Click Here & Scroll for COVID-19 Information About Facilities Careers Public Information Public Information NDCS News News Releases Social Media Posts Public Notices Archived News Releases Statistics & Reports NDCS Statistics & Reports Highlights NDCS Reports External Reports Rules & Regulations NDCS Policies Promulgated Rules & Regulations Public Records Requests Donations Victim Services About Us Contacts Victim/Witness Notification Victim/Offender Dialogue FAQs Related Sites FAQs Q: What happens after sentencing? Once an incarcerated individual has been sentenced to the Department of Correctional Services, the incarcerated individual is sent to a reception center, either the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center or the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women. He/she will then be assigned an institutional number and will be fingerprinted, photographed, and given medical and dental examinations. During the initial evaluation period, staff put together a Classification Study for each incarcerated individual. Classification is a systematic process of identifying an incarcerated individual's characteristics, history and needs and then matching the inmate with the appropriate custody level, supervision requirements, and programming recommendations. This process results in the assignment of the incarcerated individual to one of the correctional institutions. The incarcerated individual's institutional placement will most likely change several times during the incarceration as he/she demonstrates progress and nears release. The information is gathered by having the incarcerated individual complete questionnaires, take tests and talk with various staff members. Some of the information collected includes the incarcerated individual's criminal and work histories; social/family background; medical status; use of drugs or alcohol; educational achievements and needs; and assessments of psychological stability, victim potential and violent tendencies; and religious preference. The Department also uses a numbered scoring system to help staff decide what custody level and amount of supervision will maintain public safety and institutional security while assisting in the incarcerated individual's rehabilitation. This system is based on one used by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and covers such areas as: Offense and length of sentence; Detainers filed or reported; Prior prison commitments; History of escapes or escape attempts; History of violence; Personal risk and adjustment factors; Any other concerns identified by staff. The information contained in the Classification Study and the results of the scoring system are carefully reviewed by staff in order to make the incarcerated individual's initial classification assignment. It will include recommendations for work and/or school assignment, any counseling needs such as substance abuse treatment or mental health programming, and custody level. The Department policies provide for classification reviews at least once a year for each inmate. Reviews will also be held if the inmate receives a promotion or demotion in custody level, a change in program or work assignment, a transfer to another correctional facility, or for any other reason(s) deemed necessary and appropriate by staff. Any review held after the incarcerated individual's initial classification, which may result in a change in custody, assignment, or facility is called a "reclassification" action. Should an incarcerated individual be transferred to another correctional facility, two reviews of classification are required: one before the transfer in order to approve the move to the new facility and one after the incarcerated individual arrives at the new facility so a new program and/or work assignment can be made. Q: How are incarcerated individuals determined eligible for work/education release? Q: What is good time? Q: What are my rights in the parole process? Q: What is the process to obtain restitution? Q: What should I do if I am receiving unwanted contact from the offender? Q: Can I tour the facility where the incarcerated individual is located? Incarceration Records Visiting Hours Find Facility Send Money, Photos, Emails, E-Cards to Inmate Cornhusker State Industries Federal Surplus Property Victim Services NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES P.O. 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