Find Released Inmates in Monroe County

Monroe County sits in the Arkansas Delta with its seat at Clarendon. The Monroe County Jail runs out of the same location, with 43 beds and a maximum security rating. The county does not post a public roster online, so Monroe County released inmates records usually come through a phone call or a written FOIA request. This page maps out the direct contacts and the state tools that fill the gap.

Where to Find Monroe County Released Inmates

The Monroe County Jail does not publish a public web roster, so the first step is a phone call to 870-747-3811. Staff can confirm whether a named person is in custody and can share booking and release data. For written requests, the jail takes FOIA letters by mail or email. The jail email is courtneybaker@monroecounty.gov. Give the full legal name and a rough date window when you ask about a person.

When the local path runs out, the state tools take over. The Arkansas Department of Corrections search covers anyone sentenced to state prison from Monroe County. For custody alerts, sign up at VINELink. Alerts arrive by phone, text, email, or TTY. The service is free.

Court records run through the Monroe County Circuit Court in Clarendon. Online case history sits on Arkansas Judiciary CourtConnect. Search by name or case ID. Small-county coverage on CourtConnect can be uneven, so older paper files may only live at the clerk's office in Clarendon.

Monroe County Jail in Clarendon

The Monroe County Jail sits in Clarendon, the county seat. The phone is 870-747-3811. The facility opened in 1981 with a 43-bed capacity. The jail is rated maximum security and holds both male and female offenders. Arrests come from the sheriff's deputies, Clarendon Police, Brinkley Police, Holly Grove Police, and Arkansas State Police troopers working the county.

Without a public online roster, staff handle most look-up calls directly. Call during business hours for the fastest answer. After-hours calls route through dispatch, which can check whether a name is booked but may not have full release data. Plan for a follow-up call during the day if you need more than a yes-or-no on custody.

Monroe County Sheriff's Office

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office runs the jail and handles county-wide law enforcement. The office also keeps the sex offender registry for the county and takes FOIA requests for arrest and booking records. Monroe County has a small population and a small staff, so all the roles often flow through a single records point of contact. Written requests tend to get clearer answers than phone calls.

For released inmates who have moved from the Monroe jail to state prison, the record shifts to ADC. That move can take several weeks after sentencing. During the gap, the jail may still list the person, or neither system may have the record active. VINELink bridges that gap with alerts that fire as soon as the new ADC record posts.

Monroe County Court Records

Monroe County Circuit Court sits in Clarendon. Felony cases, civil cases over $25,000, and probate go through circuit court. District court handles misdemeanors and small civil matters. The Circuit Clerk keeps the case file of record. CourtConnect carries most circuit and district filings. For older files, an in-person request at the clerk's office is the better path.

Plain copies run about $0.25 per page. Certified copies run about $5.00 each. Files dated before January 1, 2009 may have fields redacted online under Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order 19. Juvenile records do not show up on CourtConnect. For sealed or expunged files, the clerk can only confirm that no public record is on file.

Visitation at the Monroe County Jail

Visitation runs on weekends only. Saturday hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday hours are 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. No weekday visits are scheduled. Visitors must be on the inmate's approved visiting list before they show up. Bring a photo ID. Visitors can expect a check at the door. Dress code applies. No revealing clothing and no uniforms unless on duty law enforcement.

Mail to an inmate needs prior written approval in some cases. Contact the jail administration for the approved items list. Standard correspondence can be sent to the jail's mailing address with the inmate's full legal name on the outside. Do not send cash, stamps, or packaged items. Commissary deposits go through the jail in person or by phone. Call ahead for the current process.

Background Checks for Monroe County

Two state systems pull Monroe County arrest history. The ARCH system is the public-access path. Each search is $24.00 through the Information Network of Arkansas. The Arkansas State Police CBC system handles consent-based checks. State name checks cost $22.00, or $11.00 for volunteers. Fingerprint-based FBI checks run $13.00, or $11.00 for volunteers.

See the ASP background check FAQ for what shows up on a report. Paper requests cost $25 with form ASP-122. Mail to the Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau at 1 State Police Plaza Drive, Little Rock, AR 72209. Online checks turn around in hours. Paper requests run two to four weeks.

FOIA Requests to Monroe County

The Arkansas FOIA at Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq. is the law that opens these records. Agencies have three business days to respond. The Arkansas Attorney General office publishes a FOIA handbook that walks through the steps. Written requests work best for record-keeping.

For Monroe County, call 870-747-3811 or email courtneybaker@monroecounty.gov. Describe the record you want in plain language. Name a date range if you have one. Copy fees run $0.25 per page. Certified copies run about $5.00. Exempt items include active investigations, juvenile records, personnel files, and medical data. Appeals run through the Monroe County Circuit Court.

Parole and Released Inmates Data

People on parole from state prison back to Monroe County report to a local parole officer under the Arkansas Department of Community Correction. The main DCC line is (501) 682-9510. Monroe sits in the DCC region that covers the Delta. Officers set appointment days, drug test rules, and other conditions of release. Missing an appointment can trigger a warrant back to the Monroe County Circuit Court.

VINELink is the real-time alert tool for Monroe County released inmates. Register the name and pick a contact method. Alerts fire as soon as a release, transfer, or escape hits the jail or ADC feed. The service is free. Both crime victims and the general public can register. No proof of relation to the case is required.

Nearby Counties and Next Steps

Monroe County borders Prairie, Woodruff, St. Francis, Lee, Phillips, and Arkansas counties. If a case crosses county lines during booking or transfer, the neighbor jail may have the record. Cross-check with Prairie County, Woodruff County, Arkansas County, and Lee County when Monroe does not turn up what you need.

Start with a phone call to the Monroe jail at 870-747-3811. If the person is not there, move to ADC for state custody history. Use VINELink for alerts. Use CourtConnect for docket history. For a paper file, visit the Circuit Clerk at the Clarendon courthouse. The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts at (501) 410-1900 can help sort out which court holds a given case.