Navigating the Arkansas Department of Correction (ADC) system can be confusing. This guide collects the key contact points and procedures families most often need.
Finding Your Loved One
The ADC Inmate Search is available at doc.arkansas.gov/inmates/inmate-search. Search by first name, last name, and ADC number. Results show the current unit assignment, sentence information, and estimated parole eligibility date. If your loved one was recently sentenced and does not appear yet, allow 24–72 hours for the transfer from county jail to the ADC intake facility (the Ouachita River Unit in Malvern processes most new intakes).
Phone Calls
ADC contracts with Securus Technologies for inmate telephone service. To receive calls, a free Securus account at securustech.net is needed. You can fund the account with a credit/debit card; the inmate dials out and the cost is deducted. Rates in Arkansas are set by the state contract and are posted on the Securus site. Securus also offers a video visitation option (AdvancePay Video) that allows scheduled video calls from home — useful for family members who live far from the assigned unit.
Sending Money
ADC uses JPay for inmate trust-account deposits. Go to jpay.com or use the JPay app. You need the inmate's ADC number and full name. Funds are typically available within one business day. JPay also supports email messaging (one-way electronic letters, not real-time chat) and video grams (short recorded video messages). Standard mail is still accepted — send to the inmate at their unit address with the ADC number on the envelope.
Visitation
Each ADC unit sets its own visitation schedule, typically on weekends. Visitors must be on the inmate's approved visitor list, which the inmate submits to their unit case manager. A state-issued ID is required at the gate. ADC's visitation dress code prohibits certain colors (particularly orange, which resembles inmate clothing) and requires modest attire. Check the specific unit's page on doc.arkansas.gov for schedule details and dress-code rules.
Parole Board
The Arkansas Board of Corrections and Community Punishment is separate from ADC. Parole hearings are scheduled by the board; families may submit written statements in support of an inmate's parole. Contact: (501) 682-3656 or visit accessark.com for parole hearing dates and victim notification services.
Inmate Grievances and Medical Concerns
If you have concerns about your loved one's safety or medical care, the first step is the inmate's unit warden. If unresolved, contact ADC's Office of Professional Standards. The Arkansas ACLU handles civil rights complaints involving prison conditions: (501) 374-2842.
Further reading for families
For practical guidance on supporting your loved one, see our step-by-step guides on how to bail someone out of jail, how to write a letter to an inmate, and why inmate phone calls are so expensive — and what families can do to reduce those costs.
Many of these services are run by private companies. See how the main providers work, including fees and how to sign up: Securus, ViaPath (GTL), JPay, Access Corrections, CorrLinks, GettingOut. For every phone, video, money, mail, and care-package company, browse our full inmate service provider directory.