IN THEIR WORDS: What public officials do for us. Rob Jeffreys, Director, Nebraska Department of Correctional Services

What really happens behind prison walls — and why should the rest of us care? In this episode of IN THEIR WORDS, we sit down with Rob Jeffreys, Director of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services and President of the Correctional Leaders Association, to pull back the curtain on one of the nation's most misunderstood institutions. Director Jeffreys explains how modern corrections services have evolved far beyond “lock them up,” becoming a complex 24/7 system that functions like a small city, providing security, healthcare, mental health treatment, education, and job training for thousands of people society often forgets.

His core message is blunt and hard to dismiss: with nearly 90 percent of incarcerated people eventually returning home, rehabilitation and successful reentry aren’t just compassionate ideals — they’re essential to public safety.

Drawing on more than 30 years in corrections across multiple states, Director Jeffreys shares powerful insights on leadership, second chances, and the human realities of the job, including navigating the dual crises of COVID-19 and national racial unrest. He highlights innovative efforts like the Transform Nebraska Network, partnerships with local employers that lead to livable-wage jobs, and the growing role of data and lived experience in reducing recidivism. Candid, thoughtful, and honest, this conversation challenges common assumptions and invites us to rethink what justice, accountability, and redemption can look like in practice.

Episode Notes:
-More about this episode -- including Director Jeffreys full bio -- and the IN THEIR WORDS podcast series can be found at: https://www.citizenarts.org/intheirwords
-Director Jeffreys recently received the Tom Clements Innovation and Achievement Award from the Correctional Leaders Association. For more information about the organization, visit https://www.correctionalleaders.com/
-Director Jeffreys was featured in Justice Trends magazine about transforming correctional services: https://justice-trends.press/transforming-correctional-services-in-america-harnessing-collaboration-and-evidence-based-solutions-for-innovation/
-Music credit: Frederic Chopin, Waltz in B minor. Music by Nesrality from Pixabay
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