Nebraska State Prisons
7 facilities- NDCS - Community Corrections Center-Lincoln (CCC-L)
- NDCS - Community Corrections Center-Omaha (CCC-O)
- NDCS - Nebraska Correctional Center for Women (NCCW)
- NDCS - Nebraska State Penitentiary (NSP)
- NDCS - Omaha Correctional Center (OCC)
Nebraska County Jails
51 facilities- Adams County NE Jail
- Antelope County NE Law Enforcement Center
- Box Butte County NE Jail
- Buffalo County NE Jail
- Butler County NE Jail
ICE Detention Centers
1 facilityNebraska Department of Corrections
Nebraska NDCS offender search allows searches by NDCS number or name. Nebraska has been under significant scrutiny regarding chronic overcrowding - the state's prisons have operated above capacity for years, leading to lawsuits and reform efforts.
The official inmate search is available at doc.nebraska.gov/offender-search. Federal inmates from Nebraska are often housed at FCI Oxford (WI) or USP Leavenworth (KS).
Visitation in Nebraska Facilities
Nebraska NDCS visitor approval requires a visitor application and background check. Processing takes 2 - 4 weeks. Nebraska has faced challenges with overcrowding that affect visiting conditions at some facilities.
Always confirm visiting schedules directly with the facility before traveling. Find specific visitation rules on each facility's page in our Nebraska prison directory.
Sending Mail to Nebraska Inmates
Nebraska NDCS mail requires the NDCS number. Standard 4x6 photos accepted. Nebraska has been transitioning some facilities to electronic mail systems - verify current policy for your facility.
InmateAid delivers letters and photos, postcards, and magazines to Nebraska facilities. Want to receive letters without sharing your home address? Our Letters From Inmates service scans and delivers inmate mail to your account.
Phone Calls from Nebraska Facilities
Nebraska is not currently among the states that offer free inmate phone calls. Securus Technologies holds the NDCS contract.
Following the FCC's Martha Wright-Reed Order (effective April 6, 2026), per-minute rates for inmate calls are now federally capped at state and federal facilities. Find current carrier and rate information on each facility's page in our Nebraska prison directory.
Sending Money to Nebraska Inmates
Commissary funds let inmates purchase approved items from the facility store. Primary money transfer options for Nebraska:
- JPay (primary for NDCS)
- Money orders mailed to facility
- Lobby kiosks
See our Send Money guide or navigate to the specific facility page for current provider information.
Reentry Resources in Nebraska
Planning for release is one of the most important things a family can do. These organizations provide support in Nebraska:
- Nebraska DOC Reentry - Official reentry programs
- Legal Aid of Nebraska - Free civil legal help statewide
- Siena/Francis House - Omaha-based homeless and reentry services
- Nebraska Reentry Alliance - Statewide reentry network
Frequently Asked Questions About Nebraska Prisons
Why is Nebraska under so much pressure about overcrowding?
Nebraska's prisons have operated above their designed capacity for years - some facilities reaching 150 - 160% of design capacity. The ACLU of Nebraska has filed litigation specifically over overcrowding conditions, and the state legislature has debated sentencing reform and facility expansion for multiple sessions. The root causes are familiar: mandatory minimum sentences that limit judicial discretion, high rates of incarceration for drug offenses, and insufficient investment in community alternatives. Overcrowding creates genuine danger - for both inmates and staff - through increased tension, reduced programming space, and the inability to separate conflicting individuals. If your family member is at an overcrowded facility, stay in close communication and document any safety concerns.
What happened at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution?
Tecumseh State Correctional Institution in Johnson County became the site of one of the most destructive prison riots in recent Nebraska history in May 2015. Over two days, fighting that began between rival groups spread through the facility, resulting in two inmate deaths, dozens of injuries, and millions of dollars in property damage. The incident was attributed to overcrowding, understaffing, and tensions building over time. Tecumseh has faced ongoing staffing challenges since and remains one of the more volatile facilities in the Nebraska system. If your family member is at Tecumseh, stay in close contact and document any reports of safety concerns in writing.
Does Nebraska have free prison phone calls?
No - Nebraska has not eliminated phone call fees. Securus Technologies holds the NDCS contract. The FCC's April 2026 rate caps apply to interstate calls from Nebraska state prisons, reducing costs from historical rates, but calls are not free. Nebraska has been focused on the overcrowding crisis rather than phone reform in recent legislative sessions. Set up a Securus prepaid account rather than accepting collect calls, which are significantly more expensive.
What is the NDCS number?
NDCS stands for Nebraska Department of Correctional Services - the unique identification number assigned to every person in Nebraska state prison custody. It must appear on all mail sent to NDCS facilities. Find it through the NDCS offender search at doc.nebraska.gov. County jail detainees don't have NDCS numbers - those are assigned when someone enters state custody after sentencing. If your person was recently sentenced and transferred from county jail, allow 24 - 48 hours for the system to update. Once assigned, the number is permanent for the sentence regardless of facility transfers.
How do I find someone in a Nebraska county jail?
Nebraska has 93 counties, most operating their own jails for pretrial detainees and sentences under a year. The NDCS offender search covers state prison inmates only. Contact the county sheriff's office directly for pretrial detainees - Douglas County Correctional Center in Omaha and Lancaster County Jail in Lincoln are the two largest county facilities. Most Nebraska county sheriff offices maintain online inmate rosters. If you're not sure which county, start with where the arrest occurred. The Nebraska Sheriffs' Association maintains contact information for all county sheriffs.
What is Nebraska State Penitentiary?
Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln opened in 1869, making it one of the oldest operating state prisons in the United States. Despite its age, NSP remains Nebraska's primary maximum-security facility - it has undergone periodic renovations to remain operational, but the fundamental structure is a 19th-century building trying to serve a 21st-century population. NSP has faced ongoing criticism related to aging infrastructure, limited programming space, and conditions tied to the broader overcrowding crisis. The facility is on the northern edge of Lincoln, relatively accessible for families in the capital city area. NSP has been the focal point of most of Nebraska's prison overcrowding litigation.