Nebraska Office of the Public Counsel, Deputy Public Counsel for Corrections

The Office of the Public Counsel (also known as the State Ombudsman’s Office) is an independent office based in the legislature that handles citizen complaints regarding the actions of state administrative agencies.

The Deputy Public Counsel for Corrections has jurisdiction over all facilities and parts of facilities, houses of confinement, and institutions that are operated by the Department of Correctional Services and all county or municipal correctional or jail facilities.

The Ombudsman’s Office seeks to provide administrative justice to all citizens as well as to promote accountability in public administration. The Ombudsman makes specific recommendations for corrective action whenever the investigation of a complaint reveals a mistaken, unfair, or arbitrary state action; develops general recommendations to promote continuing improvement in the state agencies’ policies and procedures, and issues annual reports.

Inmates who have been sexually assaulted in a detention facility, including facilities operated by the Department of Correctional Services and county or municipal correctional or jail facilities, can contact the Deputy Public Counsel for Corrections to report the assault and any concerns regarding the handling of investigations into such abuse.