Finding McPherson Unit and Understanding Where Your Loved One Might Be Housed
The Ronald McPherson Unit is located at 302 Corrections Drive, Newport, Arkansas 72112. The facility sits about two miles east of Newport's downtown area, roughly 93 miles from Little Rock - helpful for estimating drive time if you're coming from central Arkansas.
Note: McPherson Unit is a female facility.
McPherson is a large facility with a design capacity of 964 inmates. Over the past 12 months, the average daily population has been around 1,048 - meaning it regularly runs above capacity.
Housing at McPherson is divided into several unit types. Most inmates live in one of 19 barracks. The facility also operates a Residential Program Unit (RPU) with 40 program beds and has 60 Restrictive Housing cells. Both the Restrictive Housing unit and the Residential Program unit use single-occupancy cells rather than dorm-style layouts.
Good to know: The Classification Supervisor oversees one Administrative Specialist who receives an average of 70 new commitments each month.
If your loved one is housed in a barrack, a few everyday details affect how often you'll hear from them. Each barrack has two inmate telephones and two television areas. There are also tables and seating for writing letters or playing board games - where most people spend their downtime outside of work or programming.
Each barrack has a kiosk for practical tasks and communication. Inmates use it to submit commissary orders and sick call requests, and they can also schedule video visits with approved contacts.
The Residential Program Unit (RPU) isn't general-population housing. Its 40 beds are designated for inmates who need specialized psychiatric and mental health care, so placement there reflects treatment needs rather than a routine assignment.
McPherson has 60 Restrictive Housing cells in a single-occupancy cell-block setting. If your loved one is placed there, classification reviews happen weekly for the first 60 days, then monthly until they're released from Restrictive Housing. Understanding this schedule helps if you're tracking when a housing change might be considered.
Visitor Checklist
- ✓ Confirm the address before you leave: 302 Corrections Drive, Newport, Arkansas 72112
- ✓ Review the Arkansas Division of Correction Family & Friends guide for current visitation rules and expectations
- ✓ If you still have questions, contact ADC Constituent Services at (870) 267-6385 or ADC.Public.Information@arkansas.gov
Scheduling tip: Classification for general population inmates is typically held every Thursday.
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