Find Arkansas Inmate Records

When courts impose prison sentences upon guilty verdicts in Arkansas, defendants are processed and housed in state prisons or jail facilities, and records are created. These records are referred to as "inmate records" or "institutional files and inmate jackets". They contain the criminal histories, personal data, mental health/medical records, intake/release information, disciplinary records, and other information concerning an individual's confinement and correctional supervision, stored in written or electronic forms. According to Ark. Code Ann. § 12–27–113(e), the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) is authorized to maintain inmate records for offenders under its jurisdiction. Arkansas sheriffs and police chiefs are responsible for keeping records of inmates in county or city jails.

Are Incarceration Records Public Information in Arkansas?

Per Ark. Code Ann. § 12–27–113(2)(A), incarceration or inmate records are disclosed to the public as directed by administrative regulation or court order. Under this law, members of the public may access these records using official remote search tools or by requesting them in person from the ADC. However, accessible records are limited to specific information such as inmates' personal and incarceration details or what is permitted by court order, administrative rule, or available on the ADC's Inmate Search site. Per the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, inmate records such as medical records, mental health information/records, adoption records, pre-sentence/pre-parole reports, autopsy reports, among others, and information that may endanger a person or reveal a confidential informant, are exempt from disclosure to the public.

Records designated as public may also be found through third-party websites. These platforms often provide broader and more flexible search functions than government databases, since they are not restricted to a single jurisdiction. For individuals beginning a search, such tools can quickly locate one or multiple records. Generally, these websites or official government search engines require basic identifying information, such as the name of the person associated with the record—except in cases involving juveniles—or the location tied to the record, including the city, county, or state where the individual resides or where the matter occurred. It should be noted that third-party websites operate independently of official agencies and are not endorsed by government entities. As a result, the scope, accuracy, and availability of records on such platforms may differ from those maintained by official sources.

What Information is Contained in an Arkansas Inmate Record?

Inmate records that the public can access include the following information, as provided in Ark. Code Ann. § 12–27–145(a) and AR 804:

• Personal information: The inmate's name and any known aliases, date of birth, age, race, and gender. ADC number, photograph, and physical description/features
• Current incarceration information: Date of incarceration, offense, county of conviction, case number, sentence, sentence date, length of sentence, transfer/parole eligibility date, inmate's behavior and movements
• Previous incarceration information: Case number, offense, sentence, sentence date, length of sentence, movements, behavior, and parole/clemency record, release date, ADC return date
• Commitment facility
• Work assignments
• Detainers
• Programs completed while in custody (excluding drug/alcohol programs)

Where do I Look Up an Inmate in Arkansas?

Anyone can look up any inmate in Arkansas using the ADC Inmate Search or inmate rosters maintained by sheriffs. Also, the state prisons and jail administrators provide inmate information to the public on request. Because the information provided on these online search sources is comprehensive, there is little need to directly contact the penal institutions to look up an inmate unless requesting paper copies or looking for more specific inmate information.

How Do I Conduct an Inmate Search in Arkansas?

The Arkansas Department of Corrections manages a statewide public database to search and view inmate information called the Inmate Search. Certain search fields must be filled to retrieve results, including:

• ADC Number
• Inmate's first and last name
• Gender
• Age
• Race
• County
• Facility of incarceration
• Offense category

Also, searchers may choose to obtain results with mugshots/photographs to narrow the search results.

Additionally, local sheriff offices post inmate rosters on official websites. These rosters are non-confidential and open to any member of the public who wants to search for inmate information. The following inmate information can be viewed:

• Inmate's name
• Age
• Gender
• Race
• Address
• Charges
• Booking number, date, and time
• Mugshot/photograph

Physical copies of these records may be accessed by contacting the Department of Corrections if the inmate is under the Department's jurisdiction or a local sheriff's office if the inmate is being held in county jail.

All copy requests must contain enough information about the relevant record and the requester's contact information. As provided in Ark. Code Ann. § 12–27–113(2)(A), it should be noted that copy or inspection requests of any inmate record, or parts of it, are not permitted unless authorized by administrative rule or court order. Under AR 804, inmate records, other than those publicly available, may be disclosed for research purposes, or to an inmate or inmate's attorney upon showing a compelling need, and an employee of the Bureau of Legislative Research, according to the provisions of Ark. Code Ann. § § 12–27–113(e)(5).

How Can I Find an Inmate for Free in Arkansas?

The remote locator tools used to find inmates incarcerated in Arkansas penal institutions are available at no cost to members of the public. Accessible information from these ADC or sheriff-run sites includes inmates' identifying, commitment, criminal history, sentencing, and trial conviction data.

How to Find Old Inmate Records in Arkansas

The best way to find an old inmate record in Arkansas is to contact the correctional agency supervising the inmate's confinement to obtain the record's location and access policies. Usually, there are retention periods for inmate records, but Arkansas law does not indicate these time frames. Also, microfilms of prisoner records (ADC numbers 55723 to 63199) are available at the Arkansas State Archives' (ASA) Research Room:

One Capitol Mall,
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Phone: (501) 682-6900
Email: state.archives@arkansas.gov

Inmate Release Date Lookup In Arkansas

In Arkansas, information on inmate release dates is managed by the Arkansas Division of Correction (ADC). The ADC offers an Inmate Search portal, which gives the public access to details about individuals incarcerated in state prisons. By entering an inmate's name or Arkansas Department of Correction identification number, searchers can obtain information such as the current facility location, sentence details, parole eligibility, and, in some instances, anticipated release dates. This database is designed to support transparency while helping families, attorneys, and other interested parties remain informed about the custody status of offenders.

Those seeking release information for individuals in county jails must consult the appropriate county sheriff's office instead. Many sheriffs in Arkansas provide online jail rosters or daily booking logs, while others require direct contact for details. For inmates housed in federal facilities within Arkansas, information is available through the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmate locator, as the ADC system does not include federal offenders.

Official inquiries may also be directed to the ADC central office in Pine Bluff, where staff can provide guidance on release-related questions and assist with formal record requests. In cases involving parole, the Arkansas Parole Board is an important part of determining when an inmate becomes eligible for supervised release, and these decisions may alter projected release timelines.

How do I Find Inmate Death Records in Arkansas?

Requests for an inmate's death record in Arkansas may be directed to the administration of a prison/jail facility in the county where the death took place. Per AR 804 (G), when an inmate dies in Arkansas, the medical records and mental health information/records of that inmate, though formerly confidential, may be released to a person selected by the deceased inmate to have those records.

How do I Conduct a Federal Prison Inmate Search?

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) maintains an Inmate Locator that allows persons to search and view identifying/location information of offenders incarcerated in federal prisons. This search tool dispenses the following inmate details: an offender's name, BOP register number, age, gender, race, projected release date, and current location. All of this information may be obtained by entering an inmate's name (first/middle/last) or any of the following identification numbers:

• Bureau of Prisons (BOP) register number
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) number
• DC Department of Corrections (DCDC) number
• Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) number

Searchers can filter results by entering an inmate's age, sex, or race into search bars.

The BOP maintains inmate records only from 1982 to the present. Older inmate records may be found at the National Archives and Records Administration.

How Long Does it Take For An Inmate's Information to Be Published in Arkansas Inmate Locator?

The Arkansas Department of Corrections may be contacted during regular working hours for information on the availability of an inmate's information on the Arkansas Inmate Locator after being committed to a prison facility.

Why Is An Inmate Not Showing Up In Search?

An inmate may not appear in the Arkansas online inmate search system for one of several reasons. If the person is held in a county jail or municipal detention facility rather than in state custody, their information will not be included in the ADC database. In such cases, release information must be obtained through the sheriff's office responsible for that jail. Similarly, inmates confined in federal prisons within the state will not appear in the ADC portal and must be searched through the BOP locator.

New admissions or recent transfers may not yet be updated in the system, causing a temporary absence of results. Some inmate records are restricted or confidential, particularly when involving juveniles or sensitive cases where disclosure could compromise safety. Incorrect or incomplete information entered during the search—such as a misspelled name or missing identification number—can also prevent records from displaying. Additionally, system maintenance or temporary technical issues occasionally interfere with search results.

When an inmate cannot be located online, the most reliable course of action is to contact the Arkansas Division of Correction directly or contact the appropriate county sheriff's office for confirmation of the inmate's status and release details.