Difference Between Nebraska Prison and Federal Prison

What is the Difference Between Federal Prison and Nebraska State Prison?

Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) is responsible for managing Nebraska state prisons. Generally, prisoners serve time in state prisons for violating the Nebraska Criminal Code. On the other hand, federal prisoners violate federal laws and are housed in federal prisons. Federal prisoners are persons convicted for crimes such as drug trafficking, federal tax fraud, bank robbery (involving federal banks), mail fraud, and kidnapping. State offenders are considered more violent since they are often incarcerated for rape, arson, burglary, manslaughter, and aggravated assault.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons manages federal prisons in Nebraska. They also have higher levels of security and are known to be safer than state prisons. There are more state inmates than federal. One significant difference between Nebraska state prisons and federal prisons is the duration of prison sentences. Inmates in federal prisons cannot be released on parole and serve longer jail terms than inmates in state prisons.

The Nebraska Prison System

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services manages the Nebraska prison system. There are ten state prisons in Nebraska with over 5000 inmates. These prisons are listed below:

• Lincoln Community Corrections Center
• Omaha Community Corrections Center
• Diagnostic & Evaluation Center
• Lincoln Correctional Center
• Nebraska Correctional Center for Women
• Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility
• Nebraska State Penitentiary
• Omaha Correctional Center
• Tecumseh State Correctional Institution
• Work Ethic Camp

According to the NCDS quarterly population summary report for October to December 2020, the total daily population (ADP) of all state prison facilities was 5,351 (386 females and 4965 males). The major offenses committed by most inmates are crimes against other persons and sex offenses. 22.98% of the inmates were convicted for assault, 19.13% for sex offenses, 14.24% for drug-related crimes, and 10.5% for homicide. The average age of inmates incarcerated in state prisons is 37.82 years, approximately 38 years.

Typically, inmates are allowed to send electronic messages/emails to individuals or relatives, as long as it follows inmate mail procedures. In addition, each prison facility gives new inmates written information regarding visitation procedures. Visitors must fill an application form before gaining access to a state correctional facility. Individuals with criminal records are not authorized to visit an inmate.

How to Lookup an Inmate in Nebraska

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services maintains a statewide database for inmate searches. Interested persons can look up inmates by inputting the inmate's first name, last name, and NDCS ID number. Alternatively, requesters can visit the department to request Nebraska inmate records at the address below:

Nebraska Department of Corrections
801 West Prospector Pl
Lincoln, NE 68522

Another method for locating state prisoners is by contacting the Public Records Unit. The division accepts mail or email requests through the following address:

Public Disclosure Unit
Nebraska Department of Correctional Services
P.O. Box 94661
Lincoln, NE 68509
Email: DCS.PublicRecords@nebraska.gov

Nebraska inmates make purchases from the prison canteen or commissary. Therefore, the NDCS allows friends and family to send funds to the inmates. They may also send ecards, photographs, videos, and emails.

Nebraska County Jails

Nebraska county jails are short-term correctional facilities where offenders awaiting trial are held. The jails also hold misdemeanor offenders or offenders who are yet to meet bail conditions. There are 87 county jails out of the state's 93 counties in Nebraska. Each county jail has specific procedures for visiting or mailing inmates. Inmates in county jails cannot be found via the statewide database offered by the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. Interested persons can find a county jail inmate by visiting the local sheriff's office or police department. Also, some counties provide inmate search tools on the county sheriff's website.

How Does the Federal Prison System Work?

The Federal Bureau of Prisons operates federal prisons located in Nebraska. Individuals serving prison sentences for violating federal laws are taken to federal prisons. Prisoners in this facility are those convicted by the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska for crimes like money laundering, tax fraud, child pornography, and drug possession/trafficking.

The Bureau of Prisons is responsible for overseeing the operation of 122 correctional facilities in the United States. Apart from housing prisoners, each federal prison provides transition, rehabilitation, and training programs. Other programs created by the federal prisons include:

• Reentry programs
• Mental health care
• Religious programs
• Work programs
• Substance abuse treatment
• Sexual Abuse Prevention
• Medical care
• Educational programs

Federal prisons also classify prisoners into different security levels depending on the nature of the crime committed. The security levels are:

1. Minimum: This security facility, also known as Federal Prison Camp (FPC), holds over 20,000 inmates. The FPCs either have limited or no perimeter fencing and dormitory housing. Also, the staff-to-inmate ratio is meager since the FPCs are mainly created for work programs.
2. Low: Low-security facilities, also known as Federal Correctional Institution (FCIs), hold over 55,000 inmates. Low-security FCIs are allowed to have double-fenced perimeters and cubicle housing. The staff to inmates ratio is slightly higher than minimum FPCs.
3. Medium: Medium FCIs house over 48,000 inmates and have double-fenced perimeters fortified with electronic detection systems.
4. High: These institutions, known as the United States Penitentiary (USPs), hold over 19,000 inmates. They are built with walls or reinforced fences and consist of single or multiple housing for inmates. These prisons have the highest staff-to-inmates ratio.

The Bureau of Prisons manages one other type of correctional institution: the federal administrative facilities. These institutions are created for special purposes, including holding violent/dangerous inmates, inmates with chronic medical issues, pretrial offenders, and possible absconders. The administrative facilities include the Metropolitan Detention Centers (MDCs), Metropolitan Correctional Centers (MCCs), Federal Detention Centers (FDCs), Federal Transfer Center (FTC), Medical Center for Federal Prisoners (MCFP), Federal Medical Centers (FMCs), and the Administrative-Maximum Security Penitentiary (ADX).

Any person can find an inmate housed in any federal prison with the BOP inmate locator. The online search tool contains federal inmates imprisoned from 1982 to date. Interested persons can perform a name search using information like the inmate's first name, last name, middle name, race, age, and sex. Alternatively, individuals can find an inmate using the BOP (Federal Bureau of Prisons) or Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) register number.