The Sebastian County Juvenile Detention is a 12 bed jail in the city of Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas. You can call them 24 hours a day for inmate information at 479-783-3532.
Offenders arrested for misdemeanors and felonies in this county are brought here for booking and processing, and if their crime requires it, are incarcerated until they are either bonded out, are released from custody on their own recognizance, or are ordered to remain in custody until the disposition of their trial.
You can also use the inmate search tool to see this facility's roster of those who have been arrested and are still in custody.
Those who are found guilty and sentenced to a term of less than one year, will do their time in this county. Those sentenced to longer terms will be sent to either the Arkansas State Prison System or the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
This page provides information on how to search for an inmate in the official jail roster, or by calling the facility at 479-783-3532, directions to the facility, and inmate services such as the visitation schedule and policies, funding an inmate's account, mailing them a letter, receiving phone calls from an inmate, voicemail, emailing and texting, tablet rentals, bail bond instructions, and commissary purchases.
It's always a good idea to find out and save the inmate's jail ID number or booking number as you may need this for sending mail or other communication needs. If you can't locate it online, you can call the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention at 479-783-3532 to get it.
Phone: 479-783-3532
Physical Address:
801 South A Street
Fort Smith, AR 72901
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Resident's Full Name
Sebastian County Juvenile Detention
801 South A Street
Fort Smith, AR 72901
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Resident's Full Name
Sebastian County Juvenile Detention
801 South A Street
Fort Smith, AR 72901
Other Jails and Prisons
To search for an inmate in the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention, review their criminal charges, the amount of their bond, when they can get visits, or even view their mugshot, go to the Official Jail Inmate Roster, or call the jail at 479-783-3532 for the information you are looking for. You can also look up an offender's Sebastian County Criminal Court Case or any other case in the state of Arkansas.
Sebastian County Juvenile Detention Inmate Search
The Sebastian County Juvenile Detention maintains an average of 12 offenders in custody on any given day. The Sebastian County Juvenile Detention has a monthly turnover of 40% of their inmate population, another 30% turnover every 90 days, another 20% every six months, and approximately 10% stay incarcerated between six and twelve months. Every year Sebastian County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 8,200 offenders.
The following charts of Sebastian County inmate population demographics are updated daily. The information shown is for today. For research purposes we have broken down the inmates by sex, age, ethnicity, and criminal charges.
The information is compiled from the Sebastian County Corrections Department, the state of Arkansas Department of Corrections, as well as the United States Department of Justice and Census Bureau records. It represents every person in custody in Sebastian County.
For complete information on how to get directions, bond, visit, mail, send and receive email and texts, receive phone calls, and send money or commissary to an inmate, find arrest information for Sebastian County and other counties surrounding this one, scroll down this page. We have a section for each.
We also provide photos of the jail that we have collected over the years.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
To find out if someone you know has been recently arrested and booked into the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention, call the jail’s booking line at 479-783-3532.
There may be an automated method of looking them up by their name over the phone, or you may be directed to speak to someone at the jail. Sometimes the jail staff may ask you the offender’s date of birth to ensure privacy of the offender’s status.
Keep in mind that after an arrest, the information on an offender may not be publicly available for several hours.
If you don’t want to check up on an offender by calling the jail, you can also try looking up people recently booked online.
Sebastian County Juvenile Detention Booking Roster
After being arrested and taken into custody, and after being read their Miranda Rights, an offender will next be transported to the local police or department or the Sheriff’s Department in Sebastian County for booking.
Booking is very involved and requires multiple steps in the process, however, keep in mind that most attorneys will advise that an offender remain silent and not offer any additional information about the crime they have been arrested for because anything they do say may be recorded and may very well be used against them in court.
Booking includes having their photo (mugshot) and fingerprints taken, as well as being asked a lot of questions about their personal history and state of mind. If it’s a serious felony, their DNA may also be taken. They will also be checked for warrants in Sebastian County and other Arkansas and USA jurisdictions.
If the offender was arrested for a DUI offense, and has refused a breathalyzer test, they may also be forced to have blood drawn by a doctor or nurse.
It is also very likely that the offender will undergo a humiliating full body search while in the nude. This includes bending over, spreading their cheeks in the direction of an officer, and coughing. They will also be walked through a metal detector or x-ray machine, like those used at an airport.
The arresting jurisdiction will ask about gang affiliations, tattoos, medical conditions, prescribed medication they are taking, recreational drugs they are on or addicted to, allergies, if they are suicidal, and other relevant information that will help with determining their cell assignment and special needs.
During the arrest and booking process an offender will also have all their personal property confiscated and held for either their release from jail, or with the offender’s approval, released to a friend or family member.
Personal property includes the clothing they are wearing, money, wallets, purses, cell phones, jewelry, body rings, earrings, watches, and even glasses if they are deemed a security risk. If they are allowed to keep their shoes or sneakers, the laces are removed.
At this point the offender will be allowed to make a free phone call to a person of their choice to notify them of their arrest, and/or arrange a bond or bail for their release.
If the offender is being detained and housed while awaiting arraignment, the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention will provide a jail garment and slip-on shoes, a blanket, sheets, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a towel.
Often, before they are dressed in the jail outfit and brought to their housing location, they will be forced to take a shower and undergo a disinfectant treatment for body and hair lice, scabies or other pests that may be residing on their person.
Booking can take anywhere from an hour to 24 hours or more. It all depends on the number of people that are awaiting processing, the number of staff on duty at the time, and the behavior of the offender.
If the offender is heavily intoxicated and/or violent, the Booking Officer may decide to stick the offender in a holding cell for several hours until they become more manageable.
Bail is what the arrested in Sebastian County must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance.
The agreement to bail acts as a promise that the arrested will return to court for court dates and trial. Bail usually refers to a dollar amount, but bail can also mean something that has to be done, or a condition such as reporting to an officer of the court, a curfew, restraining orders or attending a treatment program.
Bail is usually a significant enough amount of money and/or condition that the person will be negatively impacted and has incentive to return to court and not flee. A flight risk usually means that the person would flee the area, and not necessary that they are going to take an airplane.
If a judge in Sebastian County feels that the arrested will return to court for further proceedings, the arrested could be released under a conditional release without needing to pay bail money. This is called Released on Own Recognizance, or ROR.
Conditions for ROR might be to obey all court orders and laws, maintain contact with the lawyer, report changes in residence or have no contact with the victim. Family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court.
If the judge or bail schedule determines that the defendant would be a danger to the public if they were released, bail can be denied, and the person will be detained in the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention until the case is resolved or goes to trial.
Bail can be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest. Bail is usually denied in cases of violent offenses.
Bail and bond are used interchangeably to mean the same thing but technically, they are different.
The bail is the amount to be paid and a bond is a signed document promising payment of the bail amount with certain conditions.
Think of a bond as a loan to pay for the bail.
The bond payment is always written to the court in your municipality, Sebastian County or district directly and does not go through the defendant. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.
The thought of being in jail can cause the arrested to panic and try to secure a bond immediately.
DO NOT panic and take the time to understand all the options.
More courts are now trying to work with defendants to make bail work and might provide non-monetary options or even reduce the bail.
Payments to a bond company are not refundable. It is a long process to get back property title or money that was given to the clerk of court or bondsperson to secure the bond. This could put your loved ones into a difficult financial situation.
Another reason not to unnecessarily rush into securing a bond is that if the court notes that you came up with the money to pay a bond company, they may assume you have resources to pay a defense attorney and decline public defense.
On the other hand, as anyone who has ever been involved in their criminal defense understands, fighting your case while ‘out on the streets’ gives you a much better chance of either winning, or getting a more favorable sentence.
Based on a review of information from the arrest, the judge or bail officer will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.
To describe the types of bonds, let’s use an example of buying your neighbor’s car. Your neighbor decides the price of the car and how they would be paid. Similarly, the court (meaning a police or bail officer, clerk of court, bail magistrate or judge) determines the bail amount and how it would be paid. Here are different options that the seller of the car or the court might consider:
You could pay full asking price for the car in cash. This is similar to paying cash bail. The full amount of bail would be paid to the town or county clerk or at the jail. Cash, cashier’s checks and credit cards are usually accepted.
You could sign an agreement on your own or with another person to pay for the car at a future date knowing that your neighbor would know where to find you if you stopped payment. This would be similar to a cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond which are bonds to where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible for making sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up.
Surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
You can put a deposit down for your neighbor’s car and sign an agreement that the car will be paid off at a later date. Cash percentage in lieu of bonds is when the defendant pays a percentage of the bail amount, usually 10%, to the court which then holds the money until the case is over.
The amount is returned to the person who paid the 10% after the case is over. In most cases, the full amount is not returned if there are court fees or fines due. This is a type of surety bond if another person signs the bond paperwork.
You could sign an agreement that if the car were not paid off, that your neighbor would get your house or something of value.
A property bond is a bond that the courts might consider in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).
Usually, the property must be in the same state as the courts, and it must be worth at least 1 ½ - 2 times the amount of the bond.
There are multiple court fees involved to execute a property bond with the courts and a tedious process to get the property deed back. This is another type of surety bond if another person or a bond company is used to secure the bond.
You could also go to a local bank and take out a car loan offering property or anything of value for collateral. You may get someone to co-sign on the loan and offer their property. The bank charges fees, interest and could keep your property if you did not pay the loan back, or even on time.
A professional bondsperson makes money, at least 10% of the bond amount by providing you with a “loan” called a bond. The percent that they charge is fixed by the state and cannot be negotiated. The defendant or surety does not get that 10% or more back even if the terms of the bail are met.
With a property bond, the property deed would need to be signed over to the bondsperson and everyone on the deed would need to be involved.
Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety, they can send a bounty hunter to bring you to court if you flee. A bondsperson does not have to give you a bond if the defendant seems to be too much of a risk.
Ask the bondsperson to explain all the costs: percentage, fees or court fees. There is never a reason to rush through signing the paperwork with a bond company. Make sure that everything told to you is in writing and that you understand what you are signing. Ask questions, and if you feel rushed or don’t understand the contract with the bond company, you might want to call another one.
(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsperson will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Sebastian County allows bail.
Sebastian County recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. The judge in Arkansas considers one of the following bonds:
1. An unsecured bond in an amount set by the judicial officer.
2. An unsecured bond with 10% cash or securities valued at 10% of the bail amount. 90% of the 10% will be returned at the end of the proceedings as long as the conditions have been met.
3. Secured bond by cash or property from the defendant family or a qualified bond agent.
A sheriff or police officer is authorized to set bail during the time of the arrest. If held in a city jail, a police officer can accept bail and a sheriff can accept bail in a county jail. In the higher courts, the judge sets bail at the initial appearance.
It is the law in Arkansas that the judicial officer can only set money bail if it is determined that no other conditions will guarantee that the defendant will appear in court.
Bail can be sent by the arresting officer at the time of booking and if the offence was a misdemeanor the bail is immediately paid, the date for the initial appearance before a judge will be made.
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond reduction if a judge already set the initial bail.
The person posting bail should be a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court to get their money back.
A surety is not responsible for court fees or paying off personal debts for the defendant. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of Arkansas could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Almost all counties in Arkansas accept online payments or payment by phone with an associated fee. It is important that you pay the correct officer or Sebastian County Clerk of Court and not pay a scammer.
Cash is accepted in some counties and not others and it is dependent on the amount. Most all jails and courts accept cash, a cashier or bankers’ check. Some accept a credit card with fees. Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted.
Go to the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention for more information about posting bail in Sebastian County.
Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished.
There may be fees, restitution (money to pay for damage caused by the crime) or fines that come out of that amount including an $80 minimal fee imposed by the court.
If you used a bondsperson, you would not get your 10% back. Property is returned by the court or bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court.
The judge or officer who sets bail determines which kind of bail will be an option for you, but a cash bond and PR bonds usually do not require cash down, though you might have to pay court fees.
A cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond are bonds where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible to make sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up. A surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
All professional bond companies must collect a 10% fee before the defendant is released from jail and there non-refundable are court fees in addition. The court can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies in Sebastian County.
If you have an attorney, it is a good idea to ask which has the best reputation or you can read reviews by others who have used them. It would be advisable to find out exactly how much they would charge, including extra costs.
You can call several bond companies and negotiate the best rate and conditions for you, although not all bond companies are obligated to execute a bond for you.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention? What is the Schedule?
801 South A Street
Fort Smith, AR 72901
479-783-3532
ON SITE VISITATION SCHEDULE - ALWAYS CALL 479-783-3532 TO CONFIRM VISITATION SCHEDULE!
| DAY | TIMES |
| SUNDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM |
| MONDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM 6:00PM - 8:00PM |
| TUESDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM 6:00PM - 8:00PM |
| WEDNESDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM 6:00PM - 8:00PM |
| THURSDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM 6:00PM - 8:00PM |
| FRIDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM 6:00PM - 8:00PM |
| SATURDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM |
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Sebastian County Juvenile Detention’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 479-783-3532 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Sebastian County Juvenile Detention’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 479-783-3532 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Sebastian County Juvenile Detention’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 479-783-3532 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Sebastian County Juvenile Detention’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 479-783-3532 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
How do I Mail an Inmate in the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention, and what can I send them?
Postcards
The Sebastian County Juvenile Detention allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature.
Envelopes
The Sebastian County Juvenile Detention may also allow regular postcards and envelopes to be mailed to inmates as well, however more and more jails are no longer allowing envelopes or paper letters due to concern about paper being dipped into liquefied drugs like methamphetamines and cocaine and then mailed into secure facilities.
To confirm that the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention still allows letters in envelopes call 479-783-3532 or view the Inmate Mail Instructions.
Newspapers
Local or national newspapers may also be mailed to the inmate as long as they are mailed directly from the newspaper publisher.
Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.
Books
Most jails allow books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address above.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention standards will be disposed of.
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.
To confirm that the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention continues to allow books to be mailed by a third party publisher or bookseller, call 479-783-3532.
Care packages
Care packages are pre-chosen items packaged together and sent to the inmate from a third-party vendor. They can include clothing, snacks and seasonal items.
When a jail allows the inmate to receive Care Packages they must come directly from an approved company that specializes in serving the inmates of jails.
Call 479-783-3532 to see if the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention participates in a Care Package program and if so, how to purchase one.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Sebastian County Juvenile Detention’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 479-783-3532 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention, and what can I purchase?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Sebastian County Juvenile Detention’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 479-783-3532 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention using an Online Messaging Service?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Sebastian County Juvenile Detention’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 479-783-3532 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
Do Inmates in the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention have Access to Tablets or Computers?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Sebastian County Juvenile Detention’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 479-783-3532 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
What are the other City and County Jails in Sebastian County?
What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Sebastian County?
