The Arkansas Department of Health and the Arkansas Board of Corrections have approved a framework developed by Corrections Secretary Solomon Graves for modified in-person visitation during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The plan calls for the resumption of phased, limited, in-person visitation at select Arkansas Department of Corrections prisons and community correction centers.

One-hour, appointment-only visits will be limited to adult, immediate family members. The expansion of in-person visits by friends and legal counsel will, in addition to the resumption of volunteer services,  be reevaluated in January 2021. Additional details about where and how visitation will resume are to come.

We understand how important visitation is for inmates and residents, especially during the holiday season. The safe resumption of in-person visitation is a priority for the Board of Corrections, Secretary Solomon Graves, and both Division Directors. We greatly appreciate the ongoing patience and understanding of residents, inmates and their loved ones during this public health crisis. While visitation is suspended, we encourage friends and family to remain in contact through phone calls and video visits. To help with that, we have worked with our communications partners to provide lower rates for phone calls and video visitation until December 1, 2020.

Visitation status updates will be posted on the Department’s website at http://doc.arkansas.gov .