FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (18-03)

CONTACT Dawn-Renee Smith, Communications Director

OFFICE 402-479-5713 | dawnrenee.smith@nebraska.gov

January 10, 2018 (Lincoln, Neb.) – Today, Governor Ricketts announced that his budget includes adding a 100-bed unit to the Nebraska State Penitentiary (NSP).

“This new construction adds minimum custody beds, which will allow individuals to transition through the system and ultimately to the community,“ said Director Frakes. “We appreciate the Governor’s support as we increase our capacity and keep people safe.

“We have focused significant efforts on reentry and rehabilitation and will continue to work toward preparing individuals to be ready for parole when they are eligible. To effectively manage the population, we must also expand capacity. We have been thoughtful and measured in our approach to adding capacity to ensure we add new beds at the appropriate security level.”

There is $105 million in construction projects currently underway to expand capacity, which includes the expansion that combines the Lincoln Correctional Center and the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center into one campus that is more efficient and easier to operate; the 100-bed community custody unit completed in September and the 160–bed expansion of the Community Corrections Center – Lincoln. The bids for the 160-bed project came in significantly lower than anticipated. The Governor’s budget reinvests $5.8 million of those funds into constructing a new unit at the penitentiary. 

The expansion at NSP adds lower custody beds, which will allow individuals who can be safely managed at minimum custody to move out of maximum/medium security areas. It will provide greater flexibility to move individuals between facilities and open up higher custody beds for new admissions.

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