Van Buren County Jail – Clinton, AR

Van Buren County Jail is located in Washington County and is the correctional facility for the county. Do you know someone locked up at Van Buren County Jail? This guide will tell you information about anything related to Van Buren County Jail,like the following: How to locate an inmate. How to view Van Buren County Jail mugshots. The jail’s address and phone number. Bail and how to get out of jail. Intake procedures and booking. Court records. And everything else.

The prospect of going to jail is a scary and stressful situation, not only for the person who goes to jail, but also that person’s family and friends. This guide is designed to give you all the info that you need to make helping a friend or family member get out of jail less stressful. If you have a specific question, feel free to ask them, and please leave any feedback or comments that might be beneficial to others is much appreciated.

Do you have a friend or family member that has gone to jail and want to find them?

Do you know someone that’s been arrested and you don’t know how to find out what jail they’re in?

To see who’s in jail at Van Buren County Jail you will need to navigate to their website and do an inmate search.

The Van Buren County Jail Inmate List has information on people who are in jail, including custody status, bail amount (if applicable), and visiting schedule. You can also find information about anyone arrested and processed or released in the last 24 hours. Prisoners are listed in alphabetical order by their last name. You can locate the information faster if you have your friend or family member’s full name, birth date, or inmate ID.

If your friend or loved one might be in another county jail you can look here, too: Arkansas Jails

A mugshot, also known as a jail intake photo, is the photo that the jail takes when you get booked into jail. A mugshot is actually one and a side-view photo. Your full name and jail booking number will be in the photos, and they will be on file at the jail.

Mugshots of inmates are on the Van Buren County Jail website, or you can view them at the Van Buren County Jail. When viewing online you will need to input the person’s first and last name, and the booking date.

Trying to figure out how to have your mugshot taken down from the Van Buren County Jail site? This may not be possible, since your mugshot is public record. You need to file a ‘Petition to Expunge’. This means that all of your arrest records would be sealed, so no one will be able to see them. It is difficult to do this, and you will most likely need the services of a lawyer.

For a more in-depth article about getting your mugshot taken down, the many different mugshot websites, and the mugshot removal services: How To Get Your Mugshot Taken Down

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Of course, if you’re arrested and put in jail, your only thought is about when and how you will get out. After you’ve gone through booking, your bail amount will be set either by bail schedule or magistrate. In cases where no bail is set this may mean that you will either be free to go until your court date, or you don’t get released while you wait for your court date.

If you do bail out of jail you must promise to be in court on your court date, and in the meantime you are required not to go out of town.

Typically, a prisoner in the Van Buren County Jail will earn early release in exchange for good behavior when they follow the rules and conduct themselves properly while locked up.

If you prove to be trustworthy, you may be granted work release. You will either have to go back to jail at the end of the day when you’re finished working, or you could have the chance to live in a halfway house instead of living at the jail.

Your bail is money that you have to pay to the courts to be released from jail until you go to court. The amount you will be required to pay is determined by how serious your charges are. You or someone you know will have to post 10 percent of the total set so you can bail out of jail. If you don’t go to court, the person that paid your bail will not get their money back.

In order to find out how much someone’s bail is, you need to call the jail. If know the person’s information, like name, address and date of birth, they will be able to let you know the bail amount. You can also find out how much their bail is on the Van Buren County Jail site.

Posting bail to get out of jail is never fun, but thankfully, it’s really easy. First, find out if they have a “Cash Bond Only”. If so, you will not be able to get a Bail Bondsman. They only accept cash at the jail, so you have to take cash – the jail won’t accept checks. Once you have paid the bond, the inmate will be released to your care. If the conditions of bail are not violated, you’ll get your money back.

If bail is set too high, or you can’t afford it yourself, you should look into the services of a bail bondsman. Bondsmen will generally charge you a fee of 10 to 15 percent of the total bail amount, and in most cases charge a minimum fee of $100. The money you pay to the bail bondsman is non-refundable and must be paid in cash. If the bail is extremely high, the bondsman will request to use your personal assets as collateral in addition to the fee they charge.

If you need a local bail bondsman click here: How to find a bail bondsman

Have you ever used the services of bail bondsman for yourself, a family member or friend? If so, post a comment below and tell about it, and let us know how it worked out.

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• Time Off For Good Behavior
• Work Release
• Get Out For Time Served
• Be Released on a Pre-Trial Release Program
• Released On House Arrest
• Get Released on Your Own Recognizance

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The intake process takes you through each of these steps:

• You will be placed in a waiting area or cell. When the jail is busy, you will have to wait, sometimes for many hours, before you get processed.
• The first thing you will have to is you have to answer some questions, like what is your full legal name, address, birth date and a contact person.
• Also, you will also be asked about your medical and psychological history.
• You will be given an inmate ID.
• Your fingerprints will be taken.
• You will get your mugshot taken.
• Any property you have will be taken away from you and stored until you are released.
• You will then be allowed to use the phone in order to get in touch with family, friends, or bail bondsman.
• If they expect that you will make bail and be released quickly, you might get to wear your street clothes, otherwise you will be given a jail jumpsuit.

Have you ever been arrested and gone through the jail intake procedure? If you have, please tell your story. How long did you have to wait? How were you treated? Can you share any tips that will help other people that get arrested make it through the procedure?

Click here to tell about all about it

When you post bail, you will be discharged from jail. This process takes between 15 minutes to quite a few hours. Or, simply, the faster you post bail, the faster you will be released. It also can depend on whether or not you’ve been given a cash bond or if the magistrate still needs to figure out how much your bail will be. For a minor charge, you will simply be booked and get released without having to post bail. When you have completed your jail sentence and have a discharge date, expect to get released anywhere between the hours of 9am and 12pm.

In the event there is a, or if you must start your sentence, you should follow the rules and turn yourself into the authorities. For a warrant, go to the jail intake center, and tell an officer that you think there is a warrant out for your arrest. They will check to see if you have a warrant, and if they find one, they will take you into custody and begin the intake process. When reporting to serve a sentence, report to the jail on the date and time that the sentence order or court paperwork states. Be very careful that you don’t show up late. Make sure that you only bring allowed items with you, such as a driver’s license or even your ID, any prescription medication you might take, as well as a sentencing order.

Inmates have to give the name and date of birth of each visitor to the jail in advance. Your visitor’s information will be entered into a Visiting log for the requesting inmate. Every visitor is required to provide acceptable photo identification when visiting an inmate. Visitors that gets to visitation or that does not have a visitation order will not be allowed to visit the inmate.
Visitation procedures at Van Buren County Jail frequently change, so make sure that you double-check the jail site before go to the jail to visit an inmate.

Phone calls that inmates are allowed to make from jail are collect calls or through a pre-paid phone account. Phone calls made in jail are usually pricier than phone calls made outside of jail. There is no limit to when you can make phone calls, how long you can talk, and how often you can make calls, but inmates should keep in mind that there are a limited number of phones, so all the inmates must share phone time. If you are disciplined for an infraction, an inmate’s phone privileges might get reduced or cut altogether.

The Van Buren County Jail phone number is: 501-745-2112

All inmate mail must be sent using the US Postal Service. You shouldn’t use any other type of mail delivery. You have to clearly write the prisoner’s name, inmate number, and jail address on the envelope. Do not mail a package, envelope with padding or insulation, plastic or paper bag, or an envelope containing metal parts. All mail will be opened and examined by the jail officers, and will get returned to the sender if the jail decides it is inappropriate.

The address that you should use if you are sending a letter to an inmate at Van Buren County Jail is:

Van Buren County Jail
184 Detention Drive
Clinton, AR 72031

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Van Buren County Jail
184 Detention Drive
Clinton, AR 72031

The inmate mail policy at Van Buren County Jail is always changing, so it would be best to review the official Van Buren County Jail site when send a letter to someone in jail there.

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When you’ve been arrested, you have rights, the first of which is that you have the right to request an attorney. You only get so many phone calls when you get arrested, so make sure to ask a friend or family member to locate an attorney for you. You may be thinking ‘I don’t need a lawyer – I can just represent myself’ While you are not required to have one, a criminal attorney can advise you of your rights, help protect your interests and help you through the legal system in your county. The quicker you hire a lawyer to represent you and work on your charges, the better your chances.

For more information about this subject, click here: How to Find a Lawyer in Washington County

If you’ve been arrested and cannot afford a lawyer, you will get a public defender. In addition, the Public Defender has a number of staff such as private investigators, forensics experts as well as case workers. Public Defenders are real lawyers that are admitted to the Arkansas State Bar Association and are fully licensed to practice law.

Have you ever had to use a Public Defender or court appointed attorney? Do you think they properly handled your case?

Court records are public records. They include a file with a docket and all documents that have been filed in the case. You are able to access your court case records with the online service, or at the Clerk of Court’s office where the case was filed.

The Washington County Clerk of Court is a member of the court that manages the records. They also administer the oath for all court participants, and read the verdict when delivered by the jury. All court records from your case are maintained at the office of the Clerk of Court.

Court fees are all costs associated with your court case, for example filing fees, motion fees and various court charges. If you cannot afford these fees and have a court appointed attorney, you can get a waiver for these fees.

A Magistrate is the judge that will preside over your case in court. Magistrates do a number of things, like setting bail amounts, writing arrest warrants, and overseeing initial court appearances and detention hearings.

A defendant’s pre-sentencing report is completed with information about your background and as much detail about the arrestee’s life history, which the magistrate will review and take into consideration when determining a sentence. Information, details, and character witnesses will be solicited from the person on trial, the defendant’s family, and in some circumstances the victim of the crime. Don’t forget that you should ask to receive your own copy of this report before you are sentenced, and make sure that you review it and correct any mistakes.

If you get convicted of a crime, you will be sentenced. There are several different options for sentencing, which include community service to probation, to even incarceration in either jail (short term) or prison (long term). Depending on sentencing guidelines and the severity of your crime, you could be taken into custody immediately, or given a date that you are supposed to turn yourself into jail to serve your jail term according to your sentence.

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Do you need to find out if a family member or friend is incarcerated in jail, or has been an inmate in the past?

To find this out you need to go to the Washington County jail website, and do a search using:

• The inmate’s name.
• Birthdate.
• Approximate booking date.
• or inmate ID.

If you think this person is in jail, you should call the jail confirm whether they’ve been arrested or not.

If you believe you have a warrant out for your arrest, you can access arrest warrants on the website or you can call the jail. You have to have the person’s first and last name. You can also go to the local jail and ask the officer in charge. Bear in mind that there is an outstanding warrant for your arrest, you should be prepared to get taken into custody immediately.

If you have a first and last name, and possibly an arrest date, contact the Washington County jail, by phone, go there in person, or check online. An arrest is a matter of public record and the information is accessible by the public.

Civil processes are when you are served with legal papers, which can be a court order. You can find these by going to the Sheriff’s office, on their website or by phone.

All convicted sex offenders are listed and registered on the sex offender databases required by the area they live in. The people listed on these databases have been tried by jury and convicted in a court of law of a sex offense. You are able to view this information online, but bear in mind that you will not be able to get the actual address, but rather the neighborhood block of the address that they registered.

Court Records are considered public records, so they are accessible to anyone who requests them. These records include a case file that contains a docket and all of the documents filed in the case. You can access the court records on the internet, or at the clerk’s office of the court where the case was filed.

Every state keeps a record of a person’s criminal history. These state databases are all linked and you can track criminal histories from another state. You are able to go to courthouse and inquire, or you can check online. It helps to know the county, and if it was in a different state entirely, you might have to pay a fee for a more complete search.

A criminal records search you can find out if someone has been arrested, charged, or convicted for any of the following crimes:

• Driving Under the Influence (DUI).
• Drug crimes.
• Kidnapping.
• Sex offenses which could include rape, and sexual assault.
• Violent crimes like assault or murder.
• Property crimes like theft or larceny.

If you do a criminal records check, in most cases will not see if someone has had:

• Speeding or reckless driving.
• Drivers license revoked or suspended.
• Traffic accidents.
• Other moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

To get this information, you must do a driving history search.

Have you ever had to search for criminal records of someone you know? Was it easy? Did you search online or did you call the local courthouse? Was it correct? There are lots of reasons that folks look up criminal records and backgrounds, and your feedback may help other people that are in the same situation.

Click here to post a comment

Most Wanted

For Federal crimes, the FBI maintains a list of the Top Ten Most Wanted Criminals. In Washington County, the Washington County Sheriff maintains their own list of the top most wanted criminals in the county.

FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List

Washington County Sheriff’s Department Ten Most Wanted List: Link


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

While the prospect of serving a jail sentence in Van Buren County Jail is quite unpleasant, you will soon become accustomed to the daily routine. You should expect an alarm for wake-up at about 6am, and then you’ll have roll call. Next, you will have breakfast. After breakfast, you will have to work in the work program that you’ve been assigned to. This could be working in the kitchen, laundry, or some sort of manufacturing job. While this may seem tedious, it may help you when you leave jail, as you are gaining experience in a certain field of work. Other inmates go to school, while some take part in mandated treatment programs. After lunch, there will be another roll call, then back to work. Your evening will be spent either in your cell or a common room. During this time dinner is served and you will be expected to take a shower. After another roll call, it’s lights out. Even though you will be confined to your cell, there may be enough light to read or write letters. Then again, most inmates welcome lights out, and try to get as much sleep as they can.

Most people are frightened at the idea of jail because they don’t know what to expect. If you have spent any time in Van Buren County Jail, your experiences would be welcomed, if it can help another person to deal with it.

Dress Code

When incarcerated, all inmates are expected to wear the Van Buren County Jail uniform. This is normally a jumpsuit or scrubs. Of note to anyone visiting an inmate – you must be properly dressed. Any clothing considered inappropriate will not be permitted.

How To Send Money to an Inmate

You will have your own ‘bank account’ while in jail. This money is used to purchase items from the Commissary. Family and friends can deposit money into this account for you, and any money you earn while in prison will also be deposited into your account. Outside money can be paid in to your account via a money order, cash or check. If someone sends a check or money order, make sure that they write your inmate ID on it. The maximum amount you are allowed in your account is $290 per month.

The rules for sending funds to Van Buren County Jail inmates might change, so we suggest that you double check the site before you send any money.


Commissary

The commissary is the jail store. You can purchase a number of things here, such as toiletries, snacks and writing supplies. Bear in mind that you will probably want to use the commissary daily, and any infractions will get that privilege taken away from you.

Inmate Medications

If you are on any type of prescription medication, you will be allowed to continue taking it while in jail. When you are first processed, you will be asked what medication you take. You will then be referred to the jail nurse or doctor who will be in charge of monitoring your health and prescribing your medication.

Meals

You will get three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. As expected, they are very basic, but healthy. A typical breakfast might be cereal, toast, coffee and fruit. Lunch might be spaghetti, salad, bread and milk. Dinner could be chicken casserole, rice, vegetables, dessert and milk. Contrary to popular belief, prison food has greatly improved over the years, and you might find that it’s not much different from what you would eat at home.

Pods / The Yard

The jail is designed in a ‘pod’ layout, with self-contained housing arranged around an outdoor yard. Each pod has a central control station and a common room, and the inmates take turns in using the yard. The jail is designed this way to keep certain inmates together, and others away from the general population.

Gangs

As with life in general, gangs are a part of prison life. Obviously it is best to avoid becoming a part of this environment as it will only lead to trouble. When you first enter prison, you might find yourself being ‘primed’ to join a gang, or worse, you might get their attention in a negative way. The best thing to do is keep your head down and don’t get involved.


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News and Media

News

Photos / Pictures

Videos


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Jobs

Types of Jobs at Van Buren County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Van Buren County Jail, overseeing the day to day operations and administration of the jail. An inmate is unlikely to have much interaction with the Deputy Sheriff, unless they have committed an infraction. Detention Officers are responsible for the custody and care of the inmates. They maintain order in the jail, and handle security. A Detention Officer is assigned to a certain pod, and therefore is responsible for the same inmates each day. They get to know the inmates on a certain level and are well equipped to handle any problems that may occur.

Apply for a Job at Van Buren County Jail

Requirements:

• You must be over the age of 21.
• You must possess a High School Diploma or GED
• You must be a US Citizen.
• You must pass a Criminal, Credit and Driving History background check.
• You must pass a drug test.
• You must have a good level of fitness.
• You must be in good health.
• You must have a valid Driver’s License
• An applicant for Deputy Sheriff must possess a Law Enforcement Certification.


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Family Resources

There are resources for families of both the perpetrator of the crime and the victim. The social and emotional impact of crime is far reaching, affecting many. Families can receive professional counseling, court related assistance, social services assistance and help in navigating the criminal justice system.

If you are a family member, which resources did you find to be particularly helpful? Please let us know, as this will be helpful to other families in the same situation.

Click here to comment


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Victim Resources

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.

Victim’s Rights

The Victim Rights Act grants victims the following rights:

• You have the right to protection from the accused.
• You have the right to notification.
• You have the right to attend proceedings.
• You have the right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• You have the right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• You have the right to restitution.
• You have the right to a speedy trial.
• You have the right to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

The definition of victim includes:

• Spouses and children of all victims.
• Parents and guardians of minor victims.
• Parents, guardians and siblings of mentally or physically incapacitated victims or victims of homicide.
• Foster parents or other caregivers, under certain circumstances.

There are a number of services and programs designed to help victims and their families. You can find out about these services by contacting the courthouse, or local law enforcement agency.

Victim Notification

The Department of Justice Victim Notification System (VNS) is a system that provides victims with information pertaining to their case and/or any defendants in the case. You will receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow you to access VNS via the internet or by phone. Here, you will find information about future court hearings, historical court events, and detailed information about the defendant. This will include criminal charges filed, the outcome of charges, sentence imposed, custody location, projected release date and any other release information. The VNS website is updated daily. You will also receive any ongoing information by mail or email.

Have you, a family member or friend ever used the Victim Notification System? If so, was it effective? Did you get the information in a timely manner? Was the system difficult to use? We would like to hear from you, so please post any comments here.

Click here to tell about all about it

Sex Offender Information and Search

All people registered as sex offenders are registered on either a national or state sex offender database. The people on these databases have been convicted of a sex or kidnapping crime. You can access this information online, but bear in mind that you will not get the exact address, rather the block that they live on.

Domestic Violence

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there are services to help you. Your county will have a Domestic Violence Services office. They provide free and confidential services, such as emergency shelter information, legal advocacy, support groups and domestic violence education. They will work to help you create a safe and violence-free life, and heal from the trauma of abuse.

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.


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Reviews

Reviews of this Jail

Have you ever spent any time in this jail? Do you know anybody that spent time there? Have you ever been to visit an inmate in this jail?

If your answer is yes, then please leave a comment below about it. Tell us about what you experienced so other people can learn what to expect.

What to put in your comment:

• Jail conditions.
• Jail layout and facility
• Guards and jail staff
• Food and commissary
• Visitors
• Other Inmates.
• Safety
• Gang activity
• Inmate programs and activities


Click here to write your review

Tell Your Story

Everyone’s who has been put in jail has a story to tell. How’d you get locked up? How did the guards treat you? How was day to day life at Van Buren County Jail? Tell us about the other inmates. How did going to jail affect your life?

Click here to leave a comment

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Did you make friends in jail? Trying to send a message to someone you met in jail? Then send them a message by posting a comment below.

Post a message to people incarcerated at Van Buren County Jail

Links and Resources

Main Van Buren County Jail Website
Van Buren County Jail Inmate Search
View Van Buren County Jail Mugshots
Van Buren County Jail Bail Amount Link

Van Buren County Jail Visitation Procedures
Van Buren County Jail Jail Mail Link
Van Buren County Jail Inmate Inquiry Link
Washington County Warrant Lookup
Van Buren County Jail Arrest Inquiry
Send Money to an Inmate at Van Buren County Jail
Van Buren County Jail Employment


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