It is located along U.S. Highway 65,[2] near Grady,[3] and 28 miles (45 km) south of Pine Bluff.

[5] The Varner Unit Supermax houses male inmates scheduled for execution in Arkansas, currently performed by lethal injection.

[4] The supermax units opened in 2000, and federal grants paid 90% of the construction costs.

While this was the case, Correction Officers and prisoners nicknamed the facility the "Gladiator School.

[15] The main campus of the Riverside Vocational Technical School is located behind the Varner Unit.