East Arkansas Regional Unit
The East Arkansas Regional Unit is an Arkansas Department of Correction prison located in Marianna, Arkansas.
East Arkansas Regional Unit is one of the state's parent units for processed male inmates and it also serves as an intake facility. This prison opened in 1992 and has a capacity of 1,432 inmates. It also employs 379 employees.
In 2007, the ADC fired correctional officers at East Arkansas Regional Unit after it was determined that they used excessive force against prisoners.
Prison Insights
East Arkansas Regional Unit
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Visiting Hours and Rules
Visits at East Arkansas Regional Unit are on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4:00 p.m.
An inmate is allowed up to four visitors during one visit, including children. However, the spouse of an inmate and all children, regardless of the number, may visit at one time.
How To Get On The Approved Visit List
To visit an inmate at East Arkansas Regional Unit, you must complete a visitation application and then mail it to the East Arkansas Regional Unit Visitation Clerk at the address provided on the form. Your incarcerated friend or loved one must provide you with an application.
After you mail in your application, it is processed, reviewed, and either approved or denied by the Warden. The screening process takes at least a week, and they run a criminal history check on all prospective visitors.
It is the inmate’s responsibility to let you know if you have been approved or denied.
General Visit Rules
Visitation privileges for inmates are essential to maintaining good morale, sustaining family life and ensuring relationships in the community upon release. Because of limited space, staff availability, scheduling considerations and security requirements, certain limits must be set for visits.
Children under the age of 18 are not allowed to visit unless they are accompanied by an approved adult visitor. All visitors 12 and older must have a current state-issued photo ID for entry into East Arkansas Regional Unit.
Visitors are allowed to bring in the following items:
- A clear plastic bag containing a small amount of cash for purchasing refreshments
- prescription medication in the visitor’s name and in original pharmacy container
- government issued identification
- baby bottles, baby diapers, and diaper wipes
- car keys
- jewelry (being worn)
You are required to dress appropriately for a visit, so keep things modest or you will be denied. Provocative clothing is not allowed.
No halter-tops, tank tops, hats, shorts, mini-skirts/dresses, see-through clothing, leggings, jeggings, or camouflage attire may be worn. No sleeveless tops are allowed because shoulders must be covered at all times.
Children ten and under are allowed to wear shorts of an appropriate length.
Get ready to be searched before you enter the visiting room. If you do not submit to a search or refuse to go through the metal detector, you will not be allowed to visit.
Be aware that East Arkansas Regional Unit randomly drug tests visitors with an Ion Scanner, and a positive scan can lead to a search of you and your vehicle.
The following items are prohibited:
- Cameras
- Pagers
- cell phones
- pocket knives
- Food (there are vending machines available)
Any visitor unable to successfully clear all entrance procedures will be denied entry and may have their visitation privileges suspended.
Physical Address
East Arkansas Regional Unit
Approximately 17 miles southeast of Forrest City in Lee County
From Pine Bluff, drive approximately 78 miles east on Highway 79 East to Marianna. Turn left at the first red light when entering the city of Marianna, then continue on Highway 79 for 12 miles. Turn right on Highway 131 and travel 1/2 mile before turning left on the gravel road.
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/NrcHaXd8uBdYK8597
General Phone Number
870-295-4700
Inmate Mailing Address(es)
Inmate’s Name and ADC Number
East Arkansas Regional Unit
P.O. Box 970
Marianna, AR 72360
RETURN ADDRESS FORMAT:
Full Name of Individual or Business
Street Address or P.O. Box Number
City, State and Zip Code
Envelopes that do not meet these requirements are considered contraband and will be destroyed.
If you want to send books, magazines, newspapers, or catalogs, they must be mailed directly from the publisher or vendor website like Amazon.
In order to reduce the flow of contraband into East Arkansas Regional, all inmate mail is photocopied by staff. These means that the inmate will not receive your actual letter. Instead, they will receive two sheets of copy paper, which will include a copy of the envelope and three pieces of correspondence.
They only make black and white copies, so be sure to write all letters in dark ink only (black or blue ink). If you use pencils or yellow markers it will reduce image quality.
You can’t mail food or care packages to an inmate. However, there is the Inmate Package Program where you can buy up to $100 of goods through participating vendors during specific periods throughout the year.
Click on one of these links for a package vendor.
You can also send your loved one emails and photos through www.accesscorrections.com.
All correspondence in snail mail and email is subject to review by the facility staff prior to delivery, so make sure your content is appropriate.
How to Call an Inmate
Inmates at the East Arkansas Regional Unit can’t receive incoming calls and cell phones are not allowed. However, inmates can make collect or prepaid calls to pre-approved numbers.
There are two ways that you can prepay for calls: online and mail.
You can set up an account on the Arkansas Department of Corrections website or you can use this form to prepay for calls by mail. When you use the online option, you will need a credit or debit card. Prepaid cards are not accepted.
The minimum deposit amount for a prepaid phone account is $25.
If there is an emergency and you need to send an urgent message to someone incarcerated at East Arkansas Regional Unit, you can notify the chaplain or mental health office and they will deliver the message to the inmate.
East Arkansas Regional Unit is part of the Securus SecureView Tablet Program, which is a monthly subscription service that allows you to lease a tablet device for your incarcerated loved one.
Inmates can use the tablet to listen to music, read books, play games, and even search for a job. They can also utilize the tablet to place phone calls.
To get a tablet for an inmate or for more information, visit the Securus SecureView website HERE. For complete details on how to call an inmate in Arkansas, please click here.
How to Send Money
One of the quickest ways to send money to an inmate is through the ONLINE INMATE DEPOSIT SERVICE through the Arkansas Department of Corrections. You must have a credit or debit card and this method does have a processing fee. Prepaid cards are not accepted.
If you prefer to send money the old-fashioned way, don’t send cash or a check, and don’t mail it directly to the prisoner. Instead, you must send a money order to Inmate Banking at this address:
Arkansas Department 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 be sure to include their ADC number. You must include a “MONEY ORDER DEPOSIT SLIP” with each money order.
You can also send money to an inmate by calling 1-866-250-7697. You will need a credit or debit card for this method, and there is a small processing fee.
Programs For Inmates
- GED Program
GED classes are offered at East Arkansas Regional Unit and the Board of Correction mandates attendance for all inmates without a GED or high school diploma unless they are unable to participate due to health reasons.
- Think Legacy Program
The Think Legacy Program is a voluntary program that inmates can sign up for when they are 6 to 18 months from their release date.
The program focuses on Employment Readiness, Community Resources, Social Skill Readiness, Mentoring, Cognitive Behavior Awareness through “Thinking for a Change,” Victim Impact, Budgeting, Life Skills, Healthy Relationships, and Family Reunification.
- Industry
Production of industrial products and follow-up services are provided for tax supported and non-profit agencies.
- Agriculture
Allows inmates to be trained in work habits and allows them to develop marketable skills in the areas of: Row Crops, Garden, Field, and Edible Crops
- Chaplaincy Services
Chaplaincy Services offers a variety of denominational/sectarian studies for various faith groups, correspondence studies, free world services held by volunteers, as well as Scripture/Language studies on various topics.
This service features special groups such as Kairos, Men's Fraternity, READ, Celebrate Recovery, Anger Resolution, Angel Tree (provides gifts to the children of inmates at Christmas), Christian Motorcycle Association, Character First, Sign Language, and other programs.
Chaplaincy Services is also involved in offering higher education opportunities for inmates at East Arkansas Regional Unit through a partnership with Central Arkansas Baptist Bible Institute.
- Vo-Tech
Job skills training programs developed and managed by Riverside Vo-Tech and funded through the Department of Workforce Education.
- Substance Abuse Education (SAE)
Pictures of East Arkansas Regional Unit
Careers at East Arkansas Regional Unit
If you are interested in pursuing a career with the Arkansas Department of Corrections, you can find available positions at the East Arkansas Regional Unit by visiting their website.
