FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (18-14)

CONTACT Dawn-Renee Smith, Chief of Staff

OFFICE 402-479-5713 | dawnrenee.smith@nebraska.gov

June 7, 2018 (LINCOLN) – Today, Director Scott R. Frakes announced the appointment of Robert Madsen to serve as deputy director for prisons and Michele Capps to serve as warden of the Nebraska State Penitentiary (NSP). These appointments follow the recent organizational restructuring and promotion of Diane Sabatka-Rine from deputy director to chief of operations.

“Throughout their careers, Robert and Michele have consistently demonstrated their commitment to corrections,” said Sabatka-Rine. “Their allegiance to our mission and improving our agency is absolute. I am proud to work with leaders of their caliber and am confident in their ability to take on these increased responsibilities.”

Madsen has served as a warden since 2015, beginning at the Community Corrections Center – Lincoln (CCC-L) and, most recently, at NSP. Robert began his career in corrections 29 years ago (1989) as a corrections officer at NSP, where he also worked as a case worker, case manager, unit manager, unit administrator and assistant warden. He served as assistant warden at the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center (DEC) and deputy warden at the Lincoln Correctional Center (LCC) and NSP. Robert has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice – corrections and law enforcement from Wayne State College.

“NDCS team members are hard-working and fully committed to the mission of this agency,” said Madsen. “I look forward to working with team members throughout the agency in this new role as deputy director.”

Capps began her career in 1997 at the Nebraska Correctional Treatment Center where she worked as an officer, a corporal and a sergeant. Michele worked at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution from 2002 to 2016, serving as a case manager, unit manager, unit administrator, associate warden and deputy warden. She earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice – administration from Peru State College.

“Over the last two and a half years I have witnessed the exceptional work by the NSP team to transform the culture of the facility,” said Capps. “I will continue to build on those efforts, relying on the amazing strengths of our supervisors and team members. I’m excited to work with our developing team in my new role as we make improvements in our culture for staff and inmates.

Both appointments are effective June 4, 2018.