MEDIA CONTACT
Alycia Davis, (531) 249-8079,
alycia.davis@nebraska.gov
Lincoln, NE – Nebraska's Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Lincoln (YRTC-Lincoln) earned a 100 percent compliance with the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) audit, meeting all 43 federal standards of compliance.
“I am proud of the diligence and hard work demonstrated by the YRTC-Lincoln and Office of Juvenile Services (OJS) Compliance teams to ensure this level of compliance," said DHHS OJS Administrator Mark LaBouchardiere. “Their dedication and commitment to our mission of helping the youth in our facility live better lives is truly inspiring."
YRTC-Lincoln opened in February 2020 as a program located within the Lancaster County Youth Services Center, operating as a separate program from the county center that also provides services to other youth. The YRTC-Lincoln program was established to provide services to both male and female youth ranging in age from 14 to 18 years. The youth are securely housed separately by gender.
This audit happens at least once every three years. In January 2024, a Department of Justice (DOJ) certified PREA auditor visited the YRTC-Lincoln to review all 43 federal standards. Part of this audit entailed the auditor conducting confidential interviews with every youth at the facility to ensure the state's policies and procedures matched operations and day-to-day practice.
“Providing safe and high-quality care for the youth at our YRTC facilities is a top priority for the Department of Health and Human Services," said Dr. Alyssa Bish, Director of the Division of Children and Family Services. “The PREA re-accreditation with a perfect score shows our team's continued commitment to the youth that the facility serves."