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Douglas County Corrections reports record use of GPS pretrial releases; pilot opioid antidote Opvie used in facility
Summary
Deputy Director Amber Redmond reported falling overtime, improved staffing and record highs in GPS‑monitored pretrial releases and sobriety program participation; the jail began a pilot of the opioid antidote Opvie and reported the first in‑facility administration.
Douglas County Department of Corrections Deputy Director Amber Redmond reported steady staffing, lower overtime and several operational milestones at the June 24 Board of Corrections meeting.
Redmond said overtime spending fell by about $56,000 in May, and the department had five officers depart below the rank of sergeant (including one retirement) while promoting staff and graduating a 24‑cadet class. She said correctional‑officer ranks were at about 102% of authorized staffing during May and that the new cadets completed field training in June.
On community corrections and pretrial services, Redmond said the sanction center and traditional discharge center together placed 12 people in community corrections, saving 60 bed days. Work release admissions (25) and house‑arrest admissions (42) rose slightly from the prior month. Pretrial services saw a record month: 306 people were placed on pretrial release and 1,345 individuals were supervised on pretrial release during May. GPS monitoring reached a record high with 207 people supervised via ankle monitors; Redmond said this yielded an estimated 4,587 jail bed days saved.
Redmond reported the Department began a pilot program to use Opvie (an opioid antidote with a longer half‑life than naloxone) on May 1 and confirmed the first facility administration. "The individual who received that dose did respond well, and remained at the facility in the infirmary under medical observation," she said. Redmond said Opvie was presented to staff along with partner agencies (Omaha Police Department, Douglas County Health Department, Omaha Fire Department and Nebraska State Probation) and will be evaluated as part of the pilot.
On medical and mental‑health operations, Redmond reported 116 individuals were placed on suicide precautions during May and 208 were placed on drug and alcohol detox protocols. She also said the facility will not be audited this year by the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare because of a backlog; NCCHC extended the current accreditation until the next scheduled audit in 2026.
Reentry and programs: Redmond said therapeutic community housing units admitted 88 individuals in May. The GED program has a waitlist of 128 people with 71 active students; two students obtained GEDs in May. She cited an ongoing expansion of use‑of‑force training (the Tactical Athlete Program) and staff wellness activities.
Why it matters: Redmond emphasized that expanded pretrial supervision and GPS monitoring are both intended to reduce jail bed days and taxpayer cost; the department estimated large per‑diem savings from diverted incarcerations. Commissioners noted the fiscal and community benefits of diversion and asked for more public outreach about pretrial programs.
Meeting context and next steps: Redmond answered commissioners’ questions at the June 24 meeting and commissioners requested a fuller briefing on pretrial program changes at a future meeting. The Opvie pilot and the increased use of GPS monitoring will be monitored by corrections leadership.
