FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (19-02)

CONTACT Laura Strimple, Chief of Staff

OFFICE 402-479-5713 | laura.strimple@nebraska.gov

January 14, 2019 (Lincoln, Neb) – Today, Director Scott R. Frakes released the 2018 Strategic Plan Progress Report for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS). The report summarizes the accomplishments achieved in the final fiscal year of the agency’s 2015-2018 strategic plan.

The structure of the report includes a number of outcomes, by which the agency has measured progress in the following five areas: reentry and rehabilitation, collaborative community relationships, one team-one vision, transforming corrections and transparency and accountability. The document also singles out some of the events from the last fiscal year that illustrate the agency’s progress.

“One of the things we highlighted early in the report were comments made by staff members as part of the Team Member Spotlights that we post on social media,” noted Director Frakes. “These are things that teammates tell us, in their own words, which makes working at NDCS a rewarding experience.”

Outcomes of particular note include:

Increases in the number of people who complete violence reduction programming (page 6)
Boosting the number of inmate screenings conduced in the first 30 days (page 6 and page 8)
Grants awarded to community partners for funding reentry programs (page 8)
Reducing the number of staff assaults resulting in serious injuries (page 10)
The first Prison Fellowship Academy (PFA) graduation ceremony for women in the nation (page 12)
Initiation of the Case Management Academy (page 13)
Reinvesting to expand capacity (page 14)
Process improvement projects, designed to streamline operations and save dollars (page 15)

“This report highlights a small fraction of the outstanding work accomplished by the NDCS team in FY2018,” said Director Frakes. “Through the next five years, three priorities will guide the work of NDCS – our team members, the incarcerated population and the state’s taxpayers. All outcomes will relate back to those areas.”

The 2019-2023 Strategic Plan is available on the NDCS website, along with the 2017-2018 Strategic Plan Progress Report.

“We take our mission to ‘Keep People Safe’ very seriously,” said Director Frakes. “These accomplishments are only possible thanks to the efforts and dedication of our 2,300 teammates who work seven days a week, 365 days a year to help keep the public safe.”

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