Director Michael Myers presented the January 2026 corrections report to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners on February 10, 2026. The report paints a detailed picture of what's happening inside Douglas County's correctional system — and several data points have direct implications for the broader Omaha community, including a rising homeless population among inmates and the upcoming opening of a new mental health facility.
The department is $2.66 million under budget through seven months of the fiscal year. Average daily population was 1,142 (increase of 30). Twenty-two percent of inmates were homeless or nearly homeless — the highest in over 13 months. Sixty-six percent of the population were minorities, 21% were ages 18-24, and 15% were female. Pre-trial release programs saved an estimated $719,640 in detention costs. 99.27% of individuals on pre-trial release remained arrest-free. A new mental health addition to the facility will open in late 2026, with operational planning already underway. The department is 103% staffed after 26 cadets began academy training January 5. Captain Patrick West passed away January 2 after a cancer battle, having served nearly 36 years.
When 22% of your jail population is homeless or nearly homeless, that's not just a corrections issue — it's a housing issue, a mental health issue, and a community issue. According to the report, this is the highest percentage in more than 13 months, suggesting the trend is moving in the wrong direction. For the Omaha community, this data point underscores the importance of housing availability across all income levels. That's part of why developments adding residential units — from the Union Omaha stadium district downtown to new subdivisions in Bennington and Elkhorn — are about more than just market-rate buyers. Housing supply affects the entire ecosystem.
The new mental health addition to Douglas County Corrections is scheduled to open in late 2026. Operational planning meetings have begun covering staffing (custody, mental health, and medical), training, staff selection, uniforms, re-entry resources, programming, daily routines, and security. Becker's Behavioral Health has reported on the county's approximately $20 million investment in the facility. The Lincoln Regional Center waitlist stands at 18, with 21 individuals currently there — primarily for competency restoration. The new facility should ease some of that pressure.
The Board approved a resolution honoring Captain Patrick West, who passed away January 2, 2026 after battling cancer. West served Douglas County Corrections for nearly 36 years, rising from officer to sergeant to lieutenant to captain. He was known as a mentor who coordinated security operations and implemented new technologies. His wife Pam attended the ceremony. Captain Sweeney is also retiring, and both positions will be filled this month with a restructuring of leadership responsibilities.
These corrections reports rarely make local news, but they contain data that matters. The community's investment in mental health infrastructure, pre-trial alternatives, and re-entry programs directly affects public safety, property values, and quality of life across the metro. At Davis Contracting, we build homes and finish basements across Omaha, Council Bluffs, La Vista, and beyond — and we believe that understanding the full picture of what's happening in our community makes us better builders and better neighbors.
