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U.S. NEWS Friday 6 September 2019
Nebraska prison on lockdown, watchdog cites rising tensions

By GRANT SCHULTE told Koebernick that he
Associated Press missed a chance to attend
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Ne- an anti-violence class he
braska’s largest prison was needs to qualify for parole.
on lockdown Thursday The Nebraska State Peni-
so officers could comb tentiary reported three in-
through the facility, search- cidents in which staff mem-
ing for drugs, alcohol, cell- bers were assaulted so
phones and weapons that far this month, said Laura
officials blame for feeding Strimple, a corrections de-
a surge of violent assaults partment spokeswoman.
on staff members. There were four such inci-
Administrators said the dents in August, five in July,
search that began three each in June and
Wednesday was a “no May, and one in April.
holds barred” attempt to The actual number of staff
stop contraband from flow- members who were as-
ing into the Nebraska State saulted is likely higher,
Penitentiary in Lincoln, but however, because one
at least one state official reported incident can in-
expressed concern the ef- clude multiple assaults at
fort could stoke even more the same time. Koeber-
anger among inmates fol- nick said the numbers also This undated file photo shows the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln, Neb.
lowing months of rising ten- don’t include inmate-on- Associated Press
sions. Prison officials were inmate assaults or smaller a statement. “That, in ad- weapons that have been serious compromise to fa-
holding all inmates in their infractions, such as spitting dition to the homemade discovered, represents a cility safety.”q
cells and only allowing on a corrections officer.
them out with a staff es- Michele Wilhelm, the pris-
cort, with no set end date. on’s warden, said one staff
“There should be some member went to the hos-
concerns about what hap- pital after being assaulted,
pens when they open the and a few inmates were
doors back up,” said Doug sent for outside treatment
Koebernick, the inspec- as well. Scott Frakes, the
tor general for corrections. correction department’s
“My thought is if they need director, said the lockdown
to do this, they should do it wasn’t the result of staffing
thoroughly but also swiftly.” problems in the prison. He
Koebernick issued a report said officials want to figure
last month that warned of out where contraband is
“alarming” conditions at hidden and how it is being
the state penitentiary due made or smuggled into the
to persistent staffing short- prison. Prison officials re-
ages and record levels of cently found methamphet-
staff overtime. amine and homemade
Koebernick said he has shanks in the penitentiary
spoken with several in- and have reported an in-
mates since the lockdown crease in the synthetic drug
began who believe they’re K2. They also are dealing
being punished for the ac- with cellphones which are
tions of a few people. used to make illicit contact
Koebernick said the in- with the outside world and
mates are upset because coordinate gang activity.
prison officials aren’t letting “No matter if it’s K2, alcohol
them shower and are re- or other substances, staff
stricting their access to sup- members are dealing with
plies they need to clean inmates who are intoxicat-
their cells. He said prisoners ed and ore often confron-
aren’t getting their usual tational when they are in
meals, and one inmate that state,” Frakes said in

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