LINCOLN- Just days into his new job as Nebraska Director of Corrections, Rob Jeffreys made it clear to the Judiciary Committee that he would support the plan to build a new $350 million prison to replace the aging Nebraska State Penitentiary. "We already know what the conditions are at NSP," said Jeffrey's, "We have to move forward with building a new prison. Those problems are not going to go away."

Just months ago, a major water leak in one of the State Penitentiary's housing units forced the relocation of 140 men, with prison officials saying that the break could take two years to fix. The Legislature's Appropriations Committee voted earlier this month to appropriate money for the project, which would add around 1,500 beds to Nebraska's Corrections system.

Jefferys previously served as the Illinois corrections director, and was named to the Nebraska positions earlier this month by Gov. Jim Pillen. Jeffreys comes at a time when Nebraska's corrections system is the most overcrowded and fastest growing in the United States. On top of that, the Nebraska Department of Corrections is also plagued by staffing shortages.

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