Nebraska Department of Correctional Services
Encyclopedia
The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) is the state corrections
agency for the State of Nebraska
. NDCS currently has 11 institutions confining over 4,000 inmates
. All male inmates coming into the system enter through the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center
where they are evaluated and assigned to other facilities. All female inmates are housed at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women
. The agency's headquarters is in Building #1 in the Lincoln Regional Center in Lincoln, Nebraska
.
Nebraska is one of nine states nationwide having all adult facilities accredited through the American Correctional Association
.
from 1903 to the present.
Death row in Nebraska was housed at NSP from 1903 to 2002 when it was transferred to the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. Executions still take place at the Penitentiary. Inmates who receive an execution date would be transferred to NSP approximately within a week of that date and would be housed in the penitentiary hospital on what is called the "death watch." While on the death watch, condemned inmates may have special visits from family, friends, religious representatives and attorneys
. The visits are supervised by staff assigned to the death watch and take place in the suite of rooms set aside for the condemned inmates. Inmates may also request a special "last meal." Such meals must be prepared from food supplies on hand at the prison.
Previously the department operated juvenile correctional facilities, including the Youth Rehabilitation & Treatment Center - Kearney (YRTC-K) in Kearney
, a juvenile correctional facility for boys, and the Youth Rehabilitation & Treatment Center - Geneva (YRTC-G) in unincorporated
Fillmore County
, near Geneva
, for girls. After 23 years of operation from the Department of Correctional Services; on January 1, 1997, the youth correctional facilities were transferred out of the scope of the department; the facilities are now managed by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
Corrections
In criminal justice, particularly in North America, correction, corrections, and correctional, are umbrella terms describing a variety of functions typically carried out by government agencies and involving the punishment, treatment, and supervision of persons who have been convicted of crimes....
agency for the State of Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. NDCS currently has 11 institutions confining over 4,000 inmates
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
. All male inmates coming into the system enter through the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center
Nebraska Diagnostic and Evaluation Center
The Nebraska Diagnostic and Evaluation Center is a maximum custody, reception, diagnostic, evaluation, assessment, classification and assignment facility for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services . Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, D&E was established by the Nebraska State Legislature in...
where they are evaluated and assigned to other facilities. All female inmates are housed at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women
Nebraska Correctional Center for Women
The Nebraska Correctional Center for Women is a state correctional facility for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. Located just west of York, Nebraska, it is the only secure state facility to house adult women....
. The agency's headquarters is in Building #1 in the Lincoln Regional Center in Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
.
Nebraska is one of nine states nationwide having all adult facilities accredited through the American Correctional Association
American Correctional Association
The American Correctional Association , formerly known as the American Prison Association, is the oldest and largest international correctional association in the world. Approximately 80 percent of all state departments of corrections and youth services are active participants...
.
Capital Punishment in Nebraska
All executions in Nebraska since 1903 have taken place within the Nebraska State Penitentiary. Prior to 1903, executions were handled in the county where the offense took place. From 1903 to 1913, the means of execution was by hanging. Since 1913, it has been by the electric chair. A total of 8 inmates were executed by hanging and 15 inmates by means of the electric chair. (23 Total) There have been approximately 68 inmates housed on death rowDeath row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
from 1903 to the present.
Death row in Nebraska was housed at NSP from 1903 to 2002 when it was transferred to the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. Executions still take place at the Penitentiary. Inmates who receive an execution date would be transferred to NSP approximately within a week of that date and would be housed in the penitentiary hospital on what is called the "death watch." While on the death watch, condemned inmates may have special visits from family, friends, religious representatives and attorneys
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. The visits are supervised by staff assigned to the death watch and take place in the suite of rooms set aside for the condemned inmates. Inmates may also request a special "last meal." Such meals must be prepared from food supplies on hand at the prison.
Facilities
List of Nebraska state prisonsPreviously the department operated juvenile correctional facilities, including the Youth Rehabilitation & Treatment Center - Kearney (YRTC-K) in Kearney
Kearney, Nebraska
Kearney is a city in and the county seat of Buffalo County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 30,787 at the 2010 census. It is home to the University of Nebraska-Kearney....
, a juvenile correctional facility for boys, and the Youth Rehabilitation & Treatment Center - Geneva (YRTC-G) in unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
Fillmore County
Fillmore County, Nebraska
-Hunting:Fillmore is popular with hunters of pheasant, deer, Canada goose and other popular game animals.-Organizations:Fillmore County is home to a nonprofit organization which promotes education and the development of habitat for butterflies in Nebraska....
, near Geneva
Geneva, Nebraska
Geneva is a city in Fillmore County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 2,217 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Fillmore County.-Geography:Geneva is located at ....
, for girls. After 23 years of operation from the Department of Correctional Services; on January 1, 1997, the youth correctional facilities were transferred out of the scope of the department; the facilities are now managed by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, 6 officers have died in the line of duty.See also
- List of United States state correction agencies
- List of U.S. state and local law enforcement agencies
- List of law enforcement agencies in Nebraska