Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question, please call us at: 441-7530

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Facility Locations	Booking/Release
Sentences	Inmate Accounts
Property	Work Release
Visitation, Phone Calls, & Mail

FACILITY LOCATIONS

1. Where is the Lancaster County Corrections Department located?

   There are two facilities

   • The Intake and Detention Facility
     605 So. 10th Street
     Lincoln, NE 68508
     (This facility is located south of the Hall of Justice and County/City Buildings between 9th and 10th Street on "H" Street)

     The Intake and Detention facility houses all pretrial inmates and some sentenced inmates.

   • The Lancaster Correctional Facility (LCF)
     4420 NW 41st Street
     Lincoln, NE 68524
     (This facility is located in Lincoln's Airpark; take West "O" Street to NW 48th Street, turn right, take NW 48th Street to Airpark Road, turn right, take Airpark Road to NW 41st Street, turn left; the facility is located on the right-hand side of the street)

     The Lancaster Correctional Facility is a minimum security facility that houses inmates with work release status and most inmates who are sentenced to county jail.

2. What are the telephone numbers for the Corrections Department?
   • Corrections Director 441-7530
   • Intake & Detention Administrator 441-7530
   • Inmate Information (Detention) 441-7530/7256/7257
   • LCF Administrator 441-7133
   • Inmate Information (LCF) 441-7133

   Neither facility will take calls or messages for inmates.

3. Who should I contact if an emergency has occurred and I need to forward the information to an inmate?
   • Ask for the Shift Supervisor; explain your situation, and he/she will assist you.

BOOKING/RELEASE

1. Where will an individual be booked after his/her arrest?
   • The Intake and Detention Facility.
2. How can someone that has just been arrested be released without appearing in court?
   • If the individual is eligible for pre-arraignment release or needs to pay fines, the correctional staff should be contacted (441-7256/7257) to determine the amount necessary for the individual to be released. The money should then be taken to the Intake and Detention Facility. The money will be placed on the inmate's account and a receipt will be issued. Once the money is received, the release process will begin.
3. Where do I go to post someone's bond or fine?
   • The Intake and Detention Facility (605 So. 10th Street)
4. Who determines if an individual can be released on bond prior to appearing in court?
   • The County Court Judges have instructed the Corrections Department as to what charges an individual can be released on without first appearing in court, and the bond amount owed to be released.
5. Will the Corrections Department take a personal check?
   • No. The Department can only accept cash, money orders, cashiers checks, and wire transfers. All money orders, cashier checks, and wire transfers must be approved by the Accounting Division of the Corrections Department prior to acceptance.
6. What is the deadline to post a bond for someone who has not appeared in court?
   • 6:00 a.m. on the day of arraignment
7. What type of situation would require someone to be held for court?
   1. If the judge has ordered the hold;
   2. If the charge was related to a domestic violence case;
   3. If the charge is a serious felony;
   4. If the warrant is from District Court;
   5. If the warrant is from another state;
   6. If the individual indicates that he/she will not appear for court as ordered;
   7. If the individual could not post the money required for bond and/or fines.
8. How can I find out when someone is scheduled for court?
   • Contact the Inmate Information numbers (441-7256/7257/7530)
9. If I post someone's bond, will I receive the refund?
   • No. The bond is written in the inmate's name and the refund will be given to the inmate by the Court.
10. When can the bond be refunded?
    • After the defendant has served the sentence, paid the fine, or the case has been dismissed.
11. Is all of the bond refunded?
    • Full cash bonds are fully refundable. In some cases, the courts allow for only 10% of the bond to be posted. For example; if the bond amount is $5000, it may be possible to post only $500. In these cases, only 90% of the bond is returned, or $450 in this example.
12. May I post surety for a bond so that I do receive the refund?
    • Yes. If the Judge has set a full cash bond in court, or if the individual was arrested for a Misdemeanor Insufficient Fund Check Warrant. In either case, you will be required to post the entire amount of the bond. A surety is not allowed for pre-arraignment bonds.
13. If the inmate would like his/her bond to be used to pay his/her fines, what should he/she do?
    • The inmate should forward a handwritten request to the court asking that his/her bond be applied toward his/her fines.
14. If the inmate was booked for a District Court case, what should be done so the individual can be released?
    • Contact an attorney to schedule the necessary hearing before a District Court Judge.
15. If someone goes to court, when will the Corrections Department receive his/her paperwork?
    • Receipt of paperwork from the courts may take 4 hours or more, depending on the courts’ workload. You may call the Corrections Department (441-7256) for information regarding the status of charges.
16. If someone goes to 2:00 p.m. court, when will the Corrections Department receive his/her paperwork?
    • 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.

SENTENCES

1. If someone is sentenced to jail to serve a sentence and/or fines, who calculates the release date?
   • The Corrections Department Records Division . The release date is determined from the sentencing information provided by the court and any special orders of the Judge.
2. How do I receive credit for time served on a case?
   • The request must be made to the Judge, who then authorizes the Corrections Department Records Department to determine what credit can be applied toward that case.
3. May I serve several fines at one time?
   • No. All fines are to be served consecutively, unless a special order is made by the sentencing judge.
4. What is the deadline to receive credit for a day?
   • You must either be arrested before 4:00 p.m. or the Judge must order that your sentence begin prior to 4:00 p.m.
5. How can I receive Time Payment for a fine and where do I get the forms?
   • A form can be obtained from County Court or a Correctional staff member. You must complete the Time Payment form and submit it to County Court for approval. County Court will return a copy of the form indicating approval or denial. If approved, the date the fine is due will be noted on the form.
6. How much credit will I receive toward my fines for each day I serve in Jail?
   • $60 a day.
7. Can the Corrections Department tell me when someone is scheduled for release?
   • No. The Corrections Department will not release this information. You must contact the inmate.
8. If I have served my sentence and/or fines, what time
   • Release processing begins in the early afternoon.

INMATE ACCOUNTS

1. When and where can I place money on an inmate's account?
   • Money can be deposited on an inmate's account at either facility, 24 hours a day. Money orders and cashiers checks can be mailed to an inmate. Sending cash through the mail is discouraged.
2. When can inmates buy items from the commissary?
   • Depending on their housing assignment, either Tuesday or Wednesday.
3. When can inmates release money from their accounts to the public?
   • The inmate must submit the request by Wednesday evenings. The request will be processed and the funds will be available at the Intake and Detention Facility between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. on the following Thursday.
4. When an individual is released, in what form will his/her inmate account be returned to him/her?
   • ALL inmates receive a check for the balance of their account.

PROPERTY

1. What type of property may be brought to an inmate at the Intake & Detention Facility?
   • All clothing and necessary personal hygiene items are provided. The Corrections Department will accept only the following personal items:
     • Legal Documents
     • Prescription glasses or contacts
     • Court Clothing for Trials when ordered by a judge.
2. What type of property can an inmate have at LCF?
   • All inmates are allowed to wear their own clothing and can provide their own hygiene items. Limitations are placed on the amount each individual can possess. Contact LCF (441-7133) for specific questions.
3. When can an inmate release property to the public?
   • All property releases are processed on Thursday between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.

WORK RELEASE

1. If I am sentenced to jail, how do I apply for work release?
   • Report to the Corrections Department for an application. Fill out the form completely and return it to the Corrections Work Release Coordinator, who will forward the information to the appropriate court for consideration.
2. How do I know if it has been approved?
   • Contact the appropriate court or the Corrections Work Release Coordinator.
3. If I receive a deferred sentence, when should I report to start serving my sentence?
   • Report to the Intake and Detention Facility (605 So. 10th Street) at least ½ hour in advance of your sentence starting time. Advise Corrections staff that you have arrived.
4. What can cause my work release to be terminated?
   • Any violation of the departmental or work release rules.
5. If I have questions about my work release or any rules, who should I contact?
   • The Work Release Coordinator (441-7530 or 441-7133)
6. How much are work release costs?
   • $7 each day you are in custody
7. If I am serving fines, am I eligible for work release?
   • No. You are encouraged to pay your fines, as you are not allowed out on work release on days you are serving fines.
8. What type of property can I have while I am on work release?
   • Contact LCF staff for instructions (441-7133)

VISITATION, PHONE CALLS & MAIL

1. How old must someone be to visit an inmate?
   • At least eighteen (18) years of age; persons under the age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian (proof required), or be able to produce proof of marriage to the inmate.
2. What are the times I can visit?
   • Copies of visiting schedules and rules are available at each facility. Visiting space is limited at the Intake and Detention Facility, so all visitors must report at least ½ hour prior to the time they wish to visit. There is usually not a waiting period to visit at LCF.
3. What do I need to visit?
   • Your name must be on the inmate's visiting list and inmates may update this list weekly. You must be able to produce a valid and current county, city, state and/or federal picture ID.
4. How long do visits last?
   • All visits will last ½ hour.
5. How many times can I visit an inmate?
   • Once a day.
6. How many inmates can I visit in a day?
   • One
7. May I bring my minor children with me to visit?
   • Yes. They must be closely supervised at all times.
8. What can I take into a visit with me?
   • You should bring as few items as possible to visits due to very limited locker space available. Coats, purses, diaper bags, packages or other items will not be allowed into visiting areas.
9. What could cause me to lose my visiting privileges?
   • Any violation of the visiting rules or any inappropriate conduct. Visiting rules are available at each facility.
10. How may I contact an inmate by phone?
    • Telephone calls cannot be placed to inmates. Inmates have daily access to phones that allow them to place collect local and long distance calls.
11. May I send mail to an inmate?
    • Inmates may generally correspond through the mail with whom they choose, as long as the correspondence does not jeopardize the public or facility safety or security. Incoming mail will not be delivered to inmates if it contains contraband items, stickers, stamps, or stains. Books and magazines must be sent directly from a publisher. Inmates may purchase envelopes and stamps from commissary, so these items will not be given to inmates if received in the mail.