Aging State Penitentiary In Lincoln Springs Another Leak, Forcing Relocation Of Inmates

Paul Hammel, Nebraska Examiner:

November 10, 2022

LINCOLN — A water leak Tuesday forced the relocation of 140 inmates at the Nebraska State Penitentiary — a prison that state officials have said needs to be replaced.

Thirteen months ago, another leak shut down water service for the entire prison, which houses about 1,300 inmates.

The Nebraska Department of Corrections said Wednesday that most of the inmates were housed in a prison gymnasium overnight because of the latest leak, but more permanent housing is being sought.

Repairs are underway, the department said in a press release.

Leak floods mechanical room

The water leak, first discovered late Tuesday afternoon, flooded a lower level mechanical room and covered the floor of the affected housing unit.

The Penitentiary was placed on a modified lockdown because of the impact on utilities and will remain so until the leak is fixed.

Portable toilets were brought in and bottled water has been distributed, the department said.

Visits have been canceled indefinitely.

State prison officials, as well as Gov. Pete Ricketts, have said that the aging conditions at the State Pen — the oldest prison in the state system — require the construction of a replacement facility.

“The Pen” was initially opened in 1869 and was the state’s only prison at the time. But in 1980-1981, the old cellblocks were replaced by modular housing units. Still, an estimated $12.5 million in repairs were needed at the prison, officials estimated in 2021.

The Ricketts administration has proposed building a 1,500-bed prison, costing about $270 million, somewhere in the vicinity of Omaha and Lincoln to replace the Pen.

The Nebraska Legislature is expected to debate that proposal as part of the next state budget.

In May, reporters were allowed to tour a nearly completed $125 million addition at the state’s Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln. However, a 384-bed unit for the state’s most dangerous prisoners has yet to be occupied.

In related news, Steve Fannon has been appointed the new warden at the Work Ethic Camp in McCook. Fannon replaces Pam Morello, who will retire Feb. 2.

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