Men, maximum and medium custody (with a large restrictive-housing unit) · State Prison · NDCS

Tecumseh State Correctional Institution

Tecumseh, Johnson County, Nebraska

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (402) 335-5998 Info last verified: June 2026

Nebraska's main high-security men's prison, in rural Johnson County, and the only state facility that houses men under a death sentence.

Statewide rules that apply at every Nebraska state prison

These rules are set by NDCS and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in Nebraska.

Dress code

Open-toe shoes are allowed, but footwear must be in good repair and worn at all times.
Undergarments are required — for women, one bra and one pair of underwear; for men, one pair of underwear — and no multiple layers.
Shorts, skirts, and dresses must reach at or below the knee when standing; shirts and dresses must cover the shoulders, with no visible cleavage and no low-cut back.
No tight, see-through, or revealing clothing, and nothing with profane or offensive words or images.
You may not wear khaki pants and a khaki shirt at the same time — that resembles what incarcerated people wear.
No hats, headbands, hoods, or outerwear (clergy may wear religious headwear), and no watches or fitness trackers; a lightweight jacket or sweater is allowed only if it has no pockets.

ID: Every visitor must be approved on the incarcerated person's list first — the person mails out a Visitation Request Form. Adults and visitors 16 and older show a government photo ID at every visit; minors 18 and under bring a birth certificate to the first visit and must be with an approved adult 19 or older.
What to bring: Lock everything in your vehicle or a facility locker — only a photo ID, up to $20 in coins per visitor for vending (where allowed), prescription glasses, and limited infant items in a clear bag are permitted. Phones, smartwatches, and other electronics are barred, and bringing one in is a crime.
Scheduling: After approval, schedule online at corrections.nebraska.gov (the facility's "Schedule a Visit" page) at least 7 days ahead and up to 4 weeks out; each facility sets and posts its own visiting days and hours.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Nebraska

Overview

Tecumseh State Correctional Institution, about two miles north of the town of Tecumseh, is Nebraska’s main high-security prison for men. It holds men in maximum and medium custody — about 1,075 as of August 2025, above its design capacity of 960 — and runs the largest restrictive-housing and special-management operation in the state, along with units for general population and for men in protective management (those who cannot be safely held in general population). The prison opened in December 2001 and has on-site medical services, including a small skilled-nursing unit.

What Makes Tecumseh Different

It is Nebraska’s main high-security men’s prison, with the state’s largest restrictive-housing unit.
It is the only NDCS facility that houses men under a death sentence. A condemned man is moved to the Nebraska State Penitentiary, which holds the execution chamber, only in the days before a scheduled execution.
It holds men in protective management, a population that cannot be safely housed in general population elsewhere.
It has been the focus of state oversight following two deadly disturbances (see below).

Visiting

The statewide NDCS rules above — the approved list, the dress code, ID, and search rules — apply at Tecumseh.

The full approval process is in Visiting in Nebraska.

Disturbances and Oversight

Tecumseh was the site of two deadly disturbances. In a May 2015 disturbance, men took control of several housing units and set fires, and two incarcerated men were killed; a review by the state Ombudsman’s office (the Office of Public Counsel) examined staffing levels that day. In a March 2017 disturbance, two more incarcerated men were killed; a man held at the prison was later convicted of murder in one of the deaths. Both events are documented in the sources cited above.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on Highway 50 about two miles north of Tecumseh, in rural Johnson County.

Distances are approximate, based on map routing. Visitor parking is on site.

Nearby Services

Tecumseh has limited food, gas, and lodging; Lincoln has more. The nearest 24/7 emergency room is Johnson County Hospital in Tecumseh, a critical-access hospital about two miles south of the prison.

Mail

Personal mail does not go to the prison. Nebraska scans incoming personal letters, cards, and photos through an off-site vendor (TextBehind, Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131); the person reads them as images on a ViaPath tablet or receives photocopies. Money, books, publications, and legal mail go to the facility’s own address — P.O. Box 900, Tecumseh, NE 68450. At Tecumseh, privileged legal mail is photocopied in front of the person and the originals shredded. Full addressing details are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone in a Nebraska state prison:

Visiting in Nebraska — the approved list, dress code, and scheduling
Mail & Packages — the Maryland scanning address and what goes to the facility
Phone & Video Calls — ConnectNetwork calls, tablets, and video visits
Sending Money — ConnectNetwork and the trust account
Medical & Mental Health — co-pays, care, and how to raise a concern
Transfers & Finding Someone — the locator, reception, and notifications

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.