NDCS Team Member Spotlight: Family means different things to different people. To Detail Corporal Joshua Decker, corrections is a big part of his own family. “It doesn’t matter if you work in security, the kitchen, maintenance, canteen or anywhere else in the facility. We all work together to keep fellow Nebraskans safe.”

Before stepping into his career at the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS), Decker worked at Jiffy Lube. He has always had a knack for fixing things. Once he got his foot in the door as an officer, Decker then made the move to detail corporal. “I was attracted to the benefits and was willing to try something new. It’s been great. I believe the NDCS is moving in a positive direction. I plan to retire here.”

With 13 years of experience, Decker still finds his job fulfilling and engaging. “Every day is a challenge at the Lincoln Correctional Center (LCC) Farm Shop. The job at times can be very dangerous. But the rewards for changing an incarcerated individual’s life far exceed any danger I have encountered throughout my career.”

A typical day for the detail corporal begins as he takes a crew of incarcerated men to collect and handle the recycling needs at LCC and the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center (DEC) next door. “I enjoy teaching inmates new skills in the work force and being a positive role model for them and new staff too,” said Decker.

For the rest of the day, he focuses on a variety of work orders and preventative maintenance to keep the facilities running smoothly. During the winter, he also focuses on snow removal to make sure teammates and visitors can get to the buildings safely.

Decker noted that the ability to help men at LCC improve their lives motivates him to keep working there. “We are trained to handle a variety of situations and people, including a large range of mental health challenges. This is just another reason I’ve come back to work at LCC every day for the last 13 years. We are doing good.”

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