ByHow to Contact an Arkansas Inmate Easily
In Arkansas, the Division of Corrections or ADC dictates how inmates are processed and how they can be contacted by loved ones. If you want to contact an , you will need to know the state-wide policies. These policies are universal with only minor variations across all Arkansas prisons and correctional centers.
Once you know the state-wide policies, you will have a much easier time getting in touch with your Arkansas-imprisoned loved one. For example, all Arkansas facilities use the same pre-paid phone system and online ways to send money. Most share the same mail and package policies, though there may be specific policies for the facility where your loved one is located.
DoNotPay can help you locate your loved one and use the right methods to stay in touch through the Arkansas prison system.
How to Call an Arkansas Prisoner on the Phone
cannot receive phone calls but they can make calls during approved times using a prepaid phone account with Global Tel Link, the prison's contracted phone partner. This is standard for state prison systems and each state chooses its prepaid phone provider for inmates. Phone Calls are limited to 30 minutes per call, and of course, all calls are monitored and recorded.
Get On the Approved Phone List
- Get the Visitation or Telephone Contact Request and Authorization Form from the inmate.
- Submit or mail the form to the correction center.
The first step to receive calls is to get on the approved contact list for your inmate friend. You will need to get a visitation or telephone contact request form from your inmate friend, usually by mail. Then you will need to fill it out and submit it to the correction center. You will likely go through a background check before receiving approval to receive calls or make visits to your friend.
Online Prepaid Phone Funds
- Go to the Inmate Banking page.
- Enter the inmate ID or ADC number.
- Deposit funds.
To receive calls from your incarcerated friend, you will need to create and fund their phone account. You can do this through the Arkansas inmate banking platform, which is much more accessible than most states. Head to the Inmate Banking page and enter your friend's inmate ID to get started. Then you can provide funds your friend can use to make phone calls during approved times.
- Funds submitted will be available 3 business days after the deposit.
- The platform accepts only credit and debit cards.
- The minimum deposit is $25.
- No more than two payments per card per day.
- No more than $400 deposited from a single card per day
- No more than 4 payments per day
- No more than $400 deposited per inmate per day
If you don't know your friend's Inmate ID, you can easily look them up through DoNotPay.
Snail Mail Prepaid Phone Funds
- Print and fill out the Prepaid Telephone Deposit form
- Include a money order payable to inmate name and inmate ID number
- Mail to
Arkansas Department of Correction Trust Fund Centralized Banking P O Box 8908 Pine Bluff, AR 71611
You can also send prepaid telephone funds through mail as well. Address the letter to the Arkansas DoC and address the money order to your friend's full name and their inmate ID number. Include the prepaid telephone deposit form and your friend should receive their phone call funds and be able to call you.
How to Send Money to Arkansas Inmates
- Go to the Inmate Banking page
- Enter the inmate ID or ADC number
- Deposit funds
The good news is that sending money to an Arkansas inmate doesn't require JPay or an external service. The same Inmate Banking page used to provide phone funds can also provide commissary and trust fund money to your incarcerated friend. Arkansas has made it easy to provide money to your loved one, provided you know their Inmate ID number and the online platform is working as intended.
How to Send Mail to an Arkansas Prisoner
Sending mail to an Arkansas inmate also requires specific rules. Only adhering closely to the rules will allow your letter to reach your incarcerated friend. Envelopes must be addressed according to format. Content needs to be easily photocopied, as inmates will not receive the original documents. You also must have your friend's ADC or Inmate ID number (the same number) for your letter to reach them.
How to Address the Letter
| Address Format | Inmate's Name and ADC Number Name of Unit P.O. Box Number or Street Address City, State, and Zip Code |
| Return Address Format | Full Name of Individual or Business Street Address or P.O. Box Number City, State, and Zip Code |
Contents of the Letter
Inmates will only receive photocopies of your letter. Each 'mail delivery' will consist of two 8.5x11 inch pieces of copy paper, using all four sides. One side will be a photocopy of the envelope. The other three can contain the contents of your letter. This limits the content you can write or draw to 3 pages of 8.5x11. If you include images, they must fit in this copy format. Only black and white copies will be delivered.
- Write in dark pen or with ink-printed pages.
- No explicit content or images.
- No oversized content or cards.
Sending Emails
The Arkansas DOC dos offer a paid email service. Emails are monitored for explicit content, and the rules for email receiving are not made clear on the DOC website.
How to Send Packages to Arkansas Inmates
Sending anything other than paper letters and photos requires a different approach. To send a package, you will need to have the items shipped directly to the inmate at the correctional center using the above address form. This is primarily used to send books and magazines, but can also be used to send approved care packages. Check with the individual facility to learn what, other than books and magazines, is permitted to be shipped to your friend.
The Inmate Package Program is a twice-yearly way to purchase food and hygiene products for your incarcerated friend or family member. The dollar limit is usually between $100 to $150 in package value.
Get in Touch With Your Loved Ones via DoNotPay
Contacting and can be challenging. Strict regulations make it difficult to reach an incarcerated person or conform your letters to the approved format. Any mistakes can result in lost messages and time spent out of touch. Whether you're having trouble getting through or don't yet know your friend's Inmate ID or ADC number, DoNotPay can help.
DoNotPay is the easiest and most cost-effective way to contact an Arkansas inmate because we have a full suite of services to make this process simple.
First, we have a comprehensive prisoner search. We will find your friend's ID number and location using their first and last name. We can then help you send letters that are always properly addressed and in an approved format to be received - you upload your message and we'll go through the trouble of printing, addressing, and sending it so your friend is sure to receive it. We can also set up an online inbox to receive letters and upload them for an easy pen pal experience of exchanging letters.
As an online service, we know how to deal with correctional facilities to make sure your friend receives your letter every time.
How DoNotPay Can Help You Locate Your Imprisoned Friend
- Locate the Connect With an Inmate service on DoNotPay.
- Choose whether you want to locate a loved one, create a virtual mailbox, or send a personalized letter.
- If you want us to find your loved one, provide his or her personal details and the state they are located in. We'll then conduct a search on the appropriate state database.
- If you want to create a virtual mailbox, just provide your full name! We'll set one up for you so you can easily receive incoming mail from your loved one.
- If sending a personalized letter, tell us which facility your loved one is located in and what you would like to say to them. You can even include a photo! Your letter will be delivered automatically - just wait 10 days for it to arrive to your loved one!
What Else Can DoNotPay Do?
. But we can do more than just help you contact your incarcerated friend. DoNotPay is an online service with a vast selection of products to make your life easier and cross those challenging items off your to-do list. Let us help you save money, save time, and reduce headaches.
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Contacting an Arkansas inmate shouldn't be difficult. DoNotPay makes it easy with a few simple steps!