Nebraska Department of Correctional Services

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nebraska Correctional Services patch

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.

Nebraska is one of nine states nationwide having all adult facilities accredited through the American Correctional Association.

The 11 institutions include:

Community Corrections Center - Lincoln
Community Corrections Center - Omaha
Hastings Correctional Center
Lincoln Correctional Center (LCC)
Nebraska Correctional Center for Women (NCCW)
Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility (NCYF)
Nebraska Diagnostic and Evaluation Center (D&E)
Nebraska State Penitentiary (NSP)
Omaha Correctional Center (OCC)
Tecumseh State Correctional Institution (TSCI)
Work Ethic Camp (WEC) - McCook

[edit] 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 row 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.