How to Contact an Inmate at Grimes Unit, Newport, AR (AR)

Trying to reach someone at Grimes Unit in Newport, Arkansas? Here's the first thing you should know: the Arkansas Department of Correction website isn't loading properly right now. Both the Grimes Unit facility page and the broader DOC page that normally hosts facility information are returning only the text "nginx." That means you can't count on those pages for current instructions on mail, phone calls, video visitation, or contact numbers. Before you send anything or set up any accounts, confirm the details directly through official channels.

Steps to Follow

• ✓ Try the Arkansas DOC website again later to see if the “nginx” error clears
• ✓ Call the Arkansas Department of Correction (or the facility) to get the current, official instructions
• ✓ Confirm the correct mailing address format and what must be on the envelope (name, ADC number, return address)
• ✓ Ask what items are allowed in mail right now (letters, photos, books, greeting cards)
• ✓ Confirm how phone calls and any video visits are handled (set-up process, approvals, and rules)
• ✓ If you get a new phone number or procedure, write it down and keep it with your records

1. Re-check the official site - Since the DOC pages were returning “nginx,” try again at a different time in case service is restored.
2. Call for the current rules - Ask for the Grimes Unit contact information and the exact process for mail, phone calls, and any visits.
3. Confirm identification details - Verify the incarcerated person’s name and any ID number you need to include on mail or account set-ups.
4. Verify procedures before sending anything - Get the latest rules on what can be mailed and how communication services are approved.
5. Document what you were told - Note the date/time of the call and the staff member’s name (if they provide it) so you can reference it later.

Since the DOC pages you'd normally use were down (showing "nginx"), it's worth spending a few minutes verifying the details that commonly cause mail returns, blocked calls, or cancelled trips. Start by getting direct contact information for Grimes Unit, along with any DOC office number that can transfer you to the right department. Then confirm the basics for addressing mail correctly: the incarcerated person's full name and any ID number or formatting requirements. Ask about current mail rules too. Find out what's allowed in an envelope, whether photos are permitted, and how books need to be sent. Some facilities only accept books from approved vendors, and those rules can change. Finally, verify the process for phone calls and any video visitation options. You'll want to know how accounts are set up, who needs to be on an approved list, and what restrictions apply. None of these details could be confirmed from the DOC website when the pages were checked. A quick phone call can save you a lot of time and frustration.

1. Call the DOC main line or central office - Tell them you need current contact and communication instructions for Grimes Unit.
2. Ask to be transferred to Grimes Unit - Request the direct number for the unit (and any extension or best time to call).
3. Request the official communication rules - Confirm mail addressing requirements, what is allowed in mail, and how phone or video communication is set up.
4. Ask what to do if you cannot reach the unit - Get the next-best contact point for guidance (for example, a DOC office that can confirm the latest rules and procedures).