Benton Unit

The Arkansas Department of Corrections maintains a searchable public database of all of the inmates they have in custody.

The prison that an inmate is assigned to depends on factors such as security classification, remaining time of their sentence, gang affiliation, and location of their residence.

Arkansas' first prison with the Department of Corrections was established in 1838.  The state currently has 20 state prisons. The number of inmates in custody fluctuates, however as of the end of 2023, they number just under 20,000, with 30 inmates on death row. There are tens of thousands more on parole and supervised release.

The following will explain the instructions, tricks and hacks you can use to find any inmate in custody with the Arizona Department of Corrections.

Arkansas Department of Corrections Inmate Search Instructions

The Arkansas DOC provides every bit of information you want to know about any inmate in their system. 

To look up an inmate, you don't even need to know the spelling of their name.

• You can download all inmates to a spreadsheet.
• You can list all 20,000 inmates in the system by entering % in the last name field.
• You can list all inmates whose last name begin with any letter by entering that letter in the last name field.

Further...

1. Look up any inmate by their ADC Number (inmate #).

2. Look up an inmate by last name.

3. Look up any or all inmates by age group.

4. Look up any or all inmates by Race.

5. Look up any or all inmates by County.

6. look up any or all inmates by Facility.

7. Look up any or all inmates by Offense.

8. Choose whether you want to see their mugshots, or not.

Don't forget to read the disclaimer, and then check the box to agree to the terms.

Results of your Arizona Inmate Search

The results of your inmate search will look something like the image below. You will be able to see the following:

• Name
• ADC Number
• Mugshot
• Physical description
• Date of Birth
• Admission date
• Facility
• Mailing address
• Custody Classification
• Good time classification
• Release date
• Sentence length
• # of times incarcerated
• An icon to send them commissary and/or phone money.
• Crime and case number, and county where committed
• Prison history
• Detainer information
• Disciplinary violations
• Risk level
• Court orders
• Programs completed
• Prior probation history

Depositing Money for an Inmate - There are several ways to send money to an inmate in the Benton Unit

1.

Benton Unit uses the services of correctpay.com (aka JailFunds & VendEngine) for you to deposit money into an inmate’s account.
 

You can deposit money four ways:

• Deposit online at correctpay.com.
• Deposit at the VendEngine kiosk in the jail lobby.
• Deposit over the phone 24/7 at 855-836-3364
• Deposit through their iOS or Android app.

Cost to Send Money

To deposit between $1.00 and $300.00 the fee ranges from $1.50-$2.95, plus an additional 5%. *Rates are subject to change.

Examples:  

• Deposit $100.00, your fee will be as high as $7.95 - Your inmate will receive $92.05.
• Deposit $300.00, your fee will be as high as $17.95 - Your inmate will receive $282.05.

correctpay.com Help
24/7 Customer Service - 855-836-3364
Frequently Asked Questions

2. 

Benton Unit uses Access Corrections Secure Deposits (also known as 'Smart Deposit') for depositing money into an inmate's account. 

The information below provides you complete instructions regarding the Benton Unit:
- Inmate Accounts and Deposits,
- Commissary Information,
- Depositing Money Online,
- Mailing Inmate Money, and
- What 'property' Benton Unit inmates are allowed to have in jail and/or have dropped off to them.
Follow the instructions below on this page exactly to help ensure that your inmate has access to commissary, and in some cases medical and bail money, as soon as possible.

3.

Sending Money Orders By MAIL:

If sending money via mail, you must send it directly to Inmate Banking at this address: 
  Arkansas Division of Correction:
  Trust Fund Centralized Banking
  P.O. Box 8908
  Pine Bluff, AR 71611

Money orders should be made payable to the inmate’s name and ADC number.

A “MONEY ORDER DEPOSIT SLIP” must be completed and sent with each money order.

Video Visitation using Securus Video Connect - Arkansas Department of Correction

Video Visitation allows 'approved' friends, family members, attorneys and clergy of an inmate to connect with them using their computer, Securus Video Visitation app, or ‘on-site’ kiosk. 

Steps:
Register and/or log in.
Select the facility of your inmate.
Review the days, available hours and the cost of remote and on-site visits.
Schedule your visit.

What is the Cost of a Remote Video Visit?
Costs vary and are subject to change, but generally visits range from $12.00 to 15.00 for a 15 to 30 minute online or on-site video visit.

How do you know if your Inmate will be available during the time you schedule?
The Securus system knows the times that Benton Unit inmates are available for remote video visits.
It will not allow you to schedule a visit with your inmate if they are not available or the video visitation kiosk(s) in the jail are booked already.
Once you schedule a visit with your inmate they will be notified of the date and time of the visit.

Important Tips:
Your entire visit is being monitored and recorded. Do not say or do anything that you would not want being replayed in court.
You should schedule your visit, in advance, at a time that works best for you.
For best sound quality, use earbuds or headsets.

Quick & Easy Access to Important Information & Help:
Phone: 972-734-1111 or 877-578-3658
Video Tutorial on Registering for Securus Video Visits.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Benton Unit Pricing.
Securus Contact Information.
iphone app
Android app

In addition to normal at-the-jail visits, Benton Unit uses Securus Video Connect for Remote Inmate Video Visitation. 

Video Visitation allows 'approved' friends, family members, attorneys and clergy of an inmate to connect with them using their computer, Securus Video Visitation app, or ‘on-site’ kiosk. 

Steps:
Register and/or log in.
Select the facility of your inmate.
Review the days, available hours and the cost of remote and on-site visits.
Schedule your visit.

What is the Cost of a Remote Video Visit?
Costs vary and are subject to change, but generally visits range from $5.00 to 15.00 for a 15 to 30 minute online or on-site video visit.

How do you know if your Inmate will be available during the time you schedule?
The Securus system knows the times that Benton Unit inmates are available for remote video visits.
It will not allow you to schedule a visit with your inmate if they are not available or the video visitation kiosk(s) in the jail are booked already.
Once you schedule a visit with your inmate they will be notified of the date and time of the visit.

Important Tips:
Your entire visit is being monitored and recorded. Do not say or do anything that you would not want being replayed in court.
You should schedule your visit, in advance, at a time that works best for you.
For best sound quality, use earbuds or headsets.

Quick & Easy Access to Important Information & Help:
Phone: 972-734-1111 or 877-578-3658
Video Tutorial on Registering for Securus Video Visits.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Benton Unit Pricing.
Securus Contact Information.
iphone app
Android app

Benton Unit Inmate Prepaid Phone Service

Inmates can use the Prepaid Phone Service to make phone calls to individuals on their approved telephone list.

To be considered for approval on an inmate’s phone list, you must fill out a Visitation/Telephone Contact Request and Authorization Form. Forms must be obtained from the inmate. FORMS CANNOT BE OBTAINED FROM STAFF MEMBERS. Immediate family members with past felony convictions may not apply for approval to be on an inmate’s telephone call list until sixty (60) days after their release from confinement. If the applicant is currently on community supervision, his/her supervising officer must submit written approval directly to the unit. Regardless, approval to be added to an inmate’s telephone call list must also be obtained from the Warden.

Once you are approved, the Unit Visitation Clerk will add your name and phone number to the inmate’s approved phone list. If your application is denied for telephone privileges at the unit level, you can file an appeal by contacting the Director’s Office at:

Arkansas Department of Corrections
Division of Correction
6814 Princeton Pike
Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71602    Telephone: 870-267-6200

Telephone calls are limited to 30 minutes per call, excluding the inmate’s attorney.

All calls, except those to an attorney, will be recorded.

Three-way calling or call forwarding is not permitted and will be considered an abuse of telephone privileges. This may result in loss of phone privileges.

METHODS TO DEPOSIT TELEPHONE FUNDS
Deposit Funds Electronically
MONEY ORDER TO ADC:
If you would like to place money into an inmate’s prepaid phone account by way of purchasing a money order, you will need to ask the inmate to mail you an “Inmate Prepaid Telephone Deposit Slip” or you can access one HERE. You will need to fill out the deposit slip and make the money order payable to the inmate’s name and ADC number and mail it to:

Arkansas Department of Corrections
Trust Fund Centralized Banking
P.O. Box 8908
Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71611

PREPAID PHONE DEPOSITS: Call (501) 474-6460 and following the instructions to make a deposit over the phone.

The following restrictions apply to both the Online and Phone Deposits:

The minimum deposit amount is $10.00 for inmate trust account.
The minimum deposit amount is $25.00 for a Pre-Pay phone account.
No more than two (2) payments will be accepted per credit card per week.
No more than $100 can be deposited from a single credit card per day. 
No more than four (4) payments will be accepted per inmate per day.
No more than $100 can be deposited to a single inmate per day. 
Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards are accepted.
Payroll Cards, Prepaid Cards and Reloadable Cards are NOT accepted.
Please allow two (2) business days for processing to inmate’s account.
Your name will appear on the inmate’s Trust account statement.

Deposits of funds for telephone use are also available from the Securus Technologies Website. Deposits can be made online at this website or you can call 800-844-6591. 

AdvanceConnect Prepaid Phone Account
An AdvanceConnect prepaid phone account allows you to receive collect calls from inmates and have the charges deducted automatically from your prepaid account.

This account offers the following benefits:
The maximum funding amount is up to $50.00 per transaction.
You are able to receive inmate calls as long as funds are available in your account.
You can add multiple phone numbers to your account so your loved one can reach your home phone, work phone, cell phone, other relatives, neighbors, friends, etc.
Calls will connect to cell phones (subject to facility restrictions).
You have 24/7/365 access to your account via phone or the Securus website.

Inmate Debit
Inmate Debit is a prepaid calling account that gives inmates the ability to pay for their own telephone calls.
Inmate Debit allows you to add funds directly to an inmate’s Securus calling account without having to set up your own account.

You can fund an Inmate Debit account without having your own calling account.
Inmates can call anyone on their approved calling list without requiring friends and family to create separate prepaid accounts.

Benton Unit Inmate Mail Guidelines

Postcards
The Benton Unit 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. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.

Envelopes
The Benton Unit also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.

Envelopes must be white, be less than 9" x 12", commercially produced, made of tearable paper only, must not have stickers or labels or drawings on them. No glitter, paper clips or staples.

The paper must be white copy paper or white lined paper only.

In an effort to reduce the introduction of contraband into ADC facilities, inmates will only receive two sheets of 8½ x 11 inches of copy paper, which will include a copy of the envelope and three pieces of the correspondence on the four-sides of the two sheets of copy paper.

Only black and white copies will be made, and no cards, larger size paper, or anything else will be manipulated to fit on the copy paper.

Additionally, any general correspondence that exceeds these limits will be treated as contraband. The inmate will have thirty (30) days to pay for return postage or it will be destroyed.

Please write all letters in dark ink only (black or blue ink).

Do not use pencils or yellow markers because it will reduce image quality. Note the examples below that illustrate copy quality when using ink versus pencil.

Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope. 

Postcards and envelopes MUST be addressed as follows:

Mail to:
Inmate’s Name and ADC Number
Name of Unit
P.O. Box Number or Street Address
City, State and Zip Code

Legal Mail

All Legal Mail must be addressed as follows:

Mail to:
Inmate’s Name and ADC Number
Name of Unit
P.O. Box Number or Street Address
City, State and Zip Code

Newspapers
Newspapers may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the 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
The Benton Unit allows only NEW 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 noted.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Benton Unit 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.

All newspapers, magazines and books must be addressed as follows:

Mail to:
Inmate’s Name and ADC Number
Name of Unit
P.O. Box Number or Street Address
City, State and Zip Code

Inmate Package Program

The Inmate Package Program is offered twice a year as a way to purchase a food/hygiene package for incarcerated family members or friends.

The ADC sets a dollar limit for packages ordered during designated program periods (usually ranging from $100-$150).

Benton Unit uses Securus eMessaging for Inmate Email.

Register here. (You are already registered if you signed up with Securus for 'Phone' or 'Remote Visitation').

Steps: 
1.  Sign up for eMessaging
2. Find your inmate.
3. Purchase a book of Securus ‘stamps’.
4. Type & Send message.

Things you CAN do:
1.  You CAN ONLY send messages from the Securus website, or with the Securus app. (links below).
2. You CAN transfer ‘stamps’ to your inmate.
3. You CAN deposit money to your inmate, and they can purchase ‘stamps’ on their end.
4. Each time you send a message, you CAN pay for them to reply.
5. You CAN send photos. (Jail staff will review for appropriateness) 

Things you CANNOT do:
1.  You CANNOT use your own personal email to send messages.
2. You CANNOT send any message or photo that would normally be rejected by regular mail.

Other Things:
1.  Photos must be .jpg, .jpeg or .png.
2. eMessages and photos must meet the jail’s standards for regular mail.
3. If your eMessage or Photo is rejected you will be notified of the reason, but you will NOT get a refund.

What is the cost of sending inmate messages?

• Send a text Message - 1 stamp
• Purchase a reply for your inmate - 1 stamp
• Attach up to 5 photos - 1 stamp each photo
• Share up to 5 eCards - 1 stamp each eCard
• Send just a photo with no text - 1 stamp
• Send a 30 second VideoGram - 3 stamps

What can your inmate do with digital 'stamps'?

• Reply to your eMessage if you attach a return stamp
• Receive transferred stamps you share with them (no cost to transfer)
• When available, they can purchase their own stamps from their Inmate Debit Account

Contact Information and Help:
eMessaging FAQ  
eMessaging Signup & Helpful Information  
Online Customer Service Support 
Phone Support: 972-734-1111 or 800-844-6591
iphone app
Android app

Mailing Check payments
Securus Correctional Billing Services
PO Box 650757
Dallas, Texas 75265-075

Benton Unit now offers Securus 'SecureView' Tablet Rentals to their inmates.

  
Securus is the same company that handles the inmate phone system, video visitations, email and texting and digital letters.

The tablets can be rented on a monthly basis and while not directly connected to the internet, the inmates can use them for the following activities:

• Phone Calls - Inmates may make calls directly from their tablet allowing for more privacy. The rates are the same as the phones in the unit, and the calls are still recorded and monitored.
• eMessaging - Communicate via a text based message or picture. Fee based system.
• Job Search - Using JobView, a secure job search application, inmates have the ability to see what jobs are available when they are released.
• Education - Free educational platform and course catalog that provides thousands of educational resources.
• Self Help -Inmates have daily access to mental health and addiction recovery programming.
• Music - Top-40, Hip-Hop, Country, Rock, Gospel, and more.
• Law Library -  Legal research with up-to-date case information.
• eBooks - Thousands of available titles.
• Religion - Religious resources for spiritual guidance.
• Games - Inmates can play their favorite games. Available through monthly subscriptions
• Facility Services - Digital access to submitted forms, requests, facility documents, and notifications from staff.

Here's how it works:

• Register here.  It is recommended you use Chrome or Firefox.
• Pay for the subscription using Paypal.
• You get charged the 1st of each month. 
• You get charged a full month even if it's only used for a partial month.
• No activation or early termination fees.
• Your inmate will receive their tablet in 3-5 business days, after you pay.

Questions:

• By phone - 800-844-6591 or 972-734-1111.
• By email - tablets@securustech.net

Once an inmate is convicted and sentenced for a violation of that state’s felony laws (and their sentence is more than one year in length), they are moved from the City or County Jail and sent to a State Prison in Arkansas. If the violation they are convicted of is a federal crime, they will be sent to a Federal Prison, but will not necessarily be doing their time in Arkansas.

Arkansas State Prisons are operated and maintained by the state government and are used to confine and rehabilitate criminals. State prisons are funded by state tax money. The fund is used to provide food and clothes to inmates and to hire employees to keep the prison running. Inmates in state prison enjoy certain privileges such as TV use and recreation, both indoor and outdoor. The number of privileges allowed depends on the security level of the prison, the inmate and the overall needs of the prison on a specific day.

Arkansas has minimum, medium and maximum security prisons. The Corrections Department in Arkansas also maintains low (or no) security residential settings and camps where inmates assist in state property maintenance and duties such as fighting fires. Almost all prisons provide ‘jobs’ where an inmate can earn a small hourly wage and even learn a trade. Some prisons even contract with call centers and handle phone calls on issues related to their state government. Criminals who have committed a violent crime or killed someone are likely housed in a maximum security prison. If the inmate in these prisons behave, they are also eligible to recreate and/or work as well.

In Arkansas Prisons rehabilitation is the stated goal but the reality is that they exist to punish inmates for their crimes and keep them from hurting or harming innocent people on the outside who follow the laws and live and act responsibly. The fact is that most prison systems are underfunded, overcrowded and are not able to spend time and money rehabilitating offenders. This is not the fault of the people hired to work in prisons, they are just victims of the lack of resources due to budgeting constraints.

State Inmate

Most states have Department of Corrections websites that allow you to type in a felon's first and last name and pull up inmates in that state.

If you need to find a sentenced inmate serving time in a state other than Arkansas, go here. To find an inmate in Arkansas, just scroll to the top of the page and click on the Inmate Search button.

Once you locate them click next to the inmate's name or on the link provided and it will show you which prison the inmate is housed in. If the inmate is no longer incarcerated, but is on parole/probation or discharged, it will tell you that as well. In addition, many state prison inmate pages show recent mug shots.

Federal Inmate

The federal prison system has its own inmate locator called the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.

Type in the inmate's name and it will tell you where he or she is incarcerated and their projected release date. It also lists released federal prison inmates and the date they were released.

Federal inmates who are moved from one prison to another will show as "No longer in federal custody" on the system until they reach their next federal prison destination. This movement can take a few days to several months to complete, so keep checking back to find out where the inmate was taken.

ICE Inmates

The ICE Detainee Lookup allows friends, family members and interested parties to locate illegal and/or undocumented immigrants that are in the United States without permission.

Has the Inmate been recently arrested?... Try a County Jail

In many cases, the person you are looking for has either not been convicted or sentenced or has been sentenced and is awaiting transport to a State or Federal Prison and is still incarcerated in a City or County Jail.

To locate that person, go here to first find the State, and then the County where they were originally arrested or have been transported to. From there you can begin your search in our databases that contain the names and information of millions of inmates.

Jailexchange.com has all information on every jail and prison in the United States.