Arkansas Inmate Population
The Arkansas inmate population is tracked across state prisons, county jails, and federal facilities. You can search the Arkansas Department of Correction database for state prisoners. County sheriff rosters show who is in local jails. Each tool is free to use. The Arkansas inmate population covers more than 16,000 state inmates plus thousands more in county custody. Use this page to find the right search portal, look up a name, or check a booking record. We cover all 75 counties and every major city in Arkansas.
Arkansas Inmate Population Overview
Arkansas Inmate Population Search
The Arkansas Department of Correction runs the main statewide inmate population tool. The search is free. Anyone can use it. The system covers every person held in state prison. You can look up an inmate by name, ADC number, age, race, sex, facility, county of conviction, or offense type. Results list the name, ADC number, current unit, charges, sentence length, start date, and projected release date. Most records include a booking photo. Mugshots are optional on search results but easy to toggle on.
The database draws on records kept under Ark. Code Ann. § 12-27-113(e)(1), which tells the ADC to keep photos, trial data, and past criminal history for each state inmate. Results do not cover out-of-state inmates held here under the Interstate Compact. Inmates who are on the ADC waiting list but still sitting in a county jail also will not show up until they move. The main ADC office is in Pine Bluff. The office phone is (870) 267-6999. The main Arkansas Department of Correction website links to facility pages, parole info, and contact forms.
To start a search, you need:
- Full first and last name of the inmate
- ADC number (if you have one)
- Approximate age or date of birth
- County where the case was heard (helps narrow big name lists)
State prison records do not cover county jail inmates. If the person is in pre-trial custody, go to the county sheriff roster for the place they were arrested. Most Arkansas inmate population counts at the local level come from county jail rosters, which post current bookings, charges, and bond amounts.
The ADC Inmate Info Search System is the fastest way to pull state prison records. Try typing just a last name to widen the hit list. The result page shows photo, unit, offense, and sentence length for each inmate.
Search fields include name, number, race, age, county of conviction, and offense. You can also pick a specific facility from a drop-down. The tool is simple and loads fast on mobile.
Note: Arkansas inmate population data is free through ADC. No account is needed and there is no limit on the number of searches you can run.
County Jail Inmate Population in Arkansas
Each of the 75 counties in Arkansas runs its own jail under the Sheriff's Office. The inmate population at the local level changes fast. Some counties update their roster every few hours. Others post updates once a day. A few small counties do not maintain an online roster at all and ask that you call to check on a person in custody.
Arkansas counties use several different portal systems to post inmate population data. Larger counties like Benton, Pulaski, and Washington run their own custom inmate roster pages. Several mid-sized counties use the ISOMS portal made by Integrated Software Solutions. ISOMS users include Cleburne, Columbia, Ouachita, and Perry Counties. A few counties such as Pulaski also use the Zuercher Portal. The setup varies but the data shown is similar across systems.
Typical county jail roster records include:
- Full name and mugshot
- Booking date and time
- Age, race, and sex
- Charges and statute citations
- Bond amount for each charge
- Arresting agency or officer
- Release date if the person has been let go
The Arkansas CourtConnect portal covers court cases tied to many of the same inmates. It shows docket entries and case status. You can link a jail roster booking number back to an active case file in CourtConnect for participating counties.
CourtConnect links circuit court cases, district court cases, and dockets. Use it to follow a case from arrest to sentencing across participating counties in Arkansas.
How to Search Inmate Population Data
Arkansas gives you a few paths to check on an inmate. Pick the one that fits where the person is held.
Start with the Arkansas Department of Correction if the person was sent to state prison. The ADC portal is the main hub for state inmate population data. Enter the full name or ADC number and the system will pull records in seconds. If the person is in pre-trial custody or on a misdemeanor sentence, they are likely in a county jail. For that, go to the county sheriff's roster where they were arrested. For federal charges, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator instead of the state tool. Each system is free.
If the person is missing from all three tools, a few things might be going on. They may have been released. Their booking may not have posted yet. The jail may take up to 48 hours to add a new inmate to the public roster. Some jails take longer. It is also possible the person was transferred to another facility.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator covers all federal inmates, including those held in Arkansas at FCI Forrest City.
Search by name or BOP register number. Results show current location, projected release date, and age. Federal inmates never show up in the Arkansas state inmate population database.
VINE Inmate Population Alerts in Arkansas
Victims, family members, and the public can sign up for free custody alerts through VINE. The Arkansas VINE system sends a call, text, or email when an inmate's status changes. Status changes include transfers, releases, and escapes. Sign-up is anonymous. The service is run by VINELink, the nation's top automated victim notification network.
To register, search by name or ID and follow the prompts. The Arkansas VINE hotline at 1-800-510-0415 is open 24/7. You can also search the national VINELink site for inmate data in any state.
Not every county takes part in VINE. Many do. Larger counties like Washington, Benton, and Pulaski send data to VINE so victims get real-time alerts on local inmate population changes. Smaller rural counties may not feed VINE at all. If your county is not on VINE, call the jail direct for status updates. Under Arkansas FOIA rules, the jail must respond to records requests within three business days.
Note: VINE is free and confidential. Registration does not alert the inmate and your contact info is not shared with jail staff.
Arkansas Crime Information Center and Inmate Data
The Arkansas Crime Information Center sits at the heart of the state's criminal justice data network. ACIC links more than 250 criminal justice agencies across Arkansas. It also feeds data up to the FBI National Crime Information Center. ACIC runs the state sex offender registry and backs up VINE.
The ACIC Sex Offender Registry lets you search by name or location. Results list the offender's name, address, offense, and registration level. The registry is separate from the general inmate population search but useful for public safety lookups.
Under Ark. Code § 12-12-207, ACIC is tasked with crime statistic collection. Ark. Code § 12-12-209 makes every Arkansas law enforcement agency report data to ACIC.
ACIC also runs criminal background checks. A name-based state check costs $22. A volunteer rate of $11 exists for certain roles. A fingerprint-based national check costs $15.75 through the FBI channel. Both require signed consent from the subject. The Arkansas State Police Background Check portal handles these requests online.
Mail requests go to the Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau at 1 State Police Plaza Dr., Little Rock, AR 72209. Call (501) 618-8500 for help.
FOIA Requests for Arkansas Inmate Population Records
Arkansas has one of the strongest open records laws in the country. The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act under Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq. says any Arkansas citizen can ask for public records from state and local agencies. The agency has three business days to respond. Inmate population records fall under the FOIA.
The Attorney General's office puts out a FOIA Handbook that walks you through the process. Get help from the Arkansas Attorney General site under the opinions and FOIA section.
Some records are exempt from the FOIA. These include active investigation files, juvenile records sealed under Ark. Code § 9-27-309, medical and mental health records, and some personnel files. Mugshots are generally public, though a few counties ask for supervisor approval before releasing them.
Contact the Arkansas Attorney General at (501) 682-2007 for FOIA guidance. The office does not process inmate record requests. Send those to the agency that holds the record.
Court Records Linked to Arkansas Inmate Population
Every person in the Arkansas inmate population came from a court case. Court files show the charges, the plea, the verdict, and the sentence. To trace an inmate's case, go to the Arkansas Judiciary website.
The Arkansas Judiciary website is the main portal for statewide court info. It links to CourtConnect, the rules of court, and the Supreme Court opinions database. Use the Judiciary site to find circuit court contact info for any county.
The site covers circuit courts, district courts, and the courts of appeal. It also has user guides for CourtConnect searches.
Participating courts in CourtConnect include circuit courts statewide plus district courts in counties like Crawford, Craighead, Crittenden, Faulkner, Garland, Hot Spring, Independence, Poinsett, Polk, Pulaski, Van Buren, and White. Coverage keeps growing. Basic case searches are free. Certified copies cost $5 to $10 per document plus a copy fee.
Federal Inmate Population in Arkansas
Federal inmates in Arkansas are held at FCI Forrest City and FCI Forrest City Low. The facilities sit in Forrest City in St. Francis County. They are run by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, not the ADC. Federal inmates never show up in the state inmate population database.
Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons main site to find visiting hours, mailing rules, and contact info for each facility.
The FCI Forrest City complex holds male inmates across two security levels. The low-security camp sits next to the medium-security institution. Many inmates serve drug or white-collar sentences there. For visiting rules, call the facility or check the BOP site.
Note: Federal inmates and Arkansas state inmates are tracked in separate systems, so you may need to check both the BOP locator and the ADC portal.
Arkansas Parole Board and Inmate Population
The Arkansas Parole Board decides when most state inmates get released on parole. The board posts info about inmates up for parole review at least six months before the hearing. The data includes the inmate's full name, ADC number, hearing date, past revocations, and a recent photo.
Under Ark. Code Ann. § 16-93-202, the board has to publish these details online. The board meets several times each month. Hearings are not open to the public for most cases, but victims can attend or submit statements. Contact the Arkansas Parole Board at (501) 682-3850. The office is at 105 West Capitol, Suite 500, Little Rock.
The Arkansas Sentencing Commission tracks the prison population forecast each year. Their ten-year projection report covers inmate admissions, releases, and facility capacity. The data helps lawmakers plan the budget and decide if new prison beds are needed. Arkansas has seen its inmate population grow since 2010, though the pace has slowed in recent years.
Historical Inmate Records in Arkansas
The Arkansas State Archives keeps old inmate files for research. Holdings include microfilmed prisoner records covering ADC numbers 55723 to 63199. Older paper records and institutional files are also on hand. The Research Room is at One Capitol Mall in Little Rock. Researchers should call (501) 682-6900 in advance.
Access to old inmate jackets may have restrictions based on privacy law or the age of the record. Some files are open to anyone. Other files require a research application. Email state.archives@arkansas.gov to ask about a specific record.
Browse Arkansas Inmate Population by County
Each Arkansas county runs its own jail. Pick a county below to find the sheriff, roster link, and inmate population details for that area.
Inmate Population in Major Arkansas Cities
City police departments process arrests but the county jail holds the inmate. Pick a city below to find the police department and the county that handles inmate population data for that area.