LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services is facing renewed calls from the state’s prison watchdog to eliminate the practice of double-bunking inmates in restrictive housing, especially with plans for a new prison facility on the horizon. A comprehensive 38-page report, released by the Office of Inspector General of Corrections, dives deep into the circumstances surrounding the 2022 death of an inmate identified pseudonymously as “John Doe,” who died shortly after being placed with a new cellmate known as “John Smith.”
The report reiterates concerns historically raised by the Inspector General about doubling up inmates in such high-security settings, a practice that remains in use only at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln. This practice was previously scrutinized following a 2017 incident where a 22-year-old inmate was killed under similar circumstances at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. Recommendations to suspend double-bunking pending further review were disregarded at the time.
“Restrictive housing is inherently a volatile environment,” the report said, noting the impracticality for correctional staff to accurately gauge the safety of pairing certain inmates together. Established by the legislature in 2015, the Office of Inspector General of Corrections aims to bolster accountability and oversight, systematically investigating all deaths occurring within department facilities.
Doe, who had been found with a homemade weapon five months prior to his death, showed signs of rehabilitation by completing several behavior modification programs and expressing a desire to improve his life for the sake of his family. His new cellmate, Smith, had been placed with Doe at his own request, following consultations with mental health professionals. Despite no initial objections from either party, Doe was found unresponsive the following day, an autopsy later citing asphyxia with a ligature as the cause of death.
The incident’s report briefly notes the complexities of asserting whether Doe’s death was a suicide or a homicide, acknowledging an ongoing criminal inquiry tied to the circumstances of his death. The inspector general subtly drew parallels to another case from October 2022, where an inmate’s death led to murder charges against his cellmate, suggesting a pattern worth noting.
While the policy of double-bunking may offer benefits like reduced isolation and increased resource sharing, it also poses significant risks including reduced privacy, security complications in contraband control, and potential for violence. The suicide and homicide rates in these settings remain a contentious issue, with the report failing to find conclusive evidence on whether risks differ markedly between single and double-bunked configurations.
The ongoing debate touched on historical precedents where solitary confinements had witnessed suicides, whereas the double-bunking setups occasionally culminated in homicides. Staff sentiments suggest that double-bunking has imperceptibly moved from being an exception to an expectation, raising questions about systemic policy adherence and its implications on inmate safety.
The report indicated that the department’s standing policy ostensibly allows double-bunking “so long as it provides reasonable safety from assault,” which was purportedly adhered to in the lead-up to Doe’s death. However, given the tragic outcome, calls for higher oversight and stringent controls on such practices have intensified.
Amidst this backdrop, the department highlighted its broader objective to pare down behaviors necessitating restrictive housing. Director of Corrections Rob Jeffreys received a set of recommendations poised to overhaul current protocols, including mandating higher-level approvals for double-bunking decisions and updating violence risk assessments used to pair inmates.
As the department contemplates these recommendations amidst constructing a new correctional facility due in 2028, the debate underscores a critical junction for Nebraska’s correctional policy. Stakeholders are poised on the precipice of deciding whether reformative measures or an entrenchment in current practices will dictate the future of inmate management and facility operations. Meanwhile, legislative oversight continues to play a pivotal role in navigating these complex judicial and correctional landscapes.