Senator Plans To Propose New Work-Release Prison Facility in Omaha

(KFOR NEWS January 6, 2020) AP – A state lawmaker concerned about overcrowding in Nebraska prisons plans to propose building a new 300-bed work release facility in Omaha.

State Sen. Steve Lathrop says he’ll introduce a bill calling on the state to begin planning a new community corrections facility. Building the new facility could cost more than $40 million, but Lathrop’s bill would only require the state to plan for the new work release facility.

Nebraska’s prisons currently hold 2,006 more inmates than their design capacity of 3,535 inmates. The state’s prison system is at 157% of its design capacity.