State officials announced on Thursday that a $366 million new state prison would be constructed in a location in northeast Lincoln, saying that the facility would serve as an example for inmates and employees nationwide.
A new prison would be better equipped to offer offenders programming for rehabilitation
In choosing the area, accessibility to the labor force and inmate families was mentioned by Governor Jim Pillen and the recently appointed State Corrections Director Rob Jeffreys. They added that Interstate 80 is nearby, making it easier for workers to commute and for family members to visit.
In a report in Nebraska Examiner, the outdated State Penitentiary in southwest Lincoln, which can house roughly 1,200 offenders but has a history of water main breaches, including another small one on Thursday morning, will be replaced with the 1,500-bed facility.
They claimed that by building the prison in Lincoln, the 500 current employees of the State Penitentiary would be able to transfer to the new facility.
A new prison, according to Pillen and Jeffreys, would be better equipped to offer offenders programming for rehabilitation.
At a press conference, Pillen stated that this investment would enable us to practically lead the country in caring for individuals who owe society a debt.
The Nebraska Legislature decided to authorize the last $95.8 million needed to finish building a new jail this spring. According to Jeffreys, the 305-acre land cost $17 million, and staffing the prison will cost $32 million annually.
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New prison will have 300 more beds than the State Penitentiary
According to him, inflation would certainly cause the building expenses to rise from the most recent estimate of $366 million, which likely sets a record for the most money spent on one state facility. When the new jail opens, the State Penitentiary, which contains parts that date back to before Nebraska became a state in 1867, will be shut down, according to Jeffreys.
The new facility’s completion date was not specified by officials on Thursday, but they did say that work is anticipated to start in roughly a year.
The prison system in Nebraska, like other companies around the country, is having trouble retaining staff, but according to Jeffreys, he is putting more of an emphasis on wellness and engagement.
According to data from the first quarter of 2023, Nebraska has one of the most overcrowded prison systems in the nation, housing roughly 1,600 more convicts than its design capacity.
According to a consultant’s report, Nebraska will require 1,500 more jail beds by 2030.
In an article from 1011 Now, although Jeffreys stated on Thursday that the new prison will have 300 more beds than the State Penitentiary, it should still be able to help with the congestion.
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