LINCOLN- During a late-afternoon press conference on Thursday, Gov. Jim Pillen, alongside Nebraska Director of Corrections Rob Jeffreys, announced that the state would begin construction on a new 1,500-bed prison to replace the aging State Penitentiary starting next fall. The new prison, which is still yet to be designed, will be located near 112th and Adam Streets.

The new prison is expected to employ around 1,000 people, double the number currently employed at the State Penitentiary, and will act as a multi-custody facility, housing low, mid, and max security inmates. The land on which the prison is set to be built, according to Gov. Pillen, cost the state $17 million, and is made up of around 305 acres.

This is in addition to the $335 million already allocated to build the prison itself. Pillen and Jeffreys described the new prison as "state of the art," and told those in attendance that it will increase safety compared to the State Penitentiary, "enhancing the environment of both the staff and the incarcerated population."

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