Prison report: progress on crowding, staffing; health concerns remain

Sept. 15, 2022, 1 p.m. ·

New report released on Nebraska prisons (screenshot)
New report released on Nebraska prisons (screenshot)

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A new report says Nebraska’s prison system is making progress against overcrowding and understaffing. But problems remain, including a shortage of health care workers.

The report by the inspector general of the state’s correctional system says Nebraska’s prisons currently hold 50% more people than they were designed for. But when 384 new beds open up at the Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln later this year, that overcrowding will drop to 37%.

Inspector general Doug Koebernick warned that if the prison population returns to pre-pandemic levels and resumes growing, the overcrowding will return to current levels.

Koebernick also says pay increases of up to 40% for security personnel have had a very positive effect on recruiting and retaining prison staff. But he says problems remain.

“One of the things that our office is looking at right now, because of numerous complaints from individuals and contacts from staff, is concerns about the medical care. That would be medical, dental, vision, things like that, because they are short-staffed in some of those areas. And then, we’re really concerned about the behavioral health staff shortage,” Koebernick said.

For example, he said there are supposed to be 18 psychologists in the department, but earlier this summer there were only six. He said that can lead to inmates acting out because their mental health needs aren’t being met.