Varner Unit is for State Prison offenders sentenced anywhere from one year to life by the State Court in the county where the charges were filed
All prisons and jails have Security or Custody levels depending on the inmate’s classification, sentence, and criminal history. Please review the rules and regulations for State - maximum facility.
The phone carrier is Securus Tech®, to see their rates and best-calling plans for your inmate to call you.
If you are unsure of your inmate's location, you can search and locate your inmate by typing in their last name, first name or first initial, and/or the offender ID number to get their accurate information immediately Registered Offenders
Varner Unit is a State - maximum state correctional facility in Gould, AR, operated by the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Inmates serve sentences ranging from one year to life and have access to programs including education, vocational training, and work assignments. This page covers how to locate an inmate, schedule visits, make calls, send money, and stay connected throughout their sentence at Varner Unit.
Communication is important, the prison offers a phone program for outbound calls only, with inmates unable to receive incoming calls. Accepting collect calls can be expensive, sometimes exceeding $10 per call. Click here for discounts on inmate calls, especially if the communication with your inmate is frequent. It's important to remember that all phone calls are recorded, and discussing sensitive legal matters over these lines is discouraged.
While incarcerated, reading is often the best use of time. Please note that books and magazines, puzzles, and word searches ordered for inmates must come directly from the publisher. This policy ensures that the items are new, untampered, and comply with the facility's regulations. Prisons and jails enforce this rule to prevent the introduction of contraband or prohibited materials. By restricting orders to publishers, the facility can better maintain security and control over the content entering the institution. Any books or magazines not received directly from the publisher will be rejected and not delivered to the inmate. You may, however, send letters and selfies to inmates with this easy-to-use app, packages starting at only $8.00.
The Varner Unit, situated in Lincoln County and operated by the Arkansas DOC, is a high-security state prison for adult male inmates. It can house over 1,712 prisoners, including a 468-bed supermax facility. The supermax and non-supermax facilities are separate from each other.
Notably, the Varner Unit Supermax houses male inmates scheduled for execution in Arkansas, with the actual executions taking place at the nearby Cummins Unit. The prison also serves as the location for female death row inmates. Varner is considered one of the state's "parent units" for male prisoners, serving as one of several units of initial assignment for processed male prisoners.
Operational activities at the Varner Unit include Death Row, a GED Program, Mental Health Classes, the Principles and Applications for Life (PAL) Program, Regional Maintenance, Substance Abuse Treatment Programs, the Think Legacy Program, and Vo-Tech vocational training.
The Varner Unit was opened in 1987 with 300 beds, later expanded to 700 beds and further increased to its current capacity. The supermax units were established in 2000, with a significant portion of construction costs covered by federal grants.
Historically, the Varner Unit was nicknamed the "Gladiator School" as it housed all young male offenders in the state prison system at one time. In 2003, all 39 Arkansas death row inmates were relocated from the Maximum Security Unit to the Supermax at the Varner Unit.
In 2011, a confrontation among prisoners and correctional officers resulted in injuries among the officers. Additionally, during 2004/2005, an electric fence was installed between two non-electric fences at the Varner Unit, with inmate labor assisting in its construction.