Reception and Treatment Center Overview
Reception and Treatment Center is operated by the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services at 3220 West Van Dorn Street in Lincoln. Research describes RTC as the active facility that absorbed or combined functions historically associated with the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center and Lincoln Correctional Center. Its core role is state reception, diagnostic evaluation, classification, treatment, and prison custody.
This facility is not the county jail. Someone recently arrested in Lancaster County may first appear in the Lancaster County Adult Detention Facility roster. Once a person is sentenced into NDCS custody and routed through reception or treatment, the state locator becomes the correct custody search tool.
The image below is from the official NDCS Reception and Treatment Center facility page.
Reception and Treatment Center Capacity and Population
Research did not include a fixed current headcount or rated-capacity number for RTC. It does document the facility's NDCS role and notes that the official facility page reports operational and design details. Because reception, treatment, and classification populations can shift, use the official NDCS page for any current capacity or population figure.
How to Look Up an Inmate at Reception and Treatment Center
Use the NDCS inmate locator for RTC. The state locator accepts a DCS ID number when known and also supports name searching. The county roster should not be used as the search channel for people in RTC custody.
- Open the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services inmate search.
- Enter the DCS ID number, or search by last name and first name.
- Check the listed facility to confirm Reception and Treatment Center.
- Use NDCS and Nebraska court records for custody, sentence, and case context.
Research documented NDCS search fields for DCS ID Number, Last Name, and First Name. That matters for RTC because a person may be moving through reception, diagnostics, or classification while family members still think of the case as a Lancaster County arrest. Once NDCS has custody, the state locator and DCS number are more reliable than the old county jail record.
Reception and Treatment Center Address and Contact
RTC is on West Van Dorn Street in Lincoln, separate from the West O Street county jail and separate from courthouse addresses. Call the facility or use NDCS pages for prison-specific questions.
Reception and Treatment Center
3220 West Van Dorn Street
Lincoln, NE 68522
402-471-2861
NDCS reception, treatment, and prison custody facility
Visiting Someone at Reception and Treatment Center
RTC visitation follows NDCS approval and scheduling rules. Treatment, reception, security, or classification status can affect whether a person is eligible for visits and what schedule applies. Confirm through the NDCS visiting-hours page and the RTC facility page before making plans.
| Day | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Check NDCS visiting-hours page | State prison visitation |
| Wednesday | Check NDCS visiting-hours page | State prison visitation |
| Friday | Check NDCS visiting-hours page | State prison visitation |
| Saturday | Check NDCS visiting-hours page | State prison visitation |
| Sunday | Check NDCS visiting-hours page | State prison visitation |
Mail, Phone, and Money at Reception and Treatment Center
Use NDCS statewide rules for RTC mail, phone calls, and inmate accounting. Mail should follow the NDCS mail page and include the inmate name and DCS number. Deposits and accounting questions should be checked through NDCS inmate accounting, and phone rules through the NDCS telephone-calls page.
| Service | Provider / Detail |
|---|---|
| Mail Address | Use NDCS mail format with inmate name and DCS number. |
| Phone / Video | Use NDCS telephone and visiting rules; no facility-specific fee was confirmed. |
| Money Deposit | Use NDCS inmate accounting for current deposit methods. |
Reception, Classification, and Intake at Reception and Treatment Center
RTC intake is state-prison reception, not county arrest booking. People sentenced to NDCS may pass through reception and classification before a longer-term assignment. During that process, NDCS evaluates custody level, medical or mental-health needs, treatment needs, separation issues, and appropriate placement.
If the person is still in local pretrial custody, RTC is not the lookup source; use the Lancaster County Adult Detention Facility roster and court channels. If the person is in federal sentenced custody or immigration detention, use BOP or ICE ODLS instead of NDCS. The custody label controls the search path.
About Reception and Treatment Center
RTC is one reason Lancaster County inmate searches can be confusing: the facility is physically in Lincoln, but it belongs to the statewide prison system. A county jail search and an NDCS search answer different questions. For a recently booked person, use LCDC. For state prison reception, classification, or treatment custody, use NDCS and supplement with Nebraska VINELink where notification is available.
Research specifically supports RTC's reception, diagnostics, evaluation, treatment, classification, and prison custody functions. Treatment and classification status can affect visits, mail handling, and movement, so the official NDCS facility page should be checked when a current restriction matters.
Note: Confirm RTC custody location and visit eligibility through NDCS before travel.