Inside the East Arkansas Regional Unit: Prison Overview

The East Arkansas Regional Unit is a correctional facility in Marianna, Arkansas, operated by the Arkansas Department of Correction. The institution serves as a parent unit for processed male inmates and is also an intake facility. The prison opened in 1992 and has a capacity of 1624 inmates. It employs 379 employees and is ACA accredited.

The East Arkansas Regional Unit is located on Lee Road 602 in Marianna, in the eastern part of the state. The facility is surrounded by fields of row crops and gardens that are tended by inmates as part of the agriculture program.

The prison offers a range of programs and services to inmates, including education, substance abuse treatment, and chaplaincy services. The GED program is available to inmates who want to earn their high school diploma, and the Central Arkansas Baptist Bible Institute offers theological courses.

Inmates can also participate in industry and life skills programs, as well as the Think Legacy program, which helps them prepare for reentry into society. Visitation at the East Arkansas Regional Unit is on an alternating schedule on Saturdays and Sundays, and the visiting hours are from 11:30 am to 4:00 pm with many restrictions.

SecurityMaximum
Capacity1624
Physical Address326 Lee Rd, Brickeys, AR 72320-0180
Mailing AddressP.O. Box 970, Marianna, AR 72360
Can You Send a Gift?No
Visitation HoursSaturday – Sunday: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Dress CodeYes
Phone Number870-295-4700
JurisdictionState

Location and Overview

The East Arkansas Regional Unit is a correctional facility located in Brickeys, an unincorporated community in St. Francis Township, Lee County, Arkansas. It is situated approximately 17 miles southeast of Forrest City and can be accessed via Highway 79 East.

Physical Address

The facility’s physical address is:

  • 326 Lee Rd, Brickeys, AR 72320-0180

Capacity

The East Arkansas Regional Unit has a capacity of 1624 inmates. It is one of the state’s parent units for processed male inmates and serves for initial assignment.

Status

The facility serves as an intake facility for processed male inmates and also houses prisoners who have longer sentences. Those with sentences of less than one year or so are usually housed in a city or county jail.

The East Arkansas Regional Unit has been in operation since 1992 and employs 379 employees. The facility provides various programs and services to inmates, including agriculture – row crops, garden, field, and edible crops – chaplaincy services, and a GED program.

Overall, the East Arkansas Regional Unit is a correctional facility that serves as an important part of the efforts by the Arkansas Department of Corrections to provide safe and secure incarceration for the state’s prisoners.

History

The East Arkansas Regional Unit was established in 1992 and is one of the state’s parent units for processed male inmates. The facility is located approximately 17 miles southeast of Forrest City in Lee County, Arkansas. It has a capacity of 1624 inmates and employs 379 staff members.

Over the years, the East Arkansas Regional Unit has been in the news for various reasons. In 2001, a riot broke out at the facility, resulting in several injuries to inmates and staff. In 2012, Corporal Barbara Ester, a 12-year veteran of the Arkansas Department of Corrections, was killed by an inmate at the facility. Her legacy is honored by the staff every year with a memorial table.

The East Arkansas Regional Unit is accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA), which is a testament to the facility’s commitment to providing safe and humane conditions for inmates. The facility provides various programs to help inmates with their rehabilitation, including educational and vocational training, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services.

Overall, the East Arkansas Regional Unit has played a significant role in the state’s correctional system, providing a secure and controlled environment for processed male inmates. Despite some challenges over the years, the facility remains committed to its mission of ensuring public safety and helping inmates successfully re-enter society.

Facilities and Services

The East Arkansas Regional Unit is a correctional facility under the Arkansas Department of Correction (ADC) located in Marianna, Arkansas. The facility has a capacity of 1624 inmates and offers various facilities and services to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of its inmates into society.

Visitation

The facility allows visitation on Saturdays and Sundays 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Visitors must arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled end of visitation hours. All visitors must be on the inmate’s approved visitation list and must present a valid photo ID. The facility has strict rules and regulations regarding visitation, and visitors are advised to check with the facility before visiting.

Education

The East Arkansas Regional Unit provides educational programs to inmates to help them acquire skills and knowledge that can help them find employment after release. The facility offers GED programs, vocational training, and college courses through partnerships with institutions such as the Central Arkansas Baptist Bible Institute and Vo-Tech.

Chaplaincy Services

The facility has a chaplaincy program that provides spiritual and emotional support to inmates of all faiths. The program offers religious services, counseling, and pastoral care to inmates who request it.

GED Program

The facility offers a GED program to inmates who have not completed high school. The program is designed to help inmates acquire the knowledge and skills needed to pass the GED exam and obtain a high school equivalency diploma.

Industry

The East Arkansas Regional Unit has an industry program that provides job training and employment opportunities to inmates. The program includes work in areas such as maintenance, regional maintenance, and the canine unit.

Life Skills Program

The facility offers a life skills program that helps inmates develop skills such as communication, problem-solving, and decision-making. The program is designed to help inmates make positive changes in their behavior and attitudes.

Substance Abuse Education

The facility offers substance abuse education (SAE) programs to inmates who struggle with addiction. The program provides education and counseling to help inmates overcome their addictions and make positive changes in their lives.

In conclusion, the East Arkansas Regional Unit offers a range of facilities and services to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of its inmates into society. These facilities and services include visitation, education, chaplaincy services, GED programs, industry, life skills programs, and substance abuse education programs.

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