Nebraska prison system launches new programs to help inmates reenter society

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services is launching new programs it said will help inmates reenter society.

Inmates will be taught by their peers, formerly incarcerated people who have successfully reintegrated.

There are four programs: Unlocking Your Thinking, Ideas for Better Communication, Understanding and Reducing Angry Feelings and Building Social Networks.

Inmates will meet for two hours each week for four weeks for each of the programs. 

“Our hope is that you find these classes are not only shorter and easier to manage, but they’re also really beneficial as you think about how you’re going to prepare for your return home,” said Dawn Renee-Smith, the department’s deputy director of rehabilitation services.

This is the second phase of a three-year initiative that began in March 2022. It is being funded by a nearly $900,000 grant.

The department said it’s training staff to teach these sessions, beginning next March. Inmates will be chosen for each program based on their release date. 

“Successful reentry preparation is about providing the right tools and getting the right person in the right program at the right time,” Corrections Director Rob Jeffreys said in a press release. “This is an innovative initiative that takes a holistic approach to addressing barriers and building essential skills for our reentrants.”