NDCS News Releases

NDCS News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (19-57)

CONTACT Laura Strimple, Chief of Staff

OFFICE 402-479-5713 | laura.strimple@nebraska.gov

September 18, 2019 (Lincoln, Neb.) More contraband has been confiscated as a result of a day-long, highly coordinated, multi-agency search of the Nebraska State Penitentiary. Members of the Nebraska State Patrol and Lincoln Police Department (LPD) joined staff members from the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) in an operation that was “more than a month in the planning,” said Director Scott R. Frakes.

“This was a first-of-its-kind operation for Nebraska’s prison...Read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (19-56)

CONTACT Laura Strimple, Chief of Staff

OFFICE 402-479-5713 | laura.strimple@nebraska.gov

Inmate death at DEC

September 16, 2019 (Lincoln, Neb.) – Louis Burks #79365, age 66, died today at 4:22 p.m. at the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center (DEC) in Lincoln. His sentence began on December 20, 2013. Burks was serving a 20- to 30- year sentence for two counts of attempted sexual assault of a child out of Douglas County.

While the cause of death has not been determined, Burks was being treated for a medical condition. As...Read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (19-55)

CONTACT Laura Strimple, Chief of Staff

OFFICE 402-479-5713 | laura.strimple@nebraska.gov

Inmate death at DEC

September 12, 2019 (Lincoln, Neb.) – Donald Waldner #41324, age 55, died around 10 p.m. on September 11, 2019 at the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center (DEC). His sentence began on September 17, 1990. Waldner was serving a life sentence for two counts of first degree murder out of Colfax County.

While the cause of death has not been determined, Waldner was being treated for a medical condition. As is the case...Read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (19-54)

CONTACT Laura Strimple, Chief of Staff

OFFICE 402-479-5713 | laura.strimple@nebraska.gov

NDCS Director reveals contraband confiscated in searches

September 11, 2019 (Lincoln, Neb.) -- Today, Director of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) Scott R. Frakes, released photos of some of the contraband confiscated during recent searches conducted at the Nebraska State Penitentiary. During that time, the facility was placed on lockdown*, all inmate movement was stopped and outside visitation to the penitentiary...Read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (19-53)

CONTACT Laura Strimple

Chief of Staff

OFFICE 402-479-5713 |

laura.strimple@nebraska.gov

NDCS employee arrested

September 10, 2019 (Lincoln, Neb.) -- Bridget Matson (41), a chemical dependency supervisor at the Work Ethic Camp (WEC) in McCook, was arrested by the Nebraska State Patrol on September 10, 2019 for unauthorized communication with a prisoner (Neb. Rev. Stat. 83-417) and sexual abuse of an inmate (Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-322.02).

Matson has been employed by NDCS since August of 2011....Read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (19-51)

CONTACT Laura Strimple, Chief of Staff

OFFICE 402-479-5713 | laura.strimple@nebraska.gov

September 4, 2019 (Lincoln, Neb.) – Director Scott R. Frakes says he is taking a no-holds-barred approach to stemming a recent uptick in assaults, drug exposures and contraband at the Nebraska State Penitentiary. The entire facility has been placed on lockdown* since this morning.

“That will continue to be the case until further notice,” noted Director Frakes. “During this time we will have staff members doing organized and intensive searches of housing units, looking...Read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (19-50)

CONTACT Laura Strimple, Chief of Staff

OFFICE 402-479-5713 | laura.strimple@nebraska.gov

September 3, 2019 (Lincoln, Neb.) An inmate who was reported missing from the Community Corrections Center-Lincoln (CCC-L) is back in the custody of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS). Timothy Bailey #88694 returned on his own to CCC-L on Sunday, September 1. He was then transferred to the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center (DEC).

Bailey was reported missing on August 29, when he did not return from his work release job. He is serving a two-year...Read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (19-49)

CONTACT Erika Hill, Communications Director

OFFICE 402-479-5712 | erika.hill@nebraska.gov

September 3, 2019 (Lincoln, Neb.) – An inmate assaulted three staff members at the Nebraska State Penitentiary on Monday, September 2, 2019. One person received a serious* injury and was treated at the hospital as a result.

The incident occurred just before 8:00 a.m. inside the dining hall. A staff member, standing by the serving line, was punched in the head by the inmate multiple times. Two other staff members received minor injuries while trying to secure the inmate....Read more

Pages