Nebraska State Penitentiary

First opened in 1871, the Nebraska State Penitentiary served as the only adult correctional facility until after World War I. The architecture of the Nebraska State Penitentiary has changed dramatically since its inception due the growing number of incarcerated Nebraskans. Starting in 1979 the Nebraska State Penitentiary demolished old structures and opened several new facilities. Currently the Nebraska State Penitentiary has an average daily population of 1,288 inmates with a designed capacity 818.

The history of the Nebraska State Penitentiary traces its origins to the territorial legislature before Nebraska was officially a state. In 1860 the legislature toyed with the idea of housing prisoners in out of state penitentiaries, and from 1860-1864 the legislature attempted to receive funding from the federal government. In 1871 a temporary prison was constructed to house inmates while the West Cell House was still in construction. Before the West Cell House could be completed, a mutiny broke out among the prisoners. Warden William Woodhurst, his deputy, and other staff were all taken hostage and the Warden's wife ended up convincing the prisoners to surrender. The West Cell House finished construction in 1876 and continued in service until 1980.

In 1877, Warden H.C. Dawson submitted a grim report to the Nebraska legislature on prison conditions. The issue of overcrowding was central to Dawson's report. With only 80 cells and 182 inmates it was necessary for inmates to double, and sometimes triple up. Dawson remarked that "the policy of putting two convicts in a cell is not only detrimental to health, but is injurious to discipline, as it gives them a chance for conversation, thereby increasing their chances for escape and encouraging disorderly conduct." Dawson also noted that there was no solitary confinement which made disciplining inmates difficult. While overcrowding is an issue that continues to plague the Nebraska State Penitentiary, his requests for solitary confinement were answered. In 1881 a three story stone solitary confinement finished construction inside the fence surrounding the penitentiary. In 1902 four women were admitted to the Nebraska State Penitentiary. While in custody these women were supervised by the warden’s wife. The Nebraska State Penitentiary housed both men and women until the Reformatory for Women opened in 1920. By 1940 a power plant, penitentiary chapel, and front entrance building had been added to the penitentiary.

Many of the old structures of the penitentiary were demolished and rebuilt starting in 1979. The penitentiary chapel (now the religious center), the industries center, and two dormitory centers remained standing while five new modular housing units and a new power plant were added in the 1980s. Since 1983 the prison population in Nebraska has increased by 215%, with the Nebraska State Penitentiary housing the lion's share of inmates. From January to March 2021 the Nebraska State Penitentiary housed an average of 1,257 inmates which is 234 more inmates than its operational capacity and 439 more inmates than its designed capacity.

Nebraska Department of Correctional Services “Average Daily Population (January-March 2021)” Nebraska: Department of Correctional Services 2021.

Nebraska Department of Correctional Services "Historical Timeline of Corrections in Nebraska" Nebraska: Department of Correctional Services 2022.

Nebraska Department of Correctional Services "Fifth Biennial Report of the Warden of the Nebraska State Penitentiary" Nebraska: Department of Correctional Services 1877.