Work Ethic Camp

The Work Ethic Camp (WEC) is a 200-bed facility located in McCook, Nebraska, and it is a special program for male inmates who are classified to 'Minimum B' custody. The Work Ethic Camp provides an individualized program in a time frame appropriate for the individual's needs and sentence structure. Individuals may parole from WEC, progress to a community custody facility, or complete their sentence.

The Mission of the Work Ethic Camp is to provide an integrated program that combines evidence-based practices with treatment and educational opportunities. The overall goal is to reduce the risk of recidivism through behavioral change and assisting incarcerated individuals with successful community reintegration, thereby, keeping people safe.

With intermittent supervision, minimum custody individuals may be eligible to work as road crews in the community.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting hours at the Work Ethic Camp are on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 am - 11:00 am and 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Visitation is allowed for approved visitors.

Visitors may only visit on one visiting day each week. They may attend both sessions on that day. All visits are subject to approval and space availability. Contact the facility for further information.

Dress Code

Casual attire is appropriate during a visit, and clothing should not be distracting or offensive and must be in good repair. Clothing that is tight fitting, revealing, or made of see-through fabric is not allowed.

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 can be no lower than the collarbone in the front and back.

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

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. 

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. 

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

Visitor Items

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

• Each visitor may bring up to $20.00 in change for use in the vending machines 
• Heart and asthma medication in the original container
• 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, and one plastic teething instrument.

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

You can send money to an inmate at Work Ethic Camp through JPay. You have the option of using their website, the JPay mobile app, visiting a MoneyGram agent location in-person, or calling 1-800-574-5729.

You must know the inmate’s full name and their DOC number to send money through JPay.

Programs For Inmates

Individuals at Work Ethic Camp receive a program tailored to their needs, consisting of one or more of the following:

• MRT (Moral Reconation Therapy): an evidence-based, cognitive behavioral intervention which leads to enhanced moral reasoning, better decision making, and more appropriate behavior. 
• Seven 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.

• Parenting
• Destination Dads: Incarcerated fathers get tools they need to become more involved, responsible, and committed in the lives of their children. 
• Inside Out Dads: Critical and concrete tools are provided which help participants improve interactions with those who matter in their lives. Subjects are knowing yourself first, smart love, and making your own decisions.
• Within My Reach
• Common Sense Parenting
• Beyond Anger and From the Inside Out: a program in which participants address anger, reconciliation; emotions management for strengthening and maintaining relationships. This program provides guidelines for daily living.
• 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.
• Substance Abuse Treatment - Intensive Outpatient: A drug/alcohol abuse program available for incarcerated individuals who are not eligible for the residential program due to lower level substance abuse issues.
• GED: 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.
• Adult Basic Education: assists adult incarcerated students work toward high school equivalency, or refresh skills regardless of diploma status.
• Pre-employment Workshops - Budgeting Class, Flagger Course
  • Budgeting Workshop: Assists participants learn to identify needs vs. wants.  Basic money management skills are presented. 
  • Nebraska Dept. of Transportation Flagger Course: provides necessary instruction and testing for certification as an NDOT Road Construction Flagger. This certification is good for two years.
• Prairie Gold Homes Construction Training
• Intro to Business
• ABC Construction - OSHA (Construction and General Industry; NCCER Core Curriculum and Construction Math)
  • 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 OSHA Construction: This program provides an overview of safety applications on a construction site as well as training on governmental regulations.
  • 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. 
• Recreation: A variety of activities that encourage health pastimes are offered at all facilities. Please check with recreational specialists for more information.
• Work Assignments
• One-on-One Counseling

Special programs also available to those offenders/inmates who have earned such privileges include the Rewards and Trust programs.  These programs must be earned through positive behavior and program progress and participation.

Other Non-Clinical Programs & Pro-Social Activities Available

• Living in Balance: Cognitive based educational program designed to address recovery and re-entry issues.
• 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.
• Garden Enterprise: Educational class on how to plant, grow, and sell produce. 
• Incentive Program: A program designed to help inmates develop skills in sanitation, personal hygiene, citizenship, work, education, and behavior. An inmate who meets the established criteria may earn rewards for levels of achievement.
• Inmate Council: Provides the opportunity for inmate representatives to have input into things which improve facility quality of life.
• Narcotics Anonymous: encourages its members to attend meetings, read, and listen to speakers to face the truth and be accountable for their addictions.
• Religious Classes and activities: Variety of classes, workshops and religious services designed to help inmates with support and spiritual development.
• WEC Sowers: This program is designed to teach about how to plant, care for and grow plants.  Additionally, participants learn how to increase the population of monarch butterflies through planting.

Other Vocational/Life Skills Programs Available

• Midplains Commercial Driver's License Preparatory Training
• Midplains Community College Classes Intro to Business Credit Course
• Midplains Community College Focus Four Hazards Training: Trains participants to respond to falls, caught in between, struck by and electrocutions--OSHA hazards focus.
• Midplains Community College Forklift Operator Safety Training: Forklift operating and use training.
• Midplains CPR and First Aid Training
• Resume Workshop: Assists participants prepare for interviews; create resumes; do employment searches.

Pictures of Work Ethic Camp

Careers at Work Ethic Camp

If you are interested in a career with the Nebraska Department of Corrections and would like to work at the Work Ethic Camp, you can find out more information by clicking here.