The Varner Unit Supermax houses male inmates scheduled for
execution in Arkansas, currently performed by
lethal injection. The actual executions take place at the nearby
Cummins Unit.[6] The female death row is located at the
McPherson Unit.[7] Varner is one of the state of Arkansas's "parent units" for male prisoners; it serves as one of several units of initial assignment for processed male prisoners.[8]
History
The Varner Unit was opened in 1987 with 300 beds, and its capacity was soon increased to 700 beds. Further construction has brought the total capacity to over 1,600 prisoners.[4] The supermax units opened in 2000, and federal grants paid 90% of the construction costs.[9]
At one time the State of Arkansas housed all young male offenders in the state prison system in Varner. While this was the case, Correction Officers and prisoners nicknamed the facility the "
Gladiator School."[10]
On Friday August 22, 2003, all 39 Arkansas death row inmates were moved from the
Maximum Security Unit to the
Supermax at the Varner Unit.[11]
In 2011, a fight among prisoners and correctional officers led to injuries among correctional officers.[12]
During 2004/2005, ADC installed an
electric fence between two non-electric fences in the Varner Unit. It received testing in late December 2004 and was activated in January 2005. The system used inmate labor to assist with the construction of the fence.[13]
^"
State Capitol Week in Review" (
Archive) State of Arkansas. June 13, 2008. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "Executions are carried out in the Cummins Unit, which is adjacent to Varner."
^"
Guide for Family and Friends" (
Archive). Arkansas Department of Correction. 2 (4/27). Retrieved on July 18, 2010. " After intake, inmates are transferred to a parent unit for their initial assignment. Male inmates are assigned to the Varner, Cummins, East Arkansas, Grimes or Tucker Units."