Your loved one is incarcerated.
How do you support your loved one during thEIr time in prison?
Families pay both the apparent and hidden costs while their loved ones serve out sentences and for a long time after. Prison can mean large financial costs while also dealing with intense emotional and physical trauma.
How will you get through this difficult time?
First and foremost, don’t blame yourself. You are not responsible for the actions of your loved one.
Don’t put your personal well-being on hold. It may be hard, but your life must go on too.
Find balance in your relationship and family responsibilities. This may mean setting financial and emotional limits with your loved one.
Choose people you can talk to in confidence. Some of the most stressful times for your family will be right after the arrest, a transfer to a new facility, parole interviews, and getting ready for release.
Be prepared by talking about your concerns and fears openly and honestly.
Use this time to engage in your own self-care and take advantage of community support groups.
There are a variety of ways to support your loved one while they are in prison. It is important for you to read the policies of NDCS and the specific facility your loved one is at to make sure you have a good understanding of your rights and the rules.
Nebraska Department of Corrections Facilities
Work Release
Community Corrections Center - Lincoln
2720 W Van Dorn St Lincoln, NE 68522
Male/Female Facility for work detail & work/educational release
Community (A or B) Classifications
WoMEN’S
Nebraska Correctional Center for Women
1107 Recharge Rd York, NE 68467
Maximum, Medium, and Minimum (A and B) Classifications
YOUTH
Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility
2610 N 20th St E Omaha, NE 68110
Male Facility for youth adjudicated as adults
Age range: early teens to 21 years
Maximum, Medium, and Minimum A Classifications
MEN’S
Nebraska State Penitentiary
4201 S 14th St Lincoln, NE 68502
Maximum, Medium and Minimum A Classifications
Tecumseh State Correctional Institution
2725 Hwy 50 Tecumseh, NE 68450
Maximum and Medium Classifications
Community Corrections Center - Omaha
2320 Avenue J Omaha, NE 68110
Male Facility for work detail & work/educational release
Community (A or B) Classifications
Omaha Correctional Center
2323 Avenue J Omaha, NE 68110
Medium and Minimum A Classifications
Reception and Treatment Center
3218 W Van Dorn St Lincoln, NE 68522
Maximum and Medium Classifications
Work Ethic Camp
2309 N Hwy 83 McCook, NE 689001
Minimum B Classification
visiting your loved one
Is prison visitation good for the child of an incarcerated person? Is it good for the parent in prison? Is it good for the family?
There is no one right answer for every situation or family. But many families and children can benefit from maintaining family ties throughout incarceration.
Contact through visits, phone and mail are important to prepare the family for reunification after release. This can be true whether the parent who is incarcerated will live with the child or not.
Seeing other children and families at prison visits helps families know they are not alone and there are many other people who understand.
Those who are incarcerated and receive visitors or maintain family connections are more likely to see positive outcomes such as an increase in commitment to programs and treatment, fewer relapses, and decreased arrest rates after release.
Types of Visits: In-Person, Virtual, Extended (those who see their loved one less than once per month because of distance over 200 miles are eligible), and Emergency (those with verified death or illness of immediate family members are eligible).
Becoming eligible to visit:
Your loved one must send you a Visitation Request Form (VRF)
If you are under 19, you must have parent/guardian approval.
Mail your completed VRF to the facility’s pass clerk
Your loved one will be notified of your approval/denial and it is their responsibility to communicate that with you. If you are denied, your loved one may appeal this decision to the warden.
If approved, you are now on your loved one’s Visitor List.
Anyone wanting to visit your loved one must be on their visitor list, including children. It is NDCS policy that visitors may be on only one inmate's list, however exceptions may be made for immediate family members.
Ensure that your Visitation Request Form is fully and accurately completed and then mail to your loved one’s facility at the below address.
Warden ‘s Secretary/Pass Clerk
Community Correctional Center - Lincoln
2720 W Van Dorn St Lincoln, NE 68522
Visiting/Pass Clerk
Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility
2610 N 20th St E Omaha, NE 68110
Pass Clerk
Reception and Treatment Center
P.O. Box 22800 Lincoln, NE 68542-2500
Pass Clerk/Assistant Warden
Community Correctional Center - Omaha
2320 Avenue J Omaha, NE 68110
Visiting/Pass Clerk
Nebraska State Penitentiary
P.O. Box 22500 Lincoln, NE 68542-2800
Visitation Administration
Tecumseh State Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 900 Tecumseh, NE 68450
Pass Clerk
Nebraska Correctional Center for Women
1107 Recharge Rd York, NE 68467
Pass Clerk
Omaha Correctional Center
2323 Avenue J Omaha, NE 68110
Pass Clerk
Work Ethic Camp
2309 N Hwy 83 McCook, NE 69001
Scheduling your visits
You are able to visit your loved one either twice on the weekdays (Wednesday - Friday) or once on the weekends (saturday/sunday). In person visiting does not happen on Monday’s or Tuesday’s. Additionally, you are eligible for one video visit a month. You must schedule in person visits seven (7) days in advance. Visiting times will vary with each facility but the steps to schedule visits will be the same.
Go online to: https://www.corrections.nebraska.gov/facilities/visiting-hours
Select the facility your loved one is at
Choose the type of visit (in person or virtual)
Complete the online form. Make sure to include all names and contact information for everyone attending the visit (including children) and choose preferred and alternate days/times for your visit.
Visit Day
Make sure to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled visit time to allow for processing time. Bring with you a proper form of identification (state id card, drivers license, military id) as it is required for all people over 16. For minors, bring a valid birth certificate and a parent/guardian to accompany you (they must also be on your loved one’s visitor list). Leave valuables at home as you will lock up your possessions in a locker.
You will have the opportunity to buy snacks from vending machines and a ticket photo from the canteen so cash will be necessary if you’re interested in those things.
Make sure to wear appropriate clothing and bring a change of clothes in the car on the off chance you get denied for your outfit. NDCS policies prohibit revealing clothes that are tight, low cut, short, or have graphic/violent content on them. Loose sweatpants or jeans with a loose dark colored shirt or sweatshirt, without a hood, are a safe bet.
When processing begins, you will be asked to sign in and provide (non-expired) government issued picture identification . You will then put your shoes through a scanner, walk through a metal detector, and be pat searched, similar to walking through TSA screening at the airport.
While in visit, you and your loved one are responsible for proper conduct. You will be limited to a short embrace and kiss when you arrive and leave but may hold hands in plain sight of the correctional officers. Children under 5 are allowed to sit on your loved one’s lap. Make sure to not talk to any other groups as this is considered cross visiting and is not allowed.
Communicating with you loved ones
Writing Your Loved One
All mail - besides privileged legal mail - will be inspected and copied. The copies will be given to your loved one so do not send anything of personal value. Mail from attorneys or the courts will be treated as privileged and opened/copied in front of your loved one. Your originals can be sent back to you at the expense of your loved one, otherwise they will be discarded by the facility.
Books, Publications, etc: all publications must be prepaid and sent through NDCS’ official vendor, Edward R. Hamilton. https://www.hamiltonbook.com No publications with anything obscene or pornographic are allowed.
All photos (drawings included) must comply with NDCS standards (no hand gestures, large amounts of money, text or social media in pictures, violent/illegal activity, partially clothed, or sexual gestures).
No greeting cards or cards/letters with glued objects, slots, etc are allowed. Your best bet is to send flat letters on notebook paper that are easy for the facility to copy.
Your loved one may not possess stamps and instead has the option to purchase up to 40 pre-stamped envelopes from the canteen. Do not send pre-stamped envelopes for your loved one.
Always include your full name and address when sending mail. How to address to your loved one:
Loved one’s legal name, inmate #
Name of NDCS facility
Address
City, State, Zip
Send all mail via the United States Postal Service.
GTL GettingOut Tablet
Each person incarcerated within NDCS has the opportunity to have a tablet. On the tablet, they can talk on the phone, send/receive messages on GettingOut by GTL, listen to music, receive money, read e-books, play games and do a variety of other things. There are fees specific to each subscription/program your loved one chooses to utilize. Fees are due on a monthly basis and can be paid through the GTL online portal.
Messages - videograms, emails, photos or otherwise - and phone calls will be monitored prior to being released for your loved one to see. The type of message and how long it is will decide how much it costs.
Set up an account online if you would like to start communicating with your loved one on their tablet. https://www.gettingout.com
After signing up for an account online, downloading the mobile app will make sending messages, photos/videos, and calling easier!
Phone Calls
All phone calls to/from NDCS facilities - besides those with attorneys - are recorded and monitored. It is best practice to assume everything you say on the phone is being or will be listened to. Three way calls are prohibited.
In order to be eligible to receive calls from your loved one, they must first submit a Standard Inmate Calling System (ICS) Registration Form at their facility. Your loved one will be notified of your approval or denial to their call list.
All calls may be processed as collect, debit, or prepay. Prepay can come out of a friends or family account or the incarcerated person’s account. Collect and debit will be charged to the friend or family member. Rates will vary.
Your loved one will have 60 minutes of call time on their tablet and 15 minutes on the wall phones. Scheduling is not necessary on the tablets; call schedule rosters may be used for wall phones.
Sending money to your loved one
In prison, there is an opportunity to buy anything from toiletries and tvs to snacks. If you are able and would like to send money to your loved one you can do it a few ways. First, mailing in a money order or check made payable to your loved one. Send mail to the same address used to return Visitation Request Forms; be sure to make it to attention to your loved one. Ensure that your first name, last name, and complete address are legible on the money order, check, or envelope. Or second, depositing money via GTL GettingOut. Cash will not be accepted. You can create an account to send money online at the link below:
https://web.connectnetwork.com/facilities/nebraska-department-of-corrections/
NDCS policy says you are only able to send money to one incarcerated person at a time, however some exceptions may be made with Warden approval.
How to Report Concerns
If you are concerned about the treatment of your loved one, you may file a complaint with the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Nebraska Correctional System. This office exists to provide increased accountability and oversight of NDCS. OIG identifies and examines systemic issues within NDCS and incidents resulting in death or serious injury.
Inspector General of the Nebraska Correctional System
Doug Koebernick
(402) 471-4215
dkoebernick@leg.ne.gov
FAQs
My loved one is in Immediate Segregation or Long Term Restrictive Housing, am I still able to visit and have phone calls with them?
Both classifications are given one block of 15 minutes a week on the phone and visits are dependent on approval from facility leadership.
Am I able to see my loved one on Holidays?
Visits will be allowed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Years Day if the facility’s schedule and staffing allows. Information about visiting on these days will be available at least 2 weeks prior on the NDCS website. Other holidays will be treated as regular days.
Does having a criminal record exclude me from visiting my loved one?
Not necessarily; this decision will be dependent on many factors. Complete a Visitation Request Form and be sure to disclose all convictions.
Am I able to bring children to visit my loved one if their conviction involved children?
This is dependent on Warden/Facility approval.