New State Prison

[ita]

There were a couple articles concerning the potential new state prison that is needed to alleviate overcrowding with the State correctional system, which is the second-most overcrowded in the nation. Here are the links:

OWH
A new state prison in Nebraska could cost upward of $450 million

Journal Star
New state prison could cost up to $750M over 30 years, companies say

The articles provide different insights, with the Journal Star's providing a more comprehensive review of the proposals and bids. The range in the cost is vast, but some include lease payments over a 30 years. The prison itself would cost upwards of $200 million to construct. In terms of location, the articles both mentioned land owned by the State in Lincoln with a possibility of locating it somewhere near Omaha to help with getting workers and correctional staff. The only alternative is taking serious consideration of reforming sentencing to reduce incarceration and/or length thereof, and the Governor is not interested in that unfortunately. According to Frakes, the Department may make a public decision as early as September whether they pursue this project.

[ita]

Will Nebraska need not one, but two new prisons at a cost of nearly $500 million?

Paul Hammel
Could Nebraskans be on the hook for building not only a $270 million replacement for the Nebraska State Penitentiary, but also for renovating the aging Penitentiary?

That appeared to be a distinct possibility following a legislative hearing last fall about upcoming issues facing the Nebraska Department of Corrections.

When asked at an October legislative hearing if the department will require additional prison beds, even after a proposed 1,500-bed prison is built to replace the State Pen, the state’s interim corrections director, Diane Sabatka-Rine, responded “yes.”

“We’ll need to have additional bed space. I don’t know if that includes repurposing the penitentiary or if that includes other options that we’ve not yet explored,” Sabatka-Rine said.

If it’s refurbishing the State Pen, that’s a project the department has estimated would cost $220 million of taxpayer funds.

Please follow the link to read the whole article.

[ita]

Top Nebraska corrections official says new $335 million prison cannot wait

Martha Stoddard
Nebraska’s top corrections official made a pitch Tuesday for lawmakers to finally sign off on building a new $335 million prison.

Diane Sabatka-Rine, interim director for the State Department of Correctional Services, said the deterioration of the Nebraska State Penitentiary and the rising cost of construction mean the long-discussed project needs to move forward.

The 1,512-bed prison has been proposed as a replacement for the aging penitentiary, where a major water leak in one housing unit forced the relocation of 140 men in November. A similar leak last year left the Lincoln prison without running water for nearly two days.

Sabatka-Rine said such problems are likely to be repeated in a facility that includes the oldest buildings in the state prison system. The penitentiary is designed to hold 818 people but currently houses about 1,200 men in maximum-, medium- and minimum-security units.

“This project can no longer be delayed,” she told members of the Appropriations Committee about the proposed new prison.

Last year, lawmakers set aside money for a new prison and allowed $15 million worth of design work to proceed. But they withheld approval for construction until they could get answers about the department’s long-term plans to address the growing inmate population.

[almighty_tuna]

Frankly, this is the first I've heard that we even have a penitentiary in Nebraska. I'd like to see Sen Linehan step in and really dive into the funding for this. The whole boondoggle project has grown to $500M for two prisons and is an unacceptable loss of tax revenue for the properties that will never benefit the local schools.

[Louie]

Frankly, this is the first I've heard that we even have a penitentiary in Nebraska. I'd like to see Sen Linehan step in and really dive into the funding for this. The whole boondoggle project has grown to $500M for two prisons and is an unacceptable loss of tax revenue for the properties that will never benefit the local schools.

Lol, she'd never dream of questioning a prison's funding.

[ita]

New Nebraska state prison site announced as systemic concerns remain

There is no doubt about the “state” of Nebraska’s largest prison, which dates back to the late 1800s.

A water shutdown Thursday morning was just the latest in an operational litany of failure in recent years.

“It still has an infrastructure underneath that we are constantly battling about, pipes busting and what have you,” said Rob Jeffreys, Nebraska Department of Corrections director. “As a matter of fact, we just had a water line bust this morning.”

In a news conference at the Nebraska state capitol in Lincoln, Gov. Jim Pillen and Jeffreys announced the choice from six locations for a new state penitentiary to be built at a cost of $350 million.

The new prison will have 1,500 beds, 300 more than the existing prison in South Lincoln.

In fact, Pillen said he had already inked the $17 million purchase of a 300-acre piece of farmland at 112th and Adams streets in northeast Lincoln where the new prison will be built.

It’s across from the Prairie Pines Nature Preserve and not far from the location of the Lancaster Events Center, home to the Lancaster County Fair.

[Coyote]

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen announces plans to build new state prison to eventually replace state pe...





Nebraska announces plans to build a new state prison to eventually replace the state penitentiary.

[nativeomahan]

The location makes sense, as not only is it in Lincoln (well, barely, but on the far NE side) but it is somewhat close for any workers who will live in Metro Omaha.

[Coyote]

Neighbors push back on new prison location




Neighbors push back on new prison location.

[Cermak]

After all the trouble the Tecumseh prison has had with hiring employees, this location makes sense as it can also pull in employees from the Omaha area if need be.

[PotatoeEatsFish]

Maybe let’s stop locking people up for low level drug offenses and push drug court more often instead of just adding more cells. Crazy idea

[jessep28]

After negotiations, they are moving the site next to the city landfill on 70th St near the 56th Street exit.

[ita]

Nebraska officials change minds, pick new prison site in Lincoln

Less than two weeks after announcing a decision to locate a new prison in northeast Lincoln, state and city officials said they reached an agreement to put the 1,500-bed facility north of Interstate 80.

On Thursday, Gov. Jim Pillen and Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said the new location will put the prison on city-owned property east of 70th Street and McKelvie Road, or just to the east of Lincoln’s landfill.

The announcement to move the proposed site was made at a joint press conference hosted at the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services’ central office.

Why was the other location even in the running? They already own this 'new' property and it's away from everyone and everything.

[Coyote]

Governor Pillen, Mayor Gaylor Baird announce new prison site north of I-80, east of 70th Street

[jessep28]

Why was the other location even in the running? They already own this 'new' property and it's away from everyone and everything.

According to the state, that landfill site was the primary, but Lincoln said no. Only after backlash about the initial selection did the city negotiate a deal.

[Cermak]

Closer to Omaha now, for potential employees. should be very visible from I-80.

[nativeomahan]

This is a smart move all around. Easy interstate access in an area unlikely to become residential.

[Erik]

In Nebraska, we build prisons- its our amusement park

[ita]

New UNO report says Nebraska could avoid building a second new prison, reduce overcrowding

Paul Hammel
A new report on Nebraska’s chronic prison overcrowding says the state could alleviate crowding, and possibly avoid building a second, pricey new prison, by handling short-term inmates differently.

The report recommended that inmates with sentences of less than a year — so called “short timers” — shouldn’t be sent to prison, but instead serve their time in a county jail or some other alternative to a prison bed.

Short timers now represent over 50% of new state prison)admissions. Because of their short sentences, they have little opportunity for rehabilitation programming or work release, according to the report from the Nebraska Center for Justice Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

The report said moving short timers into alternative housing locations “would provide a substantial reduction to prison crowding, may prevent the need to build an additional prison facility....”

[Erik]

New UNO report says Nebraska could avoid building a second new prison, reduce overcrowding

Paul Hammel
A new report on Nebraska’s chronic prison overcrowding says the state could alleviate crowding, and possibly avoid building a second, pricey new prison, by handling short-term inmates differently.

The report recommended that inmates with sentences of less than a year — so called “short timers” — shouldn’t be sent to prison, but instead serve their time in a county jail or some other alternative to a prison bed.

Short timers now represent over 50% of new state prison)admissions. Because of their short sentences, they have little opportunity for rehabilitation programming or work release, according to the report from the Nebraska Center for Justice Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

The report said moving short timers into alternative housing locations “would provide a substantial reduction to prison crowding, may prevent the need to build an additional prison facility....”

The more people we put in these, the more jobs we can provide for those who are still free

[F0R_L1F3]

Found some renderings from the Corrections website, guess it wasn't posted with any public announcement or wasn't noticed.

[remline]

Ha, those renderings make it look like such an ideal place to spend some quality time.

[nebugeater]

Ha, those renderings make it look like such an ideal place to spend some quality time.

I am sure that anyone could arrange that for themselves with minimal effort!

[Erik]

They went with the 1970s interior design, people around here think of that as high-end, so that will surely be selected