Watchdog warns of 'alarming' conditions in Nebraska prison

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska's largest prison faces "alarming" conditions driven by staffing shortages, record overtime and inmates who are secretly using synthetic drugs and contraband cellphones, according to the state's watchdog for correctional services.

The state's Inspector General of Corrections Doug Koebernick issued the warning in a memo to lawmakers this week. The eight-page report identified several ongoing problems within the state prison system but singled out the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln as the facility with the most serious issues.

Koebernick said he voiced concerns to Gov. Pete Ricketts' office in a letter last month and later spoke by phone to Nebraska's correctional services director, Scott Frakes.

"I've spent some time talking to individuals connected to the Nebraska State Penitentiary and thought I would share with you that I have some serious concerns about the stability of the facility," Koebernick said in an excerpt of the letter that was included in his report. "The issues raised with me are alarming and that facility may be in the worst shape of all of our facilities."

Nebraska's prison system has faced a litany of problems in recent years, including persistent overcrowding and struggles to hire and retain employees. A different prison in southeast Nebraska was the site of inmate uprisings in 2015 and 2017. Two prisoners were killed in each of those incidents.

In a statement, Frakes said the Department of Correctional Services has taken proactive steps to try to fill jobs, including offering pay increases, signing bonuses and other financial incentives to employees and hosting job fairs to attract more workers.

Frakes said the problems are common at other states' corrections departments and that Nebraska faces a major challenge because of the state's low unemployment, which...