The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services is ready to implement some of the most significant operational changes since the start of COVID-19. Standards for visitors and volunteers will relax, as will parameters around social distancing and mandates that limited activities inside the state’s 10 facilities.
“This is a huge step forward and one that is sure to be welcomed by staff members as well as inmates,” said NDCS Director Scott R. Frakes. “We have been operating under limits for almost a year and a half. But now, we are in a good place to make this turn and re-initiate some of things we were doing pre-COVID.”
It has been several weeks since any staff members or inmates tested positive for the coronavirus. Vaccinations continue to be provided to both inmates and staff members. Frakes says formal, organized vaccination efforts will end mid-June.
“We have hosted multiple vaccination clinics in all of our facilities and associated buildings for our teammates as well as our inmates. We are now in our final push to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to those who want one. After that, we will offer vaccinations to newly admitted inmates and staff members who are newly hired.”
Effective Friday, May 21, NDCS will expand the number of people allowed to visit at any given time to three individuals. Children of any age are also permitted.
“Visitors will still need to pre-register on the NDCS website for a day and time slot, based on the facility they wish to visit, and there are still restrictions in place in terms of maintaining social distancing, limiting physical contact and not sharing food or drinks,” Frakes says All of the upcoming changes are conditional on virus cases remaining low, within NDCS as well as in the community.