NDCS News Releases

NDCS News Releases

NDCS Releases Action Plan for March 2 Incident

May 25, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (17-21)

CONTACT Dawn-Renee Smith, Communications Director

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

May 25, 2017 (Lincoln, Neb.) – Today, Director Scott R. Frakes released the action plan related to the critical incident review of the March 2, 2017, incident and deaths at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution (TSCI). The action plan addresses the recommendations made by the team, consisting of National Institute of Corrections (NIC) consultants from Florida and Oregon.

Consultants and NIC staff were on-site March 20-24, 2017 to conduct the review and brief NDCS...Read more

Cause of Death Determined in March 2nd Deaths at TSCI

May 10, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (17-20)

CONTACT Dawn-Renee Smith, Communications Director

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

May 10, 2017 (Lincoln, Neb.) – Today, NDCS received confirmation the official causes of death for Michael Galindo and Damon Fitzgerald have been determined.

Galindo’s death certificate lists “inhalation of combustion products” with contributing causes of “multiple sharp and blunt force injuries.”

Fitzgerald’s death certificate lists “multiple sharp and blunt force injuries to head and torso” with contributing factors of “thermal injury and external compression...Read more

Graduates celebrate at NSP

NSP Celebrates Defy Ventures Graduation

May 2, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (17-19)

CONTACT Cara Wilwerding, Communications Manager

OFFICE 402-479-5712 | cara.wilwerding@nebraska.gov

May 2, 2017 (Lincoln, Neb.) – The gymnasium at the Nebraska State Penitentiary (NSP) was bustling with energy, enthusiasm and new ideas on Thursday.

Defy Ventures, a nonprofit organization that aims to transform the lives of business leaders and individuals with criminal records, held their graduation ceremony honoring 26 graduates. These graduates, also known as Entrepreneurs in Training (EITs), are given the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to local business...Read more

NDCS Staff Members Participate In Workforce Train-The-Trainer Program

May 2, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (17-18)

CONTACT Cara Wilwerding, Communications Manager

OFFICE 402-479-5712 | cara.wilwerding@nebraska.gov

May 2, 2017 (Lincoln, Neb.) – The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services’ (NDCS) reentry program is making big strides to help individuals find jobs after incarceration.

Twenty NDCS employees recently attended the Workforce Train-the-Trainer program, a partnership with the Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL). The employees – ranging from corporals to teachers to case workers to reentry specialists – learned how to assist individuals with navigating the work world...Read more

Inmate Death at Nebraska State Penitentiary

May 1, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (17-17)

CONTACT Kimberly McGill, Public Information Officer, Nebraska State Penitentiary

OFFICE 402-479-3227 | kimberly.mcgill@nebraska.gov

May 1, 2017 (Lincoln, Neb.) – Larry Holladay (77), inmate #63563, died at 6:20 pm on Thursday, April 27, 2017, in the skilled nursing facility at the Nebraska State Penitentiary. Holladay was serving 40 to 60 years for first degree sexual assault, attempted first degree sexual assault and three counts of sexual assault on a child, all from Sheridan County. His sentence also included first degree sexual assault on a child and sexual assault on a...Read more

Metro staff and students

OCC Students Participate in Metro Community College Completion Ceremony

April 27, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (17-16)

CONTACT Cara Wilwerding, Communications Manager

OFFICE 402-479-5712 | cara.wilwerding@nebraska.gov

Seventy students participated in the Metropolitan Community College (MCC) Completion Ceremony at Omaha Correctional Center (OCC) on Monday morning.

“It’s because people outside of these walls cared enough about us to put this in motion,” said Ivan Kenyon, a student now participating in work release at Community Corrections Center-Omaha and the only member of his family to go to college.

One of the people to put such change in motion is former Nebraska State...Read more

Inmate Unresponsive in Cell at TSCI

April 17, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (17-12)

CONTACT Dawn-Renee Smith, Communications Director

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

April 17, 2017 (Tecumseh, Neb.) – At approximately 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, April 15, 2017, Terry Berry, inmate #83145, was unresponsive in his cell. Staff members were alerted to his condition by Berry’s cellmate. Berry was not breathing and responding staff members immediately began CPR. Berry was transported to Johnson County Hospital and then to Bryan West in Lincoln. The details of the events leading to his being unresponsive are under investigation....Read more

Inmate Dies Under Suspicious Circumstances at TSCI

April 17, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (17-13)

CONTACT Dawn-Renee Smith, Communications Director

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

April 17, 2017 (Tecumseh, Neb.) – The Tecumseh State Correctional Institution received notification today from the Johnson County coroner that at approximately 2:00 p.m. today, medical staff at Bryan West would begin the process to remove Terry Berry #83145 from life support. According to the coroner, the actual date of death will be noted on the death certificate as Monday, April 17, 2017, when doctors declared him legally brain dead.

Any decision regarding removal of...Read more

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