to access some restricted jail records.
How To Perform Arkansas Inmate Lookup
To perform an Arkansas inmate lookup, interested parties must have the inmate's details, such as name, gender, age, race, or the unique six-digit ADC number. Afterward, they can launch the Arkansas Department of Corrections Inmate Search Portal and enter the details into the relevant fields, ensuring accuracy for the best results. The search will generate a list of matching inmates, including their current incarceration status, facility location, offense details, sentencing information, and projected release date.
How To Search for an Inmate in Arkansas
Follow the steps below to conduct a jail inmate search in Arkansas:
- Visit ADC's official website and click on "Correction".
- Select "Inmate Search".
- Enter the required details, such as the inmate's first and last name or ADC number. Include additional details like gender, race, or age to narrow the search.
- Select an option from the search results to access all the inmate's information, including facility address, prison sentence history, and probation history.
Other ways to find or get copies of Arkansas jail records include the following:
- Download the full inmate database updated weekly by the state's Department of Corrections.
- Contact the administrative officers in each correctional facility by fax, phone, or mail.
- If an inmate is not on the state's database, send an email to the ADC for support.
- Use the Arkansas sheriff directory to find and contact the local sheriffs for access to inmates in local county jails or detention centers.
How To Conduct a Free Inmate Search in Arkansas
Interested persons may conduct Arkansas inmate searches free of charge online using any reliable third-party services, like RecordsFinder. These private search systems collect data from various public record sources, including courts, prisons, and local/state government databases. This makes it easy and fast to find inmates housed in county jails or state prisons. Third-party search platforms are free but typically offer subscription-based premium services such as detailed background checks, inmate history reports, and real-time alerts on status changes.
How To Find a Federal Inmate in Arkansas
You can search federal inmates in Arkansas by name or number through the Inmate Locator provided by the Federal Bureau of Prison (BOP). To search by name, enter the inmate's first and last name. You may also refine the search by including additional details, such as the inmate's middle name, race, sex, or age. To search by number, use the unique Bureau of Prisons (BOP) registration number, DCDC number, FBI number, or INS number. The Inmate Locator will display information such as the inmate's current facility, release date, and incarceration status.
The BOP database for Arkansas' federal inmates contains details of federal inmates currently housed in the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC), Forest City, Arkansas. Records of incarcerated persons in the federal prison before 1982 are maintained by the National Archives Records Administration (NARA).
What Can You Find with State of Arkansas Inmate Search
Arkansas inmate search tools typically provide access to the following information about inmates:
- Basic information, including the inmate's full name, date of birth, gender, race, and physical description (height, weight, tattoos, and scars)
- Incarceration details such as ADC (Arkansas Department of Corrections) Number, current facility location, housing unit details, inmate mugshot, booking date (initial receipt date), custody status, and work assignments or programs
- Sentencing information, including offenses committed, sentence length, projected release date, probation details, and parole eligibility
Jail and Inmate Search in Arkansas
According to the Division of Corrections reports, the number of incarcerated persons in Arkansas grew by 12% from about 17,000 inmates in 2022 to around 19,100 in 2024. Meanwhile, the county jails, managed by the local sheriffs, housed 9,938 inmates in 2022. The state also reported about 470 youths held in juvenile detention facilities in 2022.
Arkansas' incarceration rate of 912 per 100,000 persons is the third highest in the U.S. In 2022, approximately 41,000 individuals were on probation, while 23,000 inmates were on parole. At least 56% of the total inmate population in Arkansas prisons are Whites, while 40% are Blacks. Other racial populations in the state, including Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans, collectively make up about 4% of the inmate population.
Criminal Justice Quick Facts
Arkansas Imprisonment Rate * (per 100,000 population)
912
Probation Population
41,000
Parole Population
23,000
Racial Disparity in Incarceration Rate
Black: White Ratio: 3.5:1
Hispanic: White Ratio: 0.6:1
Juvenile Custody Rate (per 100,000 juveniles)
90
Disenfranchised Population
84,099 (3.77%)
Disenfranchised African Americans
25,405 (7.60%)
Corrections Expenditures (state/local)
$359 M / $208 M
Arkansas Parole Population
The Arkansas parole population was 23,790 at the beginning of 2022 and 22,780 by the end of the year.
Paroles per 100,000 Population (2022)
Nationwide
267
Arkansas
965
Parole Total Population in Arkansas (2022)
Nationwide
698,820
Arkansas
22,780
Parole Entries and Exits (2022)
Entries
8,230
Exits
9,200
Change in 2022, in Percentage and Number
Percent
4.3%
Number
1,010
Number on Parole per 100,000 U.S. Adult Residents
Decreased by
267
Arkansas Prisons
There are 24 state-run correctional facilities in Arkansas that house more than 19,000 inmates. Each of the 76 county jails across the state, managed by county sheriffs, houses about 9,900 inmates. As of 2022, the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) has a workforce of about 4,500 individuals, while its budget for that fiscal year was approximately $359 million.
The ADC Division of Community Correction supervises approximately 64,000 individuals, comprising about 41,000 on probation and over 22,000 on parole. In Arkansas, housing an inmate in a correctional facility costs $24,225 annually and around $66 daily. Based on 100,000 residents, Arkansas' incarceration rate is 574, while its violent and property crime rates are 645 and 2,451.
| Prison Name | Prison Type |
|---|---|
| Barbara Ester Unit | State Prison |
| Benton Unit | State Prison |
| Boot Camp Program | State Prison |
| Cummins Unit | State Prison |
| Delta Regional Unit | State Prison |
| East Arkansas Regional Unit | State Prison |
| Forrest City Low FCI | Federal Prison |
| Forrest City Medium FCI | Federal Prison |
| Grimes Unit | State Prison |
| J. Aaron Hawkins Sr. Center (detention center) | State Prison |
| Maximum Security Unit | State Prison |
| McPherson Unit | State Prison |
| Mississippi County Work Release Center | State Prison |
| North Central Unit | State Prison |
| Northwest Arkansas Work Release Center | State Prison |
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some FAQs about Arkansas inmate searches and their corresponding answers.
Why Is an Inmate Not Showing Up in Search?
Providing inaccurate names or registration numbers is one of the major reasons why an inmate's information may not appear in an Arkansas inmate search. Also, recent transfers between facilities or delays in updating the database can result in missing information. It is important to note that the state's database only contains records of inmates currently housed in state-run facilities.
Individuals in county jails or federal prisons may not appear in the Arkansas Department of Corrections search system. Similarly, records of recently released inmates may no longer be accessible. For comprehensive results, users should always verify details and search the correct database corresponding to the inmate's location or jurisdiction.
Jail records expunged under state laws or sealed due to court orders will also not be available in public inmate search databases. Additionally, juvenile offender records are typically excluded from public searches to safeguard the confidentiality of minors. Users encountering issues locating an inmate should contact the Arkansas Division of Corrections.
How Can I Check If Someone Is in Jail in Arkansas?
You can follow the steps below to check if someone is in jail in Arkansas:
- Go to the ADC website and search using the inmate's name or ADC number
- Download the full inmate database available on the state's inmate search portal
- Check the specific county sheriff's office website for jail rosters or inmate search tools
- Use the BOP Inmate Locator tool if the individual may be in federal custody
- Search court records for recent arrests or sentencing details to confirm incarceration status
How Can I Conduct an Arkansas Prison Inmate Search?
You may conduct an Arkansas prison inmate search online through ADC's Inmate Search portal. Other ways to find inmates in Arkansas prisons include sending an email to the ADC or checking the federal inmate locator. Reliable third-party inmate record search sites like Records Finder offer an easy way to conduct Arkansas inmate searches.
