For Release Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Capitol View
Commentary by J.L. Schmidt
Statehouse Correspondent
The Nebraska Press Association
Prison System Still a Mess, Is Anybody Surprised?

      Staffing at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln has been below a critical staffing level 18 times since early July and caused an occasional halt to visitations and sporadic closure of the library, gymnasium and various programs.
      Inspector General Doug Koebernick has reported to the LegislatureÕs Judiciary Committee that the staffing issue, combined with a population at more than 180% of design capacity, is "quite disturbing" for both staff and inmates. Critical staffing positions include correctional officers, corporals, sergeants, shift supervisors and caseworkers. During one week in August, the Penitentiary was below minimum staffing at least six times, he said.Ê
      He said he e-mailed the Judiciary Committee about the situation in July. He even called the GovernorÕs office and asked if anyone wanted to discuss the situation with him. He said they told him to call Corrections Director Scott Frakes.
      Frakes said prisons across the nation are struggling with the same issues of employee recruitment and retention. Nebraska is taking multiple approaches to solve the problems, including recent pay increases to many employees as the result of union negotiations.ÊThatÕs on top of agency-initiated monetary initiatives offered beginning in April and again in July. Frakes said the state continues to host job fairs, offer internships, incentivize employee referrals and provide compensation to supervisors.
 


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      Koebernick said heÕs also concerned about construction that will begin in the next year at the penitentiary to add a 100-bed housing unit and require extra staff that just isn't available.Ê
      It's not as if the Department of Correctional Services isn't working to improve the situation, he said, but the problems continue.Ê
      On top of all that, critical shortages can also cause restricted movement within housing units and forced overtime. Koebernick said sometimes nearly half a shift consists of people working overtime.Ê
      A recent report indicated all available first-shift staff was mandated to stay, and staffing was still below minimum.Ê
      He said the recent growth in overtime is alarming. Based on conversations with those who work and are locked up there, and his own observations, Koebernick said he is alarmed that the penitentiary may be in the worst shape of all of the state facilities.
      Judiciary Committee Chairman Steve Lathrop said solving the staffing shortages would take increases in starting pay, which is up to the executive branch. Stopping mandatory overtime is not an option because that would make it impossible to staff the prison.
      The high prison capacity, combined with staffing problems, less yard time and limited activities have raised tensions at the penitentiary. Both staff and those incarcerated are affected.
      Good for Koebernick for staying on top of this. Kudos to Frakes for trying to increase staffing levels. HatÕs off to the tireless Ð or maybe thatÕs tired Ð workers who are trying their best to keep a lid on things.
      
      
      
      
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      HereÕs hoping the entire Nebraska Legislature, not just Lathrop and the Judiciary Committee, see the on-going problem and are receptive to new solutions. Of course, some of those are old suggestions such as alternative sentencing and expanded programming. 
      LetÕs make 2020 the year this happens. We canÕt keep ignoring it, because itÕs not going away.
 
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       J.L. Schmidt has been covering Nebraska government and politics since 1979. He has been a registered Independent for 20 years.