Nebraska Correctional Center for Women

The Nebraska Correctional Center for Women is a prison for female inmates of all custody levels that is located near York, Nebraska, and is the state's only secure correctional facility for adult women. The 275-bed facility houses maximum, medium, and minimum custody inmates as well as court-ordered evaluators and county safe keepers.   

In 1920, the state legislature established the State Reformatory for Women which was a two-story house used to house inmates and staff. It was also a working dairy farm. Two additional three-story brick dormitory buildings were added in 1924 and 1926, both of which are still in use today as program areas.

Today, the NCCW sits on 27 acres and has 17 buildings surrounded by two security fences. 

In 2004, the facility completed the first half of a $15 million capital construction project that included the addition of a 76-bed general population living unit, 48-bed residential substance abuse treatment unit, 15-bed segregation unit, 30-bed special needs unit, dining room and food preparation area, staff offices, central laundry, and new water tower. The second half of the construction project, completed in 2009, included the remodeling of several program areas, including medical services, administrative offices, and education.

NCCW is the diagnostic and evaluation center for all newly committed female inmates. The first 30 days of the inmates’ incarceration is in an Orientation program which is segregated from the general population. 

During this program, inmates receive medical and mental health evaluations and also learn about the various programming opportunities available to them during their term of incarceration.  Each inmate has a personalized classification and programming plan developed to assist her in addressing personal deficiencies.   

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting during the 30-day orientation program at NCCW is limited to one visit by immediate family members only.

GENERAL POPULATION VISITING HOURS

Thursday
6:30pm - 8:00pm

Saturday
8:00am - 10:30am                Limited to Inmates whose last name begins with letters A - M
1:00pm - 3:30pm                  Limited to Inmates whose last name begins with letters N - Z

Sunday
8:00am - 10:30am                Limited to Inmates whose last name begins with letters N - Z
1:00pm - 3:30pm                  Limited to Inmates whose last name begins with letters A - M

SAU VISITING HOURS

Thursday
6:30pm - 8:00pm

Saturday
8:00am - 10:30am              Limited to Inmates whose last name begins with letters A - M
1:00pm - 3:30pm                Limited to Inmates whose last name begins with letters N - Z

Sunday
8:00am - 10:30am             Limited to Inmates whose last name begins with letters N - Z
1:00pm - 3:30pm               Limited to Inmates whose last name begins with letters A - M

STAR UNIT VISITING HOURS

Thursday
6:30pm - 8:00pm                (Treatment/Maintenance Phases Only)

Friday
12:00pm - 1:45pm              Stabilization/Motivational/Assessment Phases Only

Saturday
8:00am - 10:30am              (Treatment/Maintenance Phases Only) Limited to Inmates whose last name begins with letters A - M

1:00pm - 3:30pm               (Treatment/Maintenance Phases Only) Limited to Inmates whose last name begins with letters N - Z

Sunday
8:00am - 10:30am          (Treatment/Maintenance Phases Only) Limited to Inmates whose last name begins with letters N - Z

1:00pm - 3:30pm            (Treatment/Maintenance Phases Only) Limited to Inmates whose last name begins with letters A - M

SPECIAL MANAGEMENT VISITING HOURS (DISCIPLINARY, ADMINISTRATIVE CONFINEMENT AND PROTECTIVE CUSTODY)

Friday
12:00pm - 1:45pm

D&E (DIAGNOSTIC AND EVALUATION) VISITING HOURS AT NCCW

Friday
12:00pm - 1:45pm

The processing of visitors will begin 30 minutes prior to the start of any visiting session. The processing of inmate visitors will cease one hour after the start time of any designated visiting session. No visitors will be processed for visiting after this time.

Visiting hours for approved visitors of inmates who are hospitalized at the York General Hospital will be from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. These hours are also effective for other hospitals that do not have formal visiting hours.

If you have questions concerning visitations, please call the Visiting Center, Wednesday through Sunday at 402-362-8924.

Dress Code

Casual attire is appropriate, and clothing should not be distracting or offensive to inmates or to other visitors and must be in good repair. 

Shoes are required to be worn at all times, and open-toe shoes are allowed. A lightweight outer jacket/sweater without any pockets may be worn in the visiting area. 

Visitors must wear undergarments, but they can’t wear multiple layers of undergarments. Females must wear one bra and one pair of underwear (10 years of age or under are not required to wear a bra). Males must wear one pair of underwear/undershorts. 

Visitors are not allowed to wear a combination of both khaki colored pants and a shirt at the same time when they visit. A visitor may wear khaki pants or a khaki shirt, but never at the same time when visiting. 

Shorts or skirts must be below the knee when standing/sitting. Shirts and dresses must cover the shoulders. Clothing with pictures, symbols, or language that may be considered profane or offensive by current public standards is not allowed. Tops of clothing shall be no lower than the collarbone in the front and back.

Children 10 years or younger may be allowed to visit if wearing shorts, skirts, or rompers. 

Clothing that is tight fitting (clothing will be considered tight fitting if it reveals the outline of genitalia or the areola), revealing, or made of see-through fabric shall not be allowed. 

Clothes will be expected to be in good repair with no rips, tears, or pockets that are torn to allow access beneath the garment. 

Hats, headbands, hooded clothing, or outerwear are not allowed. Clergy are permitted to wear religious headwear. 

Watches, exercise trackers, and similar devices are not permitted. 

Visitor Items

Visitors are permitted the following items in the visiting room/area: 

• Heart and asthma medication in the original container. Other medication may not be taken into the visiting area without approval. 
• Parents with infants may bring in two, factory sealed, single-serving, ready-to-feed formula or two clear bottles (no glass), four disposable diapers, eight wet wipes inside a clear bag, one receiving blanket, one plastic teething instrument.
• Each visitor may bring up to $20.00 in change for use in the vending machines 

All other personal property must be secured in your vehicle or in lockers provided by the facility.

How to Call an Inmate

How to Send Money

Programs For Inmates

Parenting Program

One of the first programs in the U.S. to be introduced in a women's correctional facility. In 1994, the Parenting Program expanded to include an on-grounds nursery for babies born to inmate mothers during their incarceration. Pregnant inmates must meet strict eligibility requirements in order to participate in the nursery program.

Clinical Treatment

• Anger Management: available to individuals demonstrating high risk/high needs related to anger. This treatment provides instruction and practice on basic anger control strategies in a group facilitated by clinicians.
• Dialectic Behavioral Therapy: Cognitive-Behavioral mindfulness- based coping skills group.
• oHeLP Outpatient Sex Offender Program: The Outpatient Healthy Lives Program is available to individuals who are assessed to be at a relatively moderate risk to sexually re-offend.
• Path to Fulfillment: Provides support as group members identify goals related to altering the behaviors and habits that have prevented them from maintaining healthy boundaries, language and self-concepts.
• Residential Treatment for Substance Abuse: Inmates assigned to residential treatment programs have been identified as having serious substance abuse issues. These programs generally last about six months.
• STAR Unit: an inpatient mental health program offering groups and classes on a diverse range of topics including psycho-educational elements, coping skills and strategies, nutrition and wellness/physical activities.
• START Now: Mental Health programming re-enforcing personal responsibility for behavior; teaching about the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behavior; identifying strengths to build on.

Non-Clinical Programs

• 7 Habits on the Inside: Developed by FranklinCovey in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Corrections, 7 Habits on the Inside uses the principles of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, tailored for the incarcerated individual. The program seeks to empower individuals to manage their own lives in such a way as to be successful in prison and in the community. 
• Beyond Trauma: Beyond Trauma is a gender-specific, trauma-informed program for women.
• Crime Victims Impact/Empathy and Life Skills: This program increases a participant's understanding of the harm/damages they caused their victims, communities and themselves. The program also provides an important life skill module that teaches how to become emotionally proficient, which translates into better decision making and reduced conflicts.
• Domesti-PUPS: Participants in Domesti-PUPS train dogs to become service animals for persons with disabilities, pet therapy programs, classroom dogs, and education programs.
• Emotional Hygiene: Explore the root of emotions, accountability, responsibility, and management of these areas.
• Family Foundations: Early childhood specialists work with the nursery mothers on child development and infant milestones along with various infant/child classes.
• Living in Balance: Cognitive based educational program designed to address recovery and re-entry issues. 
• Sisters Informing Sisters on Topics about AIDS (SISTA: provides women the opportunity to discuss female health issues and learn lessons about healthy lifestyles.
• Thinking for a Change: a high-level cognitive behavioral program developed by the National Institute of Corrections. The program uses role playing to concentrate on changing the criminogenic thinking of offenders.

Education

• Adult Basic Education: assists adult incarcerated students work toward high school equivalency, or refresh skills regardless of diploma status.
• College Courses: offered through various universities/colleges and correspondence courses. Currently, college classes are provided by grant funded providers and/or at the individual's own expense.
• ESL/ELL: English as a second language (ESL) is designed to aid those students not fluent in English learn to speak, read, hear and write the language so they can better function in society.
• High School: NDCS operates its own school district with a high school. Students of all ages may attend high school classes. Individuals under 22 who have not graduated from high school are required to be in school. Students over 22 need to go through an application process.

Pro-Social Activities:

• AA (Alcoholics Anonymous): an organization which encourages members to read, and listen at meetings using the program as an opportunity to face the truth and become accountable for their addiction to alcohol.
• Narcotics Anonymous: encourages its members to attend meetings, read and listen to speakers to face the truth and be accountable for their addictions.
• Peer Support: Trauma informed peer support training.
• Prison Fellowship: Provides faith based speakers and mentoring to incarcerated individuals.
• Religious Classes and activities: Variety of classes, workshops, and religious services designed to help inmates with support and spiritual development.
• Sports/Recreation Activities: A variety of activities that encourage health pastimes are offered at all facilities. Please check with recreational specialists for more information.
• Toastmasters: empowers people to improve communication and leadership skills, find the courage to change, achieve their full potential, and realize their dreams.
• Waterwalks: This is a spiritually based, inmate facilitated group discussion.

Vocational/Life Skills Programs

• ABC Applied Construction Math: This program provides learning in the area of construction math such as division, decimals/percentages, reading measurements, calculating area, linear measures, angles, volume, solving for the unknown.
• ABC Construction Virtual Electric: Provides general electrical wiring training as well as instruction on how to do proper household and commercial wiring.
• ABC Construction Virtual Welding: Provides training in welding safety, basic welding information and welding defects.  Will give participants the tools to make welding corrections.
• ABC Construction: Construction Technology: Introduces masonry, carpentry, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing.
• ABC Core Curriculum: This program includes basic construction safety; introduction to construction math, hand tools, power tools, construction drawings, rigging; communication skills; material handling.
• ABC OSHA General Industries: This course provides entry-level information about employee rights; employer responsibilities; how to file a complaint; how to identify and prevent job related hazards. 
• Health Course: This program, delivered by a wellness expert, provides workshops on preventative health education and nutrition, such as Men's Birth Control; Date Abuse; Bullying; Gender Boxes; Hygiene.
• Mental Health Association Wellness and Recovery Action Plan (WRAP): Discusses deescalation; decision making and consequences; how trauma has affected a person; and how to overcome negative ways of dealing with stressful situations and crises.  Need addressed: Life skills.
• Metro Community College (MCC): provides a variety of courses to assist with employment readiness, life skills, reentry, computer knowledge/skills, mechanics, quality control, and supervision in the workplace.
• Money Matters: Teaches how to plan, save, and budget.
• Released and Restored: provides life skills training for employment, finances, and consumer education. The program also focuses on helping individuals learn critical thinking skills, recognize distorted thinking, and develop techniques to address problem areas.
• Serve Safe: Food safety certification course which covers food borne illness, how to prevent it; purchasing and receiving guidelines; food prep, holding and serving guidelines; food safety management, systems and sanitation guidelines.

Pictures of Nebraska Correctional Center for Women

Careers at Nebraska Correctional Center for Women