In Case You Missed It!

In Case You Missed It!

NDCS Social Media Posts

NDCS Team Member Spotlight: Amy Wander

February 8, 2018

Sanitation and Canine Corporal Amy Wander supervises incarcerated men, family members and volunteers during the recent Defy Ventures graduation at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution (TSCI). Wander has been with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) since 2000. Her main job duties include supervising the population, cleaning of the facility and dogs in the Domesti-Pups program, in addition to teaching the canine class. “I enjoy watching all of these guys change,” Wander said. “It makes me feel like I’m accomplishing my job in helping to get these guys ready to reenter society.” #NDCSTeamMemberSpotlightRead more

NDCS honors special teams at fifth annual awards ceremony

February 8, 2018

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) held its fifth annual Special Teams Awards Ceremony at the Staff Training Academy (STA) on Feb. 6.

“While special team members don’t work for recognition, there is no doubt that they do work worthy of recognition,” said Diane Sabatka-Rine, deputy director of Operations. “I am grateful to each one of you for what you do for NDCS. You should all be incredibly proud of the work you do, the person you are and the difference you make. While individuals will be recognized this morning, this observance is really for each and every NDCS special team member. I thank you for...Read more

NDCS Team Member Spotlight: Jillian Boden

February 6, 2018

Nursery Coordinator Jillian Boden plays with a child and mothers in the nursery at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women (NCCW).

“This is a passion for me,” Boden said. “It’s not just a job.”

Boden has been with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) since July 2017. Her main job duties include organizing parenting classes, coordinating visits with children who don’t live in the nursery and assuring that all nursery mothers and children have their needs met.

“It’s just a family environment around here,” Boden said. “I love the opportunities that women get in the parenting program....Read more

Incarcerated women at NCCW graduate from T4C

February 6, 2018

A group of incarcerated women at the Nebraska at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women (NCCW) recently graduated from Thinking for a Change (T4C). “This class helped me calmly and successfully handle a situation with my daughters over the phone that I would not have been able to do before this class,” one graduate said. Congratulations, ladies!Read more

NDCS holds first Case Management Academy

February 5, 2018

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) held its first Case Management Academy last week. The Academy is designed to train case management staff in principles of effective supervision, motivational interviewing, core correctional practices, graduated sanctions and effective case management. It is a first step in using the Risk/Needs/Responsivity assessment tool for the practical application of creating cohesive case management strategies to reduce offender risk. During the next four months, all case management staff will complete the Case Management Academy. Additionally, NDCS will train a team to facilitate...Read more

TSCI holds first Domesti-Pups graduation

February 5, 2018

Jan. 29 marked a day many at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution (TSCI) will never forget. Partnered with Michelle O’Dea, Executive Director of Domesti-PUPS and Instructor Kermit Moore, six TSCI K9 Handlers became official Domesti-PUP Trainers and two K9s graduated onto their forever locations. Riley, Chloe and Evie will always be remembered as TSCI’s first K9s. Riley, Chloe and Evie came to TSCI on Oct. 30. Riley and Chloe will move onto their forever locations and Evie will stay another 12 weeks to graduate with the new pups this spring. The introduction of K9s at TSCI has greatly impacted the population and has...Read more

Thirty-three EITs graduate from Defy Ventures program at TSCI

February 2, 2018

Thirty-three Entrepreneurs in Training (EITs) graduated from Defy Ventures’ “CEO Of Your New Life” program at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution (TSCI) on Jan. 30. This was the largest class graduation in the state of Nebraska thus far.

“I think they should be in every institution,” TSCI Warden Brad Hansen said of Defy Ventures. “They’re one of many good quality programs we’ve got here.”

Currently, 180 EITs are enrolled in Defy programming throughout the state of Nebraska – both in correctional facilities and after release. TSCI kicked off its second class on Jan. 29 with 45 new EITs. Nearly fifty women...Read more

Employee wellness centers promote department-wide camaraderie

February 2, 2018

Research shows that individuals working in corrections face higher levels of stress than those in other lines of work. With that increased stress, comes a higher need for healthy and productive stress management activities. Thanks to retention funds allocated by the Nebraska Legislature, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) is helping team members become the best versions of themselves. NDCS opened its first employee wellness center on Oct. 16, providing additional health benefits free of cost. The center – open to all NDCS team members – is located in a former administrative archive building near the Nebraska...Read more

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