Nebraska Inmate Records

A Nebraska inmate record is a documented piece of information regarding an inmate and their circumstances in a correctional facility within the state. It is typically kept by the authority in charge of the correctional facility where an offender is held, which may be a local, state, or federal government agency. Nebraska has an imprisonment rate of 284 per 100,000, which is lower than the United States average of 355 per 100,000 persons. The state's prison system incarcerates about 5,592 offenders in state-operated correctional facilities and an average of 3,600 in local jails.

In Nebraska, an inmate record includes information such as the following:

• Personal Information - This includes name, race, age, height, eye color, hair color, mugshot, height, date of birth, the inmate's number as assigned by the correctional agency, and weight.
• Arrest Details - These list the place and date of the arrest, charges filed, information about the arresting agency, and the arrest warrant.
• Sentence and Release Information - This includes the total sentence, sentence begin date, good time law, current facility of incarceration, and the projected release date.
• Parole Information - This includes parole eligibility. Parole hearing date, parole discharge date, and parole discharge type.
• Offense Details - These include the description of the inmate's offense, minimum and maximum offense term, run code, and the county of commitment.
• Court Records - These include the case number, court dates, trial details, fines, and judgments.

Are Inmate Records Public in Nebraska?

Nebraska inmate records are public documents. As a result, members of the public may examine and make copies of the prison records for any individual in the state, per Section 84-712 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes. However, while most inmate records in the state are considered public records, some state laws expressly prohibit the public disclosure of certain records and information in inmate records.

In Nebraska, juvenile inmate records, sealed inmate records, and expunged inmate records may not be accessed by the general public. Also, state law requires certain information to be redacted in inmate records to protect the privacy of the record subjects. Such information includes financial account numbers, Social Security numbers, victim information, medical records, and mental health information.

What Agencies Are Responsible for Inmate Records in Nebraska?

Agencies tasked with managing correctional facilities, overseeing inmates, and keeping accurate records of inmates within Nebraska's prison system include the following:

• The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) - The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) is responsible for all inmates convicted of felonies, such as violent crimes, drug crimes, and property crimes, and sentenced to incarceration of at least one year. It manages 9 correctional facilities across the state, each housing inmates with specific rehabilitation needs. In addition, the NDCS is responsible for keeping records of all convicted offenders under its jurisdiction.
• Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) - The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) manages all the federal correctional facilities across the United States and maintains the records of all inmates incarcerated in those facilities. Although none of these facilities operate in Nebraska, individuals convicted of federal crimes in the state are sentenced to federal prisons in other states, where their records are maintained by the BOP.
• County Sheriff's Offices - Each county sheriff's office in Nebraska's 93 counties operates a local jail where individuals convicted of misdemeanors and sentenced to one year or less of incarceration are housed. These facilities also hold persons awaiting trial. The county sheriff's office in charge of a local jail is typically responsible for maintaining the records of each inmate under its supervision.
• Police Departments - Even though police departments do not keep convicted inmates in custody, they maintain the records of arrests that led to their convictions. These records form a big part of any inmate's record in Nebraska.

How To Search an Inmate's Information in Nebraska

To begin looking up an inmate's information in Nebraska, it is important to determine where the inmate in question is housed or incarcerated. Generally, an inmate is held in a state, local, or federal correctional facility in the state.

Find an inmate in the Nebraska State Prisons

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) provides an inmate search tool, Incarceration Records, that enables members of the public to find the records of inmates incarcerated in any of the department's correctional facilities. Using this tool, anyone may retrieve information regarding an inmate who is held in a state-operated prison with their name or DCS ID (unique inmate ID) as the search criterion. After entering the available search parameters and clicking the "Submit" button, the search result usually contains information such as the inmate's demographic, offense information, and sentence details.

Alternatively, it is possible to obtain records of inmates held in Nebraska state prisons by visiting the correctional facility housing such inmates. However, before visiting, it is advisable to contact the record custodian to determine if an appointment is required for such a request. Usually, an inmate's name, DCS ID number, admission date, gender, date of birth, and any other important information must be readily available to enable the record custodian to locate the file of the inmate whose record is sought.

Find an Inmate in Local Jail

To find an inmate held in a local jail in Nebraska, identify the jail facility where the inmate is incarcerated and the county sheriff's office in charge of the facility's administration. Typically, most sheriff's offices maintain links to online inmate locators or rosters on their websites that enable the public to locate inmates in their custody and retrieve basic information about them. With details such as name, ID number, booking date, and/or gender, anyone should be able to obtain information regarding any inmate incarcerated in any local jail in the state.

While it is more convenient to use the online inmate search tools offered by county sheriff's offices to access inmate records, information retrieved through these tools is often limited. When a more detailed record of an offender housed in a Nebraska local jail is needed, it is best to go in person to the jail facility and ask to see the record custodian. In most cases, requesters will be required to provide certain information that can help facilitate a smooth search.

Find an Inmate in Federal Prison

The BOP Inmate Locator is the first go-to resource when considering looking up information regarding someone convicted of a federal crime in Nebraska and sentenced to a federal prison in another state. It allows both name-based and BOP register number-based searches. To conduct a name-based search, use the full or partial names of the inmate's first and last names and click the "Search" button. An inmate's full BOP register number is required to perform a number-based search. Search results typically include the full name, race, sex, location, release date, and age of the inmate whose record is sought.

How Can I Access Old Inmate Records?

Information about individuals who were previously incarcerated in the Nebraska prison system may not be available through the inmate search tools maintained by the various prison/jail authorities. Such tools generally have records of inmates who are currently in custody. To find records of old inmates who served their prison terms in Nebraska state-operated correctional facilities, check the prison records maintained by the Nebraska State Historical Society. For instance, the State Historical Society has a collection of prisoner records from 1870 to 1990.

For former inmates who served prison sentences for committing federal offenses in Nebraska, interested persons may look up their records through the National Archives maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Credible third-party websites like Nebraskapublicrecords.us are great resources for looking up records of old inmates in the state, regardless of the correctional facility where such inmates were incarcerated during their active sentences. These sites typically collect public records from official sources and keep them in their databases, where interested persons may access them at a small cost.

When a person needs a more detailed record about an old inmate in Nebraska, they may visit the prison or jail where the former inmate was incarcerated and submit a request to the record custodian. Such a request should include information such as the inmate's name, ID number, date of release, gender, race, and any other vital information that will enable the custodian to locate the inmate's file quickly.

Furthermore, an interested party may submit a FOIA request to the BOP to obtain information regarding an old inmate incarcerated in a federal prison. However, if the former inmate whose record is sought was incarcerated in a state-operated prison in Nebraska, anyone may retrieve comprehensive information regarding that inmate by submitting a public records request to the state's Department of Correctional Services by email or through the mail to:

Can I Find a Nebraska Inmate Record for Free?

Nebraska inmate records may be accessed for free through inmate search resources provided by each prison or jail authority in the state. These include the inmate search tools managed by the county sheriff's offices, the BOP Inmate Locator, and the NDCS Incarceration Records system. However, each of these tools only has information/records of inmates housed by the prison/jail authority managing them.

To access the record of any inmate in Nebraska, regardless of the facility of incarceration, use third-party sites like Nebraskapublicrecords.us. While services offered by these sites are not free, they are reliable and provide centralized access to information regarding all inmates within the state's prison system.

Jails and Prisons in Nebraska

The following categories of correctional facilities operate in Nebraska:

• State Prisons - The state-operated prisons are managed by the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS). Each of the 9 state prisons provides a range of services and programs targeted at supporting inmates' reentry success. These programs and services include educational opportunities, substance use treatment, vocational training, and mental health care.
• Local Jails - Nebraska has an estimated 93 local jails, each managed by a county sheriff's office.

Although no federal prison operates in the state, individuals who violate federal laws within the state's limits are sentenced to federal prisons in other states once convicted. Such prisons are overseen by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

State Prisons in Nebraska

The table below lists all state-run correctional facilities in Nebraska:

Private Prisons in Nebraska

No private correctional facility operates in Nebraska.

Nebraska Inmate Statistics

• Nebraska Incarceration Rate - 284 per 100,000 residents
• Male Incarceration Rate - 527 per 100,000 males
• Female Incarceration Rate - 37 per 100,000 females
• Youth Custody Rate - 93 per 100,000 youths
• Number of Prisoners in Private Prisons - 0
• Black/White Imprisonment Disparity - 8.9:1
• Latino/White Imprisonment Disparity - 1.9:1
• Number of offenders under community supervision - 826 per 100,000 people
• Number on probation - 802 per 100,000 people
• Number on parole - 63 per 100,000 people
• Felony Disenfranchisement Rate - 0.9%

* Source: United States Bureau of Justice Statistics