Minimum and medium custody (men) · Correctional Unit · ADC

Benny Magness Unit (North Central Unit)

Calico Rock, Izard County, Arkansas

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (870) 297-4311 Info last verified: June 2026

A remote minimum- and medium-security men's prison at Calico Rock in north-central Arkansas, recently renamed from the North Central Unit.

Statewide rules that apply at every Arkansas state prison

These rules are set by ADC and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in Arkansas.

Dress code

No white or camouflage clothing — both resemble what inmates wear (Arkansas inmates wear white).
Shoulders must stay covered: no sleeveless shirts, tank tops, or halter tops, and no shorts, miniskirts, or short dresses.
No see-through clothing, leggings, or jeggings, and nothing low-cut or otherwise provocative; children 10 and under may wear shorts of an appropriate length.
Avoid metal in clothing and accessories (underwire, buckles, snaps), which can stop you from clearing the metal detector; the authoritative dress code is printed on the back of the visitation form.

ID: Every visitor must be approved on the inmate's visiting list first — the inmate mails the application form to the visitor (it is not available online or from staff), and a criminal-history check is run on each applicant. Visitors 12 and older must show a government-issued photo ID.
What to bring: Bring a clear plastic bag with a small amount of cash for the vending machines (some units are moving to coins or debit and credit cards only), prescription medication in the visitor's name, a photo ID, car keys, and baby items. Phones, tobacco, and other items must stay locked in the vehicle.
Scheduling: Visits are pre-scheduled, not walk-in — request an appointment through the state TeleGov portal or by calling the unit's Visitation Clerk. Routine visits are on weekends, and how many visits a month a person gets depends on the inmate's class level; ADC does not post per-unit hours online, so confirm with the unit.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Arkansas

Overview

The Benny Magness Unit, near Calico Rock in north-central Arkansas, is a minimum- and medium-security men’s prison with a rated capacity of about 800. It was known as the North Central Unit until the Board of Corrections renamed it for former board chairman Benny Magness (dedicated in 2026). It runs a large agricultural operation — a vegetable garden, an apple orchard, forage production, and an equine program — along with vocational and Paws in Prison programs.

What Makes the Benny Magness Unit Different

It was recently renamed from the North Central Unit, so records, mail, and navigation may still use the old name.
It is one of the most remote units in the system, about 100 miles (roughly two hours) north of Little Rock.
It runs a large agricultural and equine operation, including an orchard and field crops.
In 2025, an incarcerated man escaped from the unit and was recaptured about two weeks later; ADC attributed the escape to staff error.

Visiting

The statewide ADC rules above — the approved visitor list, the no-white dress code, ID, and pre-scheduled visits — apply at the Benny Magness Unit.

The full approval process is in Visiting in Arkansas.

Getting There and Parking

The unit is near Calico Rock in Izard County, reached by state highways into north-central Arkansas.

Distances are approximate, based on map routing. Visitor parking is on site.

Nearby Services

Calico Rock and nearby Mountain Home have the nearest gas, food, and lodging. The nearest hospital emergency room is Izard Regional Hospital (Izard County Medical Center) in Calico Rock; higher-level care is in the Mountain Home or Batesville area.

Mail

Personal mail does not go to the unit. Since September 2025, ADC routes non-legal personal letters and photos to an off-site scanning center in Tampa, Florida, addressed with the person’s name and ADC number; the person receives the mail electronically. Legal mail, books, and magazines still go directly to the unit at the Calico Rock address. Full addressing details are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone at an Arkansas state prison:

Visiting in Arkansas — the approved list, dress code, and scheduling
Mail & Packages — the Tampa scanning address and what still goes to the unit
Phone & Video Calls — Securus calls, messaging, and video
Sending Money — CorrectPay, Access Corrections, and the trust account
Medical & Mental Health — the co-pay and how to raise a concern
Transfers & Finding Someone — reception units and the inmate search

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.