The Nebraska State Penitentiary's (NSP) Native American Spiritual and Cultural Association (NASCA) held their annual symposium on March 26. "This evening's porgram is about renewal," Association Vice President Ron (Sun Bear) Dubray said. "We try to pass on to others through teachings." Association President Michael Sims noted that there are over 350 federally recognized tribes in the Unite States. The group performed an intertribal dance to unit all tribes. "We have a set of goals to show our family that we are growing," Sims said. "It's a way to restore our community's health."Read more

The Mindfulness Suite (also known as The Blue Room) creates a calming environment for incarcerated women to regroup at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women (NCCW).

The suite – a repurposed and redecorated cell in the Strategic Treatment and Reintegration (STAR) mental health unit – opened in June 2016 to give women a space to call their own. Individuals can schedule hour-long appointments for quiet time in the room, which contains a couch, pillows, plants, sound-proof paneled walls, an olfactory machine with pleasant fragrances and a projector to play calming video and audio from a variety of outdoor scenes such as...Read more

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Unit Case Manager Todd Langan begins his day by checking e-mail and setting up times to meet with incarcerated individuals at the Community Correctional Center-Omaha (CCC-O). Langan has been with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) since 1990. His main job duties include supervising incarcerated individuals and NDCS team members, assisting with reentry and making sure everything at CCC-O runs smoothly. “I enjoy working at CCC-O because every day can present a different challenge," Langan says. “The relationships that we build with various employers and outside agencies is very beneficial for...Read more