Arkansas Department of Corrections

What Arkansas Department of Corrections does

The Arkansas Department of Corrections is a state government agency headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas, founded in 1968 and operating a consolidated structure comprising the Division of Correction (state prisons), Division of Community Correction (community supervision), the Arkansas Correctional School District, the Post-Prison Transfer Board, the Sentencing Commission, the Sex Offender Assessment Committee, and the Board of Corrections. The agency oversees more than 80,000 offenders in custody or under supervision, employs over 4,000 staff, and operates correctional facilities statewide including medium, maximum, and supermax security units.

The department's technology stack centers on an award-winning Online Services Center (2021 Communicator Award of Excellence, selected from 5,000 global entries) providing inmate search, absconder search, hearing schedules, and VINE victim notifications, alongside a redesigned mobile-responsive website built by NIC Arkansas (Tyler Technologies). Operational technology includes inmate trust account deposits via CorrectPay and Access Corrections (funds available within 30 minutes), USDA-funded telemedicine carts at rural facilities, and Gov2Go mobile app integration reaching 612,000 Arkansas subscribers. The department also manages significant physical infrastructure: 20,000+ acres of farmland producing row crops, vegetables, poultry, dairy, and beef cattle, 9+ MW of solar installations, and a planned 3,000-bed new facility under design.

As a state government entity, AR DOC is funded through Arkansas state appropriations rather than commercial revenue. Service delivery is direct-to-multi-segment: physical facilities for visitation and administration, digital self-service portals for inmate search and banking, phone and video visitation, and community correction centers for supervised individuals. Customer segments include incarcerated individuals (primary), their families, crime victims, and the general Arkansas public. Cost avoidance drives the financial model — agricultural self-sufficiency saves $5-6 million annually, energy efficiency programs save $3.2 million annually, and rehabilitative programming (Paws in Prison, GED programs, Second Chance Pell) targets recidivism reduction across the 80,000+ offender population.

Name

Arkansas Department of Corrections

Legal name

Arkansas Department of Corrections

Website

https://doc.arkansas.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The Arkansas Department of Corrections is a state government agency operating adult correctional facilities, community supervision, and rehabilitative programs for more than 80,000 offenders in Arkansas, employing 4,000+ staff across multiple divisions and boards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Correctional Services

NAICS

Correctional Institutions (922140), Parole Offices and Probation Offices (922150), Correctional Institutions (92214), Parole Offices and Probation Offices (92215), Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922)

akta.pro primary industry

Adult Corrections (Prisons & Jails) (BPAIAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Corrections (Probation, Parole & Reentry) (BPAIAFAE), State/Provincial Corrections, Probation & Parole Administration (BPAIABAF), Correctional Facility Operations (Prisons & Jails) (BPAKANAA)

Keywords

• State correctional services
• Inmate rehabilitation programs
• Community supervision
• Victim notification services
• Correctional education

Headquarters

HQ city

Pine Bluff

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. State Government Appropriation: Funded through Arkansas state government budget allocations as a public safety and correctional services department. No direct revenue generation from services provided.
2. Agricultural Operations: Division of Correction manages over 20,000 acres of farmland producing row crops, vegetables, poultry, dairy, and beef cattle. Produce feeds inmates and saves taxpayers between $5-6 million annually through inmate consumption.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Arkansas Department of Corrections is a state government agency that operates state prisons and community supervision programs, providing incarceration, parole and probation supervision, educational and vocational rehabilitation, victim notification, and reentry services for the State of Arkansas. The agency also runs large-scale agricultural operations across 20,000+ acres that feed inmates and save taxpayers $5-6 million annually, and offers digital self-service through an award-winning Online Services Center.

Product overview

The Arkansas Department of Corrections is a state government agency operating as a consolidated department comprising multiple divisions and programs. The core structure includes the Division of Correction (housing inmates in state prisons), the Division of Community Correction (community supervision and reentry), and the Arkansas Correctional School District (educational services). Supporting entities include the Post-Prison Transfer Board (parole decisions), Sentencing Commission (sentencing standards), Sex Offender Assessment Committee (SOAC), and Board of Corrections (governing body). The department offers operational programs including Online Services Center (inmate search, banking, notifications), Inmate Banking (trust account deposits via CorrectPay and Access Corrections), and Paws in Prison (canine rehabilitation). The Arkansas Legislative Recidivism Reduction Task Force addresses systemic criminal justice improvements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Paws in Prison: Rehabilitative program where inmates train shelter dogs for adoption into permanent homes.
• Arkansas Correctional School District
• CorrectPay
• Access Corrections

Products and services

• State Incarceration Services (Division of Correction) Secure incarceration and custody services for adult and juvenile offenders in state prisons across Arkansas, including housing, security, healthcare, spiritual, mental, and physical improvement programming, and habit-building work ethics. Operates facilities such as Cummins Unit, Varner Unit, Tucker Unit, Ouachita River Unit, McPherson Unit, and others.
• Community Supervision Services (Division of Community Correction) Parole and probation supervision delivered through community correction centers statewide, enforcing state laws and court mandates via evidence-based programs that hold offenders accountable while engaging them in opportunities to become law-abiding citizens.
• Correctional Education Services (Arkansas Correctional School District) A dedicated school district operating inside correctional facilities that delivers GED preparation and high school credential programs to inmates, with more than 29,000 students having graduated from the district.
• Online Services Center One-stop digital portal providing public access to inmate search, absconder search, hearing schedules, banking, and VINE victim notifications for the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
• Inmate Trust Account and Pre-Pay Phone Deposit Services Secure deposit channels enabling friends and families to add money to inmate trust accounts and Pre-Pay Phone Service accounts through CorrectPay and Access Corrections, with online, mobile, telephone, and walk-in retail options (CVS, Dollar General, Family Dollar, 7-Eleven, Walgreens) and deposits posted within 30 minutes.
• Paws in Prison Canine Training Program Rehabilitative canine training program in which inmate trainers prepare shelter dogs for adoption, requiring the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen exam. Program has graduated more than 2,000 dogs since December 2011 and operates across multiple correctional facilities including McPherson Unit.
• Victim Notification and Input Services (VINE/VINELink) 24-hour victim notification service providing crime victims and survivors access to offender custody status information and the ability to register for phone, email, SMS, or TTY notifications. Includes victim impact statements, victim input meetings with the Post-Prison Transfer Board, and a Victim Input Coordinator.
• Parole and Post-Prison Transfer Hearings Public hearings and decisions on parole, post-prison transfer, and executive clemency conducted by the Post-Prison Transfer Board within the Arkansas Department of Corrections, with victim input participation.
• Telemedicine Services for Rural Correctional Facilities Long-distance medical and learning services delivered to inmates at rural correctional facilities through USDA-funded portable telemedicine carts equipped with touch-screen monitors, webcams, and microphones, enabling remote clinical and educational interactions.
• Sentencing Standards and Policy Monitoring Policymaking body that establishes sentencing standards and monitors the impact of criminal-justice practices, policies, and laws on state correctional resources within Arkansas.

Quantifiable outcome

• 29,000+ students graduated from Arkansas Correctional School District
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Marion School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2025Arkansas is piloting a farm-to-school program where inmates at Department of Corrections facilities grow fresh produce for the Marion School District, with any surplus donated to local food pantries.
• NIC Arkansas (Tyler Technologies)coreTechnology or IntegrationState's digital services provider that designed the modern, responsive DOC website and built an inclusive user experience. Operates Arkansas.gov offering 1,000+ state and local online services.
• Humane Society of Independence CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides dogs for the Paws in Prison program at McPherson Unit. Eight dogs were delivered to start the program at this facility.
• Arkansas Paws in Prison FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization that administers donations to support the Paws in Prison program alongside funding from Division of Correction recyclables sales.
• Shorter College and Arkansas State University – NewportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating institutions in Second Chance Pell Program allowing eligible inmates to use Pell Grant funding for college classes since 2017.
• Entegrity (Energy Services Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLittle Rock-based ESCO that implemented energy efficiency projects and solar installations guaranteed to save over $3.2 million annually.
• Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and TourismminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for regional maintenance crews from Tucker Unit to assist with projects at state parks, including work at Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park.
• UAMS (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitute for Digital Health & Innovation received USDA grant for telemedicine equipment at six ADC facilities, matched by $110,700 from UAMS.
• Arkansas Department of Public SafetycoreOthersArkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) provides victim information resources, sex offender registry, and VINE system through this division.
• U.S. Marshals ServicecoreOthersFederal law enforcement partnership for fugitive apprehension including joint task force operations and fugitive capture operations.
• Arkansas State PolicecoreOthersState law enforcement agency that investigates inmate deaths, use of force incidents, and provides support for fugitive apprehension operations.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Georgia Department of Corrections: Regional Southeastern state DOC operating prisons, probation, and inmate work/industry programs. Highly comparable regional peer with similar offender population scale and agricultural/industrial operations.
• Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections: Regional Southern state DOC with consolidated corrections and probation/parole functions. Closely comparable in operating scope, inmate population characteristics, and rehabilitation program offerings.
• Florida Department of Corrections: State DOC operating prisons, probation, and reentry services with a similarly large inmate population. Comparable in operating model, PREA compliance, and rehabilitation/educational programming focus.
• New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision: State agency with combined corrections and community supervision mandate, structurally analogous to AR DOC's consolidated Division of Correction and Division of Community Correction structure.
• Pennsylvania Department of Corrections: State correctional agency running state prisons and community reentry services with inmate education, vocational training, and industry programs similar to AR DOC's agricultural operations.
• Tennessee Department of Correction: Neighboring state correctional agency with prisons, community supervision, and rehabilitation focus. Comparable in operating model, rehabilitation programming, and offender education services.
• Texas Department of Criminal Justice: Large state corrections agency operating prisons, parole, and rehabilitation programs. Highly comparable as a consolidated state DOC with both institutional and community supervision divisions, agricultural/industrial operations, and offender education programs.
• California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR): Consolidated state agency that - like AR DOC - merged corrections and rehabilitation/parole into a single department. Comparable in scope (prisons, parole, rehabilitation), PREA compliance, and inmate education programs.
• Missouri Department of Corrections: Mid-size neighboring state DOC operating prisons, probation and parole, with comparable agricultural/work release programs and offender education services.

Broad incumbents

• CoreCivic: Private corrections and community reentry operator that contracts with state and federal agencies, including some Arkansas facilities historically. Comparable in operating correctional facilities, rehabilitation, and community supervision, but operates as a private-sector vendor rather than a government agency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ADCPIO
• Facebookfacebook.com/ARDeptofCorrections
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ardoc
• Instagraminstagram.com/arcorrections

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arkansas Department of Corrections