Varner Unit, High-security prison in Lincoln County, Arkansas
The Varner Unit is a high-security prison in Lincoln County, Arkansas, consisting of two separate sections: a supermax facility and a standard unit. Together, it houses more than 1,600 male inmates under strict supervision.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections founded the facility in 1987 to expand the state's prison capacity. The complex gradually grew from 300 to 1,700 inmate spaces over the following years.
The facility hosts a theological seminary campus developed with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, where inmates have participated in educational programs since 2019. This partnership creates space for residents to engage with spiritual and religious learning within the prison walls.
The compound is protected by multiple security systems, including an electric fence installed in 2005. It functions as a parent unit for the state and processes intake of new male inmates through standardized procedures.
The grounds include a vegetable processing plant where inmates work and develop practical skills in food production. Additionally, the Riverside Vocational Technical School maintains its main campus within the compound.
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