Skip to main contentSkip to main content

You have permission to edit this article.

Edit Close

62°

• Log In
• Subscribe

• Guest
• Logout

Read Today's E-edition

Site Search

• AI Answers
• Site Search

• News

  • Local
  • Crime
  • Nebraska News
  • Politics
  • Records
  • Business
  • Nation & World
  • Last 24 hours
  • Markets & Stocks
  • News TIp

• Obituaries

  • Share a story
  • Recent Obituaries
  • Find an Obituary
  • Archives

• Opinion

  • Submit a letter
  • Letters
  • Editorial
  • Columnists

• Sports

  • Huskers
  • High School
  • College
  • Stars Hockey
  • Saltdogs Baseball
  • Outdoors
  • Professional
  • Scores

• Lifestyles

  • Arts & Theatre
  • Event Calendar
  • Movies & TV
  • Music
  • Puzzmo
  • Puzzles
  • Comics
  • Contests
  • Play
  • Food & Cooking
  • Parenting
  • Health
  • Home & Garden
  • People
  • Pets
  • Faith
  • Announcements

• Join the community

  • News tip
  • Share video

• Brand Ave. Studios

  • Go Find It! Nebraska

• Print Edition

  • E-edition
  • E-edition Archives
  • Special Sections

• Buy & Sell

  • Place an Ad
  • Jobs
  • Auto Sales
  • Marketplace
  • Public Notices
  • Shop Local

• Shopping

• Customer Service

  • Manage Subscription
  • Activate Digital Subscription
  • Newsletter sign-up
  • Subscribe
  • Contact us
  • Help Center

• Gift Subscriptions

• Mobile Apps

• Weather: Live Radar

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Bluesky
• YouTube
• Instagram

© 2026 Lee Enterprises

Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

Site Search

• AI Answers
• Site Search

Site Search

• AI Answers
• Site Search

A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Subscribe

Read Today's E-edition

Subscribe

• Log In

• 

  Welcome, Guest

  • My Subscription

    Help Center

  • My Account

  • Dashboard

  • Profile

  • Saved items

  • Logout

• E-edition
• News
• Obituaries
• Opinion
• Huskers
• Puzzmo
• Puzzles
• Lifestyles
• Public Notices
• Jobs
• Autos

• 62° Sunny

Share This

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Bluesky
• WhatsApp
• SMS
• Email

Stuck in solitary: Nebraska teens increasingly locked in ‘room confinement’ despite state law meant to limit it

Live chat

0 Comments

Share this

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Bluesky
• WhatsApp
• SMS
• Email
• Print
• Copy article link
• Save

A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Top Story Editor's Pick Topical

Stuck in solitary: Nebraska teens increasingly locked in ‘room confinement’ despite state law meant to limit it

• Natalia Alamdari Flatwater Free Press
• Feb 5, 2024
• Feb 5, 2024
• 0

The Lancaster County Youth Services Center, a county-run facility that incarcerates young people. The Inspector General’s Office found one Lancaster County case where a 14-year-old spent 129 out of 133 days in room confinement.

Journal Star file photo

Prefer us on Google Learn More

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Bluesky
• WhatsApp
• SMS
• Email
• Print
• Copy article link
• Save

Natalia Alamdari Flatwater Free Press

A view of the Douglas County Youth Center, one of the county-run facilities that incarcerate young people. County- and state-run detention centers like this one put more juveniles into solitary confinement for longer stretches of time in 2023, according to a recent report.

Abiola Kosoko, Flatwater Free Press

kAm%96 `e\J62C\@=5 H@?’E E6== 9:D >@> >F49 23@FE E96 52JD 96 DA6?5D =@4<65 2=@?6 :? 2 C@@>]k^Am

kAmw6 72==D D:=6?E H96? 9:D >@E96C[ #:496EE2 {@H>2?[ 3C:?8D :E FA @G6C E96 A9@?6 @C H96? D96 5C:G6D 7C@> ~>292 E@ z62C?6J’D *@FE9 #6923:=:E2E:@? 2?5 %C62E>6?E r6?E6C 2?5 2D<D 23@FE :E]k^Am

kAm%96 E66?286C 92D =2?565 :? D@=:E2CJ 27E6C D9@G:?8 2 DE277 >6>36C[ 86EE:?8 :?E@ 2 7:DE7:89E H:E9 2?@E96C <:5[ DE62=:?8 2 H2E6C 8F?]k^Am

kAmx? }@G6>36C[ {@H>2? =62C?65 E92E 96C D@? 925 DA6?E 2 H66< :? D@=:E2CJ] $96 7:C65 @77 2 7FC:@FD 6>2:=[ 4@AJ:?8 6G6CJ 8@G6C?>6?E @77:4:2= D96 4@F=5 E9:?< @7]k^Am

People are also reading…

• Huskers beat up after Oregon: Broken bones and season-ending injury
• Lincoln teen killed in crash at 84th and O streets
• Pius X community mourns after Lincoln teen dies in O Street crash
• Man found dead west of Elkhorn identified by Douglas County Sheriff's Office
• Ricketts defends pardon of man convicted of sexually assaulting estranged wife
• Nebraska father sues HHS after agency quotes $1M, 50 years for public records
• Why an NBA great is wading into the Lancaster County sheriff's race
• Texas murder-suicide suspect who killed Doane student also attended Crete school
• Doane student killed in Texas in attempted murder-suicide
• Massive elk killed, vehicle totaled in unusual southwest Lincoln crash
• Just: We are all tired. And the whys keep coming in Nebraska's latest soul-crusher
• 'Much respect to him': Nebraska reunion with Dylan Raiola short-lived — and painful
• Blackout at night: Kickoff time set for Washington-Nebraska Halloween game
• Nebraska high school football rankings: See who rose and fell after Week 8
• Lincoln man enters plea in crash that killed 86-year-old Waverly man

kAm%92E 52J[ 96C D@? 42==65[ 6I4:E65[ E@ E6== 96C 96’5 366? =6E @FE @7 D@=:E2CJ 2E E96 DE2E6\CF? 46?E6C H96C6 <:5D 8@ 27E6C 4@>>:EE:?8 2 4C:>6]k^Am

kAm{2E6C E92E 27E6C?@@?[ D96 8@E 2 42== 7C@> 2 46?E6C DE2776C]k^Am

kAm*@FC D@? 2DD2F=E65 2 DE277 >6>36C[ E96 DE2776C E@=5 {@H>2?] w6’D 324< :? D@=:E2CJ]k^Am

kAm|@C6 }63C2D<2 49:=5C6? 2C6 DA6?5:?8 >@C6 E:>6 =@4<65 :? D@=:E2CJ 4@?7:?6>6?E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 C646?E C6A@CE 3J E96 DE2E6’D x?DA64E@C v6?6C2= 7@C r9:=5 (6=72C6] %92E C6A@CE DF886DED E92E E96 DE2E6\CF? 56E6?E:@? 46?E6CD 2?5 EC62E>6?E 46?E6CD >2J ?@E 36 7@==@H:?8 DE2E6 =2H >62?E E@ 5:D4@FC286 :ED FD6]k^Am

kAm%96 AC24E:46[ @77:4:2==J 42==65 C@@> 4@?7:?6>6?E[ :D ?66565 :? D@>6 42D6D E@ <66A DE277 2?5 @E96C 49:=5C6? :? 4FDE@5J D276[ 4@CC64E:@?2= 25>:?:DEC2E@CD D2J]k^Am

kAmqFE D@=:E2CJ :D <?@H? E@ 92G6 92C>7F= 67764ED[ C6D62C49 D9@HD[ D@>6E:>6D =@H6C:?8 2 49:=5’D 3C2:? 24E:G:EJ H9:=6 FAA:?8 E96 492?46 96 @C D96 364@>6D 49C@?:42==J 56AC6DD65 2?5 2EE6>AED DF:4:56]k^Am

kAm%96 C6A@CE[ 4@G6C:?8 yF=J a_aa E@ yF?6 a_ab[ 7@F?5 E92E E96 FD6 @7 C@@> 4@?7:?6>6?E DA:<65 ccT 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 J62C 367@C6] %96 ?F>36C @7 9@FCD ;FG6?:=6D DA6?E :? 4@?7:?6>6?E ;F>A65 baT]k^Am

kAm“|J :?:E:2= E9@F89E :D[ 2C6 724:=:E:6D DECF88=:?8 H:E9 >2?28:?8 3692G:@C :? E96 A@AF=2E:@?D E96J’C6 D6CG:?8n” D2:5 y6??:76C r2CE6C[ :?DA64E@C 86?6C2= 7@C 49:=5 H6=72C6] “p?5 :D E92E H9J E96J’C6 92G:?8 E@ FD6 WC@@> 4@?7:?6>6?EX >@C6n”k^Am

Inspector General for Child Welfare Jennifer Carter said her office has asked the state for more clarity on how juvenile detention facilities should interpret a law that that says room confinement should be used as a last resort to keep young people safe.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo

kAm(96? 2D<65 23@FE E96 :?4C62D6D[ ;FG6?:=6 56E6?E:@? @77:4:2=D A@:?E65 E@ :?4C62D6D :? E96 ?F>36C @7 <:5D :? 4FDE@5J]k^Am

kAmpE E96 s@F8=2D r@F?EJ *@FE9 r6?E6C[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ E96 A2?56>:4 =65 E@ 76H6C 56E2:?65 <:5D] $E277:?8 =6G6=D DE2J65 >@DE=J DE23=6] %96 9:896C C2E:@ @7 DE277 E@ <:5D >62?E >@C6 25F=ED AC6D6?E E@ 56\6D42=2E6 D:EF2E:@?D] %92E >62?E 76H6C 2DD2F=ED 36EH66? <:5D[ 2?5 =6DD FD6 @7 C@@> 4@?7:?6>6?E[ D2:5 z:> w2H6<@EE6[ 56AFEJ 4@F?EJ 25>:?:DEC2E@C 7@C ;FG6?:=6 D6CG:46D :? s@F8=2D r@F?EJ] %9:D J62C[ E96 ?F>36C @7 56E2:?65 <:5D H6?E 324< FA[ D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm“x7 J@F 5@?’E 4@>A2C6 WC@@> 4@?7:?6>6?EX E@ E96 ?F>36C :? 56E6?E:@?[ E96? E@ >6[ E92E’D ?@E C6=6G2?E[” w2H6<@EE6 D2:5]k^Am

kAm#@@> 4@?7:?6>6?E =@@<D 5:776C6?E 2E 6249 724:=:EJ H96C6 <:5D 2C6 96=5]k^Am

kAmpE E96 *#%r :? z62C?6J[ H96C6 {@H>2?’D D@? :D :? 4FDE@5J[ E96 3@JD 86E E2<6? 7C@> 9@FD:?8 F?:ED E@ 2 D6A2C2E6 3F:=5:?8 — s:4<D@? r@EE286] %96J’C6 AFE :? 4:?56C 3=@4< C@@>D E92E 92G6 2 >6E2= 4@>3:?65 E@:=6E 2?5 D:?<[ 2 4@?4C6E6 D=23 H:E9 2 E9:? >2EEC6DD A25 2?5 2 D=2E @? E96 5@@C H96C6 DE277 3C:?8 7@@5]k^Am

kAmpE 4@F?EJ ;FG6?:=6 56E6?E:@? 46?E6CD[ H9:49 2C6 =:<6 ;2:=D 7@C <:5D >@G:?8 E9C@F89 ;FG6?:=6 4@FCE[ <:5D 2C6 EJA:42==J 4@?7:?65 E@ E96:C FDF2= C@@>] %96C6 >:89E 36 2 A=2DE:4 56D< 3@=E65 E@ E96 H2==[ 2 492:C D64FC65 E@ E96 7=@@C[ 2 E9:? >2EEC6DD 2?5 A:==@H[ 25G@42E6D 56D4C:365]k^Am

kAm%96 <:5D >:89E 86E 2 3@@<] %96J >:89E E2=< E@ @E96C <:5D E9C@F89 E96 G6?ED] %96C6 >2J @C >2J ?@E 36 2 H:?5@H]k^Am

kAm$E2E6 =2H D2JD E@ =:>:E FD6 @7 C@@> 4@?7:?6>6?E E@ 2D D9@CE 2 E:>6 2D A@DD:3=6] qFE :? 6IEC6>6 42D6D[ <:5D 42? 36 96=5 7@C H66<D 2E 2 E:>6] %96 x?DA64E@C v6?6C2=’D ~77:46 7@F?5 @?6 {2?42DE6C r@F?EJ 42D6 H96C6 2 `c\J62C\@=5 DA6?E `ah @FE @7 `bb 52JD :? C@@> 4@?7:?6>6?E]k^Am

k9am'F=?6C23=6 E@ 92C>7F= 67764EDk^9am

kAm*62CD @7 C6D62C49 92G6 5@4F>6?E65 E96 92C>7F= 67764ED @7 D@=:E2CJ 4@?7:?6>6?E @? 25F=ED] q642FD6 E96:C 3C2:?D 2C6 56G6=@A:?8[ J@F?8 A6@A=6 2C6 >@C6 GF=?6C23=6 E@ :ED 92C>D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 p>6C:42? p4256>J @7 r9:=5 2?5 p5@=6D46?E !DJ49:2ECJ]k^Am

kAm%:>6 :? D@=:E2CJ :?4C62D6D E96 C:D< @7 92==F4:?2E:@?D[ 2?I:6EJ 2?5 ?6CG@FD?6DD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 p>6C:42? !DJ49@=@8:42= pDD@4:2E:@?] xE DA2C<D C286 H9:=6 =@H6C:?8 :>AF=D6 4@?EC@= 2?5 3C2:? 7F?4E:@?]k^Am

kAmQx7 8C@H? >6? 364@>6 ADJ49@E:4 :? 2 >2EE6C @7 52JD :? D@=:E2CJ 4@?7:?6>6?E[ :>28:?6 H92E E92E 5@6D E@ D@>6 49:=5C6?[Q D2:5 $92<FC p35F==29[ D6?:@C 724:=:E2E@C 7@C E96 r@>>F?:EJ yFDE:46 r6?E6C[ H9@ DA6?E c_ J62CD :? }63C2D<2 AC:D@?D 27E6C 36:?8 D6?E6?465 E@ =:76 2D 2 E66?]k^Am

Shakur Abdullah

Courtesy Photo

kAmp>@?8 J@FE9[ D@=:E2CJ 4@?7:?6>6?E 42CC:6D 2 9:896C C:D< @7 DF:4:52= E9@F89ED] |@DE DF:4:56D 2>@?8 :?42C46C2E65 J@FE9 92AA6? :? D@=:E2CJ 4@?7:?6>6?E]k^Am

kAmQ(96? J@F 8@ :? E96C6[ J@F FDF2==J 86E EH:46 2D FAD6E[Q D2:5 y2D@? (:E>6C[ 2 A@=:4J 76==@H 2E E96 }63C2D<2 pr{&] Q*@FVC6 <:4<:?8 E96 H2==D[ 3642FD6 J@F 92G6 ?@E9:?8] *@FVC6 EC62E65 2D ?@E9:?8] p =@E @7 E:>6D[ H92E J@FV== 962C 2C6 E96 <:5D J6==:?8 … 4CJ:?8 D@>6E:>6D[ <:4<:?8 H2==D]Qk^Am

kAm#@D4@6 (2==246 H2D AFE :?E@ D@=:E2CJ 4@?7:?6>6?E 2E E96 s@F8=2D r@F?EJ *@FE9 r6?E6C H96? 96 H2D :?42C46C2E65 2D 2 E66?] w6 =62C?65 E96? E92E 96’D 4=2FDEC@A9@3:4]k^Am

Roscoe Wallace

Courtesy Photo

kAm}@H[ (2==246 H@C<D H:E9 :?42C46C2E65 J@FE9 2E E96 ?@?AC@7:E ':23=6 w62=:?8] ~?6 E66? E@=5 9:> E96 D64=FD:@? >256 9:> D@ 5:DEC2F89E E92E 96 E9C6H 9:D @H? 7646D 2E 8F2C5D E9C@F89 E96 D=2E @? 9:D 46== 5@@C]k^Am

Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts

kAmQxE 7@DE6CD E9:D 766=:?8 E92E E92E A6CD@? :D 2=>@DE ?@E 2 A6CD@?[Q (2==246 D2:5] Q~FC <:5D D9@F=5 ?6G6C 766= =:<6 E96J 5@?VE 92G6 G2=F6]Qk^Am

kAmx? }@G6>36C[ {@H>2? @A6?65 FA 2 +@@> 7@C 2 72>:=J E62> >66E:?8[ A2CE @7 96C D@?’D >2?52E65 EC62E>6?E A=2?] w6C D@? H2D?’E AC6D6?E @? E96 D4C66?]k^Am

kAmw6VD :? D@=:E2CJ[ D96 D2:5 DE277 E@=5 96C] w6 42?VE A2CE:4:A2E6]k^Am

k9am$@=:E2CJ E@ 36 2 =2DE C6D@CEk^9am

kAmx? a_a_[ E96 }63C2D<2 {68:D=2EFC6 A2DD65 2 =2H D6EE:?8 ?6H CF=6D 7@C ;FG6?:=6 C@@> 4@?7:?6>6?E]k^Am

kAm*@FE9 2C6 @?=J E@ 36 A=2465 :? D@=:E2CJ 2D 2 =2DE C6D@CE[ 27E6C 2== @E96C 2=E6C?2E:G6D 2C6 6I92FDE65[ 2?5 @?=J :7 E96J A@D6 2? :>>65:2E6 52?86C E@ E96>D6=G6D @C @E96CD]k^Am

kAm%96J >FDE 36 4@?7:?65 7@C E96 =62DE A@DD:3=6 2>@F?E @7 E:>6 2?5 42?’E 36 4@?7:?65 D@ =@?8 E92E :E 92C>D E96:C 962=E9]k^Am

kAmu24:=:E:6D >FDE ?@E:7J 8F2C5:2?D 2?5 2EE@C?6JD @7 2 4@?7:?6>6?E H:E9:? @?6 3FD:?6DD 52J]k^Am

kAm{2DE J62C[ E96 ?F>36CD H6?E :? E96 @AA@D:E6 5:C64E:@? @7 E96 a_a_ =2H’D :?E6?E]k^Am

kAm“%92E :D ?@E H92E H2D A=2??65 2E 2==[” D2:5 7@C>6C $6?] !2EEJ !2?D:?8 qC@@<D[ H9@ DA@?D@C65 E96 =68:D=2E:@?] “%9:D :D 324< E@ E92E 2C492:4 G:6H @7[ ‘{6E’D AFE E96 <:5D :? E96 46== 2?5 E9C@H 2H2J E96 <6J]’”k^Am

The Douglas County Youth Center, one of the county-run facilities that house young people as they move through juvenile court. Statewide, solitary confinement, officially called room confinement, has spiked at county- and state-run facilities, according to a report. Officials say solitary is sometimes necessary, while advocates and researchers argue that it can cause lasting damage to teenagers.

Abiola Kosoko, Flatwater Free Press

kAmpE E96 s@F8=2D r@F?EJ *@FE9 r6?E6C[ E96 ?F>36C @7 9@FCD J@FE9 DA6?E :? C@@> 4@?7:?6>6?E 32==@@?65 7C@> `g[gch E@ bc[_be 9@FCD] pE E96 *#%r :? z62C?6J[ H96C6 {@H>2?’D D@? 92D 366? D:?46 |2J[ E96 E@E2= ?F>36C @7 9@FCD ?62C=J BF25CFA=65 E@ h[_`_ 9@FCD] %96 ?F>36C @7 J@FE9 AFE :?E@ C@@> 4@?7:?6>6?E @?=J :?4C62D65 3J `b <:5D :? E92E D2>6 E:>6[ DF886DE:?8 E92E E66?286CD =:<6 {@H>2?’D D@? 2C6 DA6?5:?8 >F49 =@?86C DEC6E496D :? D@=:E2CJ]k^Am

kAmu24:=:E:6D 4:E65 D276EJ 2D E96 E@A C62D@? 7@C FD:?8 C@@> 4@?7:?6>6?E] qFE E96J 2=D@ D2J :E’D 36:?8 FD65 7@C “4@CC64E:G6 24E:@?]” $E2E6 =2H D2JD J@FE9 D9@F=5?’E 36 A=2465 :? C@@> 4@?7:?6>6?E 2D “2 AF?:D9>6?E @C 2 5:D4:A=:?2CJ D2?4E:@?]”k^Am

kAm(:E9 gg :?4:56?ED C6=2E65 E@ 4@CC64E:G6 24E:@?[ *#%r z62C?6J H2D C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C faT @7 5@4F>6?E65 4@CC64E:G6 24E:@?\C6=2E65 4@?7:?6>6?ED]k^Am

kAm“x 2AAC64:2E6 E96 EC2?DA2C6?4J :? E96 52E2 C6A@CE:?8[” D2:5 yF=:6E $F>>6CD[ 5:C64E@C @7 '@:46D 7@C r9:=5C6? “qFE 6G6CJ@?6’D E6==:?8 @? E96>D6=G6D]”k^Am

kAm%96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 w62=E9 2?5 wF>2? $6CG:46D[ H9:49 @G6CD66D E96 *#%rD[ “DEC:4E=J 7@==@HD” DE2E6 =2H 2?5 “@?=J FD6D C@@> 4@?7:?6>6?E 2D 2 =2DE C6D@CE[” D2:5 sww$ DA@<6D>2? y677 !@H6==]k^Am

kAm%96 :?DA64E@C 86?6C2=’D C6A@CE 2=D@ 7@F?5 E92E 2 `c\J62C\@=5 :? {2?42DE6C r@F?EJ H2D DF3;64E E@ `b\9@FC 4@?7:?6>6?E 7@C ga 4@?D64FE:G6 52JD] p7E6C 36:?8 C6=62D65 7@C EH@ 52JD[ E96 49:=5 H6?E E9C@F89 2?@E96C b` 4@?D64FE:G6 52JD @7 4@?7:?6>6?E] %96 49:=5 H2D C6=62D65[ 282:? 7@C EH@ 52JD[ E96? H6?E 324< E@ 4@?7:?6>6?E 7@C `e >@C6]k^Am

kAmx? E@E2=[ E96 `c\J62C\@=5 DA6?E `ah @FE @7 `bb 52JD :? C@@> 4@?7:?6>6?E]k^Am

kAm!2CE @7 E92E E:>6 H2D C6A@CE65 2D AC@E64E:G6 4FDE@5J[ H96? 4@?7:?6>6?E :D FD65 E@ AC@E64E E96 J@F?8 A6CD@? 7C@> @E96C J@FE9] xE’D DE:== D9@4<:?8[ D2:5 y6??J {FEK[ D6?:@C DE277 2EE@C?6J 2E E96 (2D9:?8E@?\32D65 r6?E6C 7@C r9:=5C6?’D {2H 2?5 !@=:4J]k^Am

kAm“W%96JX D9@F=5?’E 36 DEF4< :? D@=:E2CJ 4@?7:?6>6?E H:E9 2== E96 92C>D E92E H6 <?@H 4@>6 7C@> E92E 3642FD6 @E96C A6@A=6 2C6 E2C86E:?8 WE96>X[” {FEK D2:5] “%92E :D 4@>A=6E6=J F?2446AE23=6]”k^Am

kAmp 4@?D:DE6?E :?E6CAC6E2E:@? @7 E96 =2H H@F=5 92G6 E@ 4@>6 7C@> E96 E9C66 286?4:6D 2?5 3@2C5D @G6CD66:?8 ;FG6?:=6 724:=:E:6Di E96 }63C2D<2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 r@CC64E:@?D[ s6A2CE>6?E @7 w62=E9 2?5 wF>2? $6CG:46D 2?5 E96 y2:= $E2?52C5D q@2C5]k^Am

kAmr2CE6C’D @77:46 92D C6A62E65=J C64@>>6?565 E92E E96 EC:@ AC@G:56 >@C6 4=2C:EJ @? 9@H 724:=:E:6D D9@F=5 :?E6CAC6E E96 =2H]k^Am

kAm“p>@?8 56E6?E:@? 724:=:E:6D[ E96C6’D <:?5 @7 2? 2?8DE 2D E@ 9@H E96 5:776C6?E 724:=:E:6D EC24< :E[” w2H6<@EE6 D2:5] “x 86E 2 =:EE=6 4@?46C?65 H96? A6@A=6 DE2CE E@ 4@>A2C6 W4@F?E:6DX]”k^Am

kAm%96 y2:= $E2?52C5D q@2C5 92D?’E FA52E65 ;FG6?:=6 56E6?E:@? DE2?52C5D D:?46 `hhb]k^Am

The Douglas County Youth Center, one of the county-run facilities that house young people as they move through juvenile court. Statewide, solitary confinement, officially called room confinement, has spiked at county- and state-run facilities, according to a report. Officials say solitary is sometimes necessary, while advocates and researchers argue that it can cause lasting damage to teenagers.

Abiola Kosoko, Flatwater Free Press

kAm~G6CD:89E @77:46D =:<6 E96 :?DA64E@CD 86?6C2= 2C6 92G:?8 2 92C56C E:>6 2446DD:?8 724:=:EJ 5@4F>6?ED 2?5 52E2 27E6C E96 }63C2D<2 pEE@C?6J v6?6C2=’D ~77:46 C646?E=J :DDF65 2? @A:?:@? 42==:?8 E96:C :?G6DE:82E:G6 A@H6CD :?E@ BF6DE:@?] %9:D D@>6E:>6D C6DF=ED :? 72>:=:6D 36:?8 =67E :? E96 52C<[ E@@[ E96J D2J]k^Am

kAmq67@C6 E96 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2=VD @A:?:@?[ @>3F5D>2? 6>A=@J66D 4@F=5 G:D:E E96 *#%rD 2?5 DA62< H:E9 J@F?8 A6@A=6 2?5 DE277 :7 E96J C646:G65 2 4@>A=2:?E[ D2:5 yF=:6 #@86CD[ DE2E6 @>3F5D>2?]k^Am

kAmx? }@G6>36C[ {@H>2? C624965 @FE E@ E96 $E2E6 ~>3F5D>2?’D ~77:46[ 2D<:?8 :7 D@>6@?6 4@F=5 4964< @? 96C D@?]k^Am

kAmsww$ ?6G6C C6A=:65 E@ E96 @77:46’D C6BF6DE E@ D66 96C D@? :? A6CD@?[ {@H>2? D2:5 D96 H2D E@=5]k^Am

kAm“$:?46 E96 pv @A:?:@?[ H6 92G6 EC:65 E@ 8@ E@ sww$ 724:=:E:6D[ 3FE E96J 92G6 D2:5 ?@[” #@86CD D2:5]k^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmk6>m%96 u=2EH2E6C uC66 !C6DD :D }63C2D<2’D 7:CDE :?56A6?56?E[ ?@?AC@7:E ?6HDC@@> 7@4FD65 @? :?G6DE:82E:@?D 2?5 762EFC6 DE@C:6D E92E >2EE6C]k^6>mk^DA2?mk^Am

Top Journal Star photos for January 2024

Lennie Kuszak of Ord carries a flag that reads "God is pro-life" during the annual Walk for Life rally outside of the Capitol on Saturday.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Kayla Newnam works on her Nebraska-inspired mural at the Hub Cafe, on Tuesday in Lincoln. Three years into her national murals project, "Out There Murals," Newnam is well on her way to her goal of painting a mural in every state. Newnam, based out of Phoenix, Arizona, started the project during the pandemic and has been crisscrossing the U.S. "It has been three years, two trucks, two trailers and three dogs, and now I'm on mural 18," Newnam said. Lincolnites are invited to come and meet Newnam on Wednesday at the Hub Cafe as she works on the latest mural between 5-9 p.m.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Dat Tran tosses a bluegill back into the water while ice fishing at Holmes Lake on Friday. The ice measured at approximately 8 inches thick, but it probably won't stay that thick for long. While weekend highs are expected to remain in the mid to upper 30s, Lincoln is headed for a warmup next week. High temperatures are forecast to be in the low 40s Monday-Wednesday, with 50s possible Thursday and Friday.

KATY COWELL, Journal Star

High School students in the welding course sit on a table as they meet with Gov. Jim Pillen during his tour of The Career Academy on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, in Lincoln.

TCA is one of Lincoln Public Schools’ focus programs and it’s a collaboration between LPS and Southeast Community College (SCC). The program allows high school juniors and seniors to take specific career pathways courses while earning credits from LPS and SCC.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Students are silhouetted by the sun glare coming from a window as they work in independent study rooms at Kiewit Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. Kiewit Hall, the six-story, privately funded, $115 million building on the UNL campus, is the academic hub for engineering education. It connects five engineering facilities and is home to the construction management program. It offers a mix of multi-purpose classrooms, instructional labs, engineering student services, maker spaces for student organizations and a large outdoor plaza. It opened to students on Jan. 22, 2024.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

University of Nebraska-Lincoln turfgrass science and management freshman Josh Hong cheers as he is shown on the video board during the Ohio State game on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Columbus' Colin Jaster bowls during the HAC Bowling Championships on Wednesday at Sun Valley Lanes.

KATY COWELL, Journal Star

Second grade student Ethan Sedivy, 8, holds up a globe in front of a wall mural of 174 various world flags, of which he drew 167 of, as it is displayed in a classroom at Morley Elementary School, on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. Ethan’s passion for geography has sparked new friendships throughout the school, especially with immigrant students. He is currently working on a Geography Bee for Morley’s fifth graders. He has plans to continue his project, even adding some posters to add facts and populations of the various countries he has learned about.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Wahoo's Gretchen Seagren (left) and Malcom's Abby Zegar collide while going for a rebound during the game on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in Malcom.

KATY COWELL Journal Star

Nebraska's Keisei Tominaga (30) celebrates after making a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the Huskers' win over Northwestern on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Performers take part in the Lion Dance during a Karen New Year celebration Sunday at Lincoln High School. The Karen Society of Nebraska put on the event, which celebrates the culture of the Karen, an ethnic group from Myanmar and Thailand. The celebration featured a fashion show, traditional dance performances, music and food.

KATY COWELL, Journal Star

Nebraska's Jamarques Lawrence (10) high-fives alumni as he takes to the court before the match against Northwestern at Pinnacle Bank Arena, on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

A corncob sign hangs on the plexiglass for the Cornhusker Bonspiel tournament on Saturday. Ten curling teams from across the country competed in the tournament.

KATY COWELL, Journal Star

A customer places a sports bet on a kiosk at WarHorse Casino on Friday. The state's four racetrack casinos brought in just over $89 million in revenue from slot machines, table games and sports betting in 2023.

KATY COWELL, Journal Star

Bundled up students enter Sheridan Elementary School before the start of the school day on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Gov. Jim Pillen speaks during the annual State of the State address at the Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Michigan's Taylor Williams (left) and Laila Phelia (right) compete for a rebound with Nebraska's Alexis Markowski (center) in the first half on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Lincoln East's Grant Schwerdtfeger (top) wrestles Millard South's Austin Summers in the 190-pound match on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, in Lincoln.

JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Lincoln Northeast's head coach Matt VanEngen writes "How Bad Do We Want It ?!?" on his dry erase board during a timeout in the final two minutes of the second half at Lincoln Northeast High School, on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Black Hills Energy workers use machinery to dig into the ground in front of the rubble of a home that exploded early Tuesday morning near North 53rd and Gladstone streets. A neighboring house also sustained fire damage.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

John and Ashley McClinton look at their son Buddy at their home in Lincoln on Monday. Weighing 14.1 ounces at birth, he is the smallest baby born at Methodist Women's Hospital in Omaha to survive and be discharged with minimal support.

KATY COWELL, Journal Star

Snow topped apartments are seen through a third floor window stairwell on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

A man wearing a leopard print blanket braves bitter cold gusts of snow and wind as he walks down South 17th Street, on Friday.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Nebraska's Alexis Markowski (40) attempts a shot against Illinois in the first half Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Nebraska's Keisei Tominaga (30) reacts after scoring a 3-pointer against Purdue in the second half on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska's Juwan Gary (4) celebrates with fans after the Huskers defeated No. 1 Purdue on Tuesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. 

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Nebraska Wesleyan students Lucas Steuter (from left), Riley Cleaver, Jacob Wertz, and Zane Rosenberg try to hold together as they fly down a hill on their sleds at Holmes Lake on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Ryan Gardner (left), production stage manager for "Les Miserables," works to adjust lighting on stage at the Lied Center for Performing Arts on Tuesday.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Traffic is seen moving down K Street in the snow on Monday.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Nebraska's Jaz Shelley (front) competes for the ball with Indiana's Sara Scalia in the first quarter on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska's Peyton Robb looks to pin Wyoming's Cooper Voorhees in the 157lb match at the Devaney Sports Center, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Wyoming's Mason Ding is taken to the floor after a leg sweep by Nebraska's Nash Hutmacher in the Heavyweight match at the Devaney Sports Center, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Mike Alessi (center) jumps during the General Tire Arenacross Nationals event on Friday at Sandhills Global Event Center. The show will be back again tonight at the Event Center at the TractorHouse Pavilion. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. and show starts at 7 p.m. The track was built using 150 dump truckloads of dirt.

KATY COWELL, Journal Star

Chloe Wolff shows off some of the bracelets Friday that she made to raise money for local nonprofits.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Lincoln East's Landon Moser slams Kearney's Taj Wilson to the mat during the 165lb match, during a dual held at Lincoln East High School, on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

A red panda eats bamboo leaves that came in a wrapped present at the Lincoln Children's Zoo on Thursday. As part of an enrichment day, zookeepers shared holiday-themed treats — a lettuce Christmas tree for the tortoises and Christmas "cookies" for the giraffes — to help stimulate the animals' natural behaviors.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Nebraska's C.J. Wilcher (0) celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer in the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha (left) speaks to Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner during the first day of the Legislature on Wednesday.

KATY COWELL, Journal Star

Lincoln East's Avari Wischhof swims the girls 100-yard freestyle during a dual against Omaha Marian on Tuesday at Lincoln East. Wischof won this event and helped the Spartans set a pool record in the 400 relay.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Omaha Marian's Willow Petri spins through the air as she completes a dive in the Girls 1 meter diving event, during a Swim dual held at Lincoln East High School, on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Maryland's Allie Kubek (14) reacts after being called for a foul against Nebraska's Alexis Markowski (not pictured) in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena, on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

A pair of walkers stroll atop the dam at Holmes Lake at sunset on Saturday. Weather in Lincoln this January is expected to be frigid. Single-digit temperatures are expected at least for the first week.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

A pig is seen on the desk of Gov. Jim Pillen, Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, in Lincoln.

JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for January 2024

Lennie Kuszak of Ord carries a flag that reads "God is pro-life" during the annual Walk for Life rally outside of the Capitol on Saturday.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Kayla Newnam works on her Nebraska-inspired mural at the Hub Cafe, on Tuesday in Lincoln. Three years into her national murals project, "Out There Murals," Newnam is well on her way to her goal of painting a mural in every state. Newnam, based out of Phoenix, Arizona, started the project during the pandemic and has been crisscrossing the U.S. "It has been three years, two trucks, two trailers and three dogs, and now I'm on mural 18," Newnam said. Lincolnites are invited to come and meet Newnam on Wednesday at the Hub Cafe as she works on the latest mural between 5-9 p.m.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Dat Tran tosses a bluegill back into the water while ice fishing at Holmes Lake on Friday. The ice measured at approximately 8 inches thick, but it probably won't stay that thick for long. While weekend highs are expected to remain in the mid to upper 30s, Lincoln is headed for a warmup next week. High temperatures are forecast to be in the low 40s Monday-Wednesday, with 50s possible Thursday and Friday.

KATY COWELL, Journal Star

High School students in the welding course sit on a table as they meet with Gov. Jim Pillen during his tour of The Career Academy on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, in Lincoln.

TCA is one of Lincoln Public Schools’ focus programs and it’s a collaboration between LPS and Southeast Community College (SCC). The program allows high school juniors and seniors to take specific career pathways courses while earning credits from LPS and SCC.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Students are silhouetted by the sun glare coming from a window as they work in independent study rooms at Kiewit Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. Kiewit Hall, the six-story, privately funded, $115 million building on the UNL campus, is the academic hub for engineering education. It connects five engineering facilities and is home to the construction management program. It offers a mix of multi-purpose classrooms, instructional labs, engineering student services, maker spaces for student organizations and a large outdoor plaza. It opened to students on Jan. 22, 2024.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

University of Nebraska-Lincoln turfgrass science and management freshman Josh Hong cheers as he is shown on the video board during the Ohio State game on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Columbus' Colin Jaster bowls during the HAC Bowling Championships on Wednesday at Sun Valley Lanes.

KATY COWELL, Journal Star

Second grade student Ethan Sedivy, 8, holds up a globe in front of a wall mural of 174 various world flags, of which he drew 167 of, as it is displayed in a classroom at Morley Elementary School, on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. Ethan’s passion for geography has sparked new friendships throughout the school, especially with immigrant students. He is currently working on a Geography Bee for Morley’s fifth graders. He has plans to continue his project, even adding some posters to add facts and populations of the various countries he has learned about.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Wahoo's Gretchen Seagren (left) and Malcom's Abby Zegar collide while going for a rebound during the game on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in Malcom.

KATY COWELL Journal Star

Nebraska's Keisei Tominaga (30) celebrates after making a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the Huskers' win over Northwestern on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Performers take part in the Lion Dance during a Karen New Year celebration Sunday at Lincoln High School. The Karen Society of Nebraska put on the event, which celebrates the culture of the Karen, an ethnic group from Myanmar and Thailand. The celebration featured a fashion show, traditional dance performances, music and food.

KATY COWELL, Journal Star

Nebraska's Jamarques Lawrence (10) high-fives alumni as he takes to the court before the match against Northwestern at Pinnacle Bank Arena, on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

A corncob sign hangs on the plexiglass for the Cornhusker Bonspiel tournament on Saturday. Ten curling teams from across the country competed in the tournament.

KATY COWELL, Journal Star

A customer places a sports bet on a kiosk at WarHorse Casino on Friday. The state's four racetrack casinos brought in just over $89 million in revenue from slot machines, table games and sports betting in 2023.

KATY COWELL, Journal Star

Bundled up students enter Sheridan Elementary School before the start of the school day on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Gov. Jim Pillen speaks during the annual State of the State address at the Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Michigan's Taylor Williams (left) and Laila Phelia (right) compete for a rebound with Nebraska's Alexis Markowski (center) in the first half on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Lincoln East's Grant Schwerdtfeger (top) wrestles Millard South's Austin Summers in the 190-pound match on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, in Lincoln.

JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Lincoln Northeast's head coach Matt VanEngen writes "How Bad Do We Want It ?!?" on his dry erase board during a timeout in the final two minutes of the second half at Lincoln Northeast High School, on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Black Hills Energy workers use machinery to dig into the ground in front of the rubble of a home that exploded early Tuesday morning near North 53rd and Gladstone streets. A neighboring house also sustained fire damage.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

John and Ashley McClinton look at their son Buddy at their home in Lincoln on Monday. Weighing 14.1 ounces at birth, he is the smallest baby born at Methodist Women's Hospital in Omaha to survive and be discharged with minimal support.

KATY COWELL, Journal Star

Snow topped apartments are seen through a third floor window stairwell on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

A man wearing a leopard print blanket braves bitter cold gusts of snow and wind as he walks down South 17th Street, on Friday.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Nebraska's Alexis Markowski (40) attempts a shot against Illinois in the first half Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Nebraska's Keisei Tominaga (30) reacts after scoring a 3-pointer against Purdue in the second half on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska's Juwan Gary (4) celebrates with fans after the Huskers defeated No. 1 Purdue on Tuesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. 

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Nebraska Wesleyan students Lucas Steuter (from left), Riley Cleaver, Jacob Wertz, and Zane Rosenberg try to hold together as they fly down a hill on their sleds at Holmes Lake on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Ryan Gardner (left), production stage manager for "Les Miserables," works to adjust lighting on stage at the Lied Center for Performing Arts on Tuesday.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Traffic is seen moving down K Street in the snow on Monday.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Nebraska's Jaz Shelley (front) competes for the ball with Indiana's Sara Scalia in the first quarter on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska's Peyton Robb looks to pin Wyoming's Cooper Voorhees in the 157lb match at the Devaney Sports Center, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Wyoming's Mason Ding is taken to the floor after a leg sweep by Nebraska's Nash Hutmacher in the Heavyweight match at the Devaney Sports Center, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Mike Alessi (center) jumps during the General Tire Arenacross Nationals event on Friday at Sandhills Global Event Center. The show will be back again tonight at the Event Center at the TractorHouse Pavilion. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. and show starts at 7 p.m. The track was built using 150 dump truckloads of dirt.

KATY COWELL, Journal Star

Chloe Wolff shows off some of the bracelets Friday that she made to raise money for local nonprofits.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Lincoln East's Landon Moser slams Kearney's Taj Wilson to the mat during the 165lb match, during a dual held at Lincoln East High School, on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

A red panda eats bamboo leaves that came in a wrapped present at the Lincoln Children's Zoo on Thursday. As part of an enrichment day, zookeepers shared holiday-themed treats — a lettuce Christmas tree for the tortoises and Christmas "cookies" for the giraffes — to help stimulate the animals' natural behaviors.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Nebraska's C.J. Wilcher (0) celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer in the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha (left) speaks to Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner during the first day of the Legislature on Wednesday.

KATY COWELL, Journal Star

Lincoln East's Avari Wischhof swims the girls 100-yard freestyle during a dual against Omaha Marian on Tuesday at Lincoln East. Wischof won this event and helped the Spartans set a pool record in the 400 relay.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Omaha Marian's Willow Petri spins through the air as she completes a dive in the Girls 1 meter diving event, during a Swim dual held at Lincoln East High School, on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Maryland's Allie Kubek (14) reacts after being called for a foul against Nebraska's Alexis Markowski (not pictured) in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena, on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

A pair of walkers stroll atop the dam at Holmes Lake at sunset on Saturday. Weather in Lincoln this January is expected to be frigid. Single-digit temperatures are expected at least for the first week.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

A pig is seen on the desk of Gov. Jim Pillen, Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, in Lincoln.

JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraska’s first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

0 Comments

Love

0

Funny

1

Wow

0

Sad

0

Angry

1

Be the first to know

Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Sign up!

* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.

Related to this story

Download the new Journal Star News Mobile App

Download the new Journal Star News Mobile App

Filley woman operates national organization from her home

Sarah Smith manages the North American Trail Ride Conference from her home office in Filley.

Watch Now: Related Video

'Stop whining.' JD Vance on controversial ad against Amy Acton

3C's ASL

3C's ASL

Elon Musk says SpaceX-Tesla merger is 'a good idea'

Elon Musk says SpaceX-Tesla merger is 'a good idea'

US envoy Steve Witkoff in Russia for talks with Putin to end Ukraine war

US envoy Steve Witkoff in Russia for talks with Putin to end Ukraine war

Close

The Lancaster County Youth Services Center, a county-run facility that incarcerates young people. The Inspector General’s Office found one Lancaster County case where a 14-year-old spent 129 out of 133 days in room confinement.

• Journal Star file photo

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Bluesky
• WhatsApp
• SMS
• Email
• Print
• Copy article link
• Save

Inspector General for Child Welfare Jennifer Carter said her office has asked the state for more clarity on how juvenile detention facilities should interpret a law that that says room confinement should be used as a last resort to keep young people safe.

• JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Bluesky
• WhatsApp
• SMS
• Email
• Print
• Copy article link
• Save

A view of the Douglas County Youth Center, one of the county-run facilities that incarcerate young people. County- and state-run detention centers like this one put more juveniles into solitary confinement for longer stretches of time in 2023, according to a recent report.

• Abiola Kosoko, Flatwater Free Press

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Bluesky
• WhatsApp
• SMS
• Email
• Print
• Copy article link
• Save

The Douglas County Youth Center, one of the county-run facilities that house young people as they move through juvenile court. Statewide, solitary confinement, officially called room confinement, has spiked at county- and state-run facilities, according to a report. Officials say solitary is sometimes necessary, while advocates and researchers argue that it can cause lasting damage to teenagers.

• Abiola Kosoko, Flatwater Free Press

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Bluesky
• WhatsApp
• SMS
• Email
• Print
• Copy article link
• Save

The Douglas County Youth Center, one of the county-run facilities that house young people as they move through juvenile court. Statewide, solitary confinement, officially called room confinement, has spiked at county- and state-run facilities, according to a report. Officials say solitary is sometimes necessary, while advocates and researchers argue that it can cause lasting damage to teenagers.

• Abiola Kosoko, Flatwater Free Press

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Bluesky
• WhatsApp
• SMS
• Email
• Print
• Copy article link
• Save

Shakur Abdullah

• Courtesy Photo

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Bluesky
• WhatsApp
• SMS
• Email
• Print
• Copy article link
• Save

Roscoe Wallace

• Courtesy Photo

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Bluesky
• WhatsApp
• SMS
• Email
• Print
• Copy article link
• Save

×

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Bluesky
• YouTube
• Instagram

Prefer us on Google Learn More

Sites & Partners

• The Columbus Telegram
• The Fremont Tribune
• The Beatrice Daily Sun
• Place an ad
• Event Calendar
• Online Features
• Work here
• Inspire Lincoln

Services

• Subscriber Services
• Advertise with us
• E-edition
• RSS
• Newsletters
• Contact us
• Become a Carrier
• Services
• Licensing
• Shopping

© Copyright 2026 The Lincoln Journal Star, PO Box 81609 Lincoln, NE 68501

A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Advertising Terms of Use | Privacy Choices | Cookie Preferences

Powered by BLOX Content Management System from bloxdigital.com.

{{title}}

{{summary}}

• Notifications
• Settings

You don't have any notifications.

Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.

Topics

News Alerts

Subscribe

Breaking News

Subscribe

Husker News

Subscribe

Back ×

Offer

Sorry, an error occurred.

Already Subscribed!

Get StartedManage Service

Cancel anytime

You are logged in

 Switch accounts

Secure transaction. Cancel anytime. Have an account? Log In

Back ×

Sign Up

Account processing issue - the email address may already exist

User information

Username (Optional)

This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely!

* First name

* Last name

* Email Address

Your email address will be used to confirm your account. We won't share it with anyone else.

* Password

Must be at least 8 characters, not contain repeating characters (e.g., 111), and not contain sequential numbers (e.g., 123).

Create a password that only you will remember. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address.

* Confirm Password

Confirm your password.

CAPTCHA

Create Account

or

Sign up with

Facebook Google

Have an account? Log In

×

You're all set!

Thank you .

Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.

Check your email for details.

OK

Back ×

Log In

Invalid password or account does not exist

Email Address

Password

Remember me

Forgot your password?

Log In

Email me a log in link

or

Sign in with

Facebook Google

Admin login Subscribe

Need an account? Sign Up

Back ×

Reset Password

Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.

Email or Screen Name

CAPTCHA

Reset Password

×

Forgot Password

An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.

Back ×

Email me a log in link

Account Email

CAPTCHA

Send Email

Back ×

Promotional Offers

Promo code

Enter Promo Code

Redeem

No promotional rates found.

Back ×

Purchase Gift Purchase Access

See More Offers

details close

×

An error occurred

×

Secure & Encrypted

Sign in with

Email Address

Continue with Email Address

or

Continue with Facebook Continue with Google

What's your email address?

Email

Password

Confirm password

Must be at least 8 characters, not contain repeating characters (e.g., 111), and not contain sequential numbers (e.g., 123).

What's your name?

First name

Last name

Who is this gift for?

Recipient name

Recipient email

Optional message for the recipient

Who is this gift from?

Purchaser name

Purchaser email

Purchaser zip code

Delivery date

Delivery date

What's your billing location?

Address

City

State AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyomingPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces PacificArmed Forces EuropeNorthern Mariana IslandsMarshall IslandsAmerican SamoaFederated States of MicronesiaGuamPalauAlberta, CanadaBritish Columbia, CanadaManitoba, CanadaNew Brunswick, CanadaNewfoundland, CanadaNova Scotia, CanadaNorthwest Territories, CanadaNunavut, CanadaOntario, CanadaPrince Edward Island, CanadaQuebec, CanadaSaskatchewan, CanadaYukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code

Country United States of AmericaUS Virgin IslandsUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsCanadaMexico, United Mexican StatesBahamas, Commonwealth of theCuba, Republic ofDominican RepublicHaiti, Republic ofJamaicaAfghanistanAlbania, People's Socialist Republic ofAlgeria, People's Democratic Republic ofAmerican SamoaAndorra, Principality ofAngola, Republic ofAnguillaAntarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S)Antigua and BarbudaArgentina, Argentine RepublicArmeniaArubaAustralia, Commonwealth ofAustria, Republic ofAzerbaijan, Republic ofBahrain, Kingdom ofBangladesh, People's Republic ofBarbadosBelarusBelgium, Kingdom ofBelizeBenin, People's Republic ofBermudaBhutan, Kingdom ofBolivia, Republic ofBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswana, Republic ofBouvet Island (Bouvetoya)Brazil, Federative Republic ofBritish Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago)British Virgin IslandsBrunei DarussalamBulgaria, People's Republic ofBurkina FasoBurundi, Republic ofCambodia, Kingdom ofCameroon, United Republic ofCape Verde, Republic ofCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChad, Republic ofChile, Republic ofChina, People's Republic ofChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombia, Republic ofComoros, Union of theCongo, Democratic Republic ofCongo, People's Republic ofCook IslandsCosta Rica, Republic ofCote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of theCyprus, Republic ofCzech RepublicDenmark, Kingdom ofDjibouti, Republic ofDominica, Commonwealth ofEcuador, Republic ofEgypt, Arab Republic ofEl Salvador, Republic ofEquatorial Guinea, Republic ofEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaeroe IslandsFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Fiji, Republic of the Fiji IslandsFinland, Republic ofFrance, French RepublicFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabon, Gabonese RepublicGambia, Republic of theGeorgiaGermanyGhana, Republic ofGibraltarGreece, Hellenic RepublicGreenlandGrenadaGuadaloupeGuamGuatemala, Republic ofGuinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c ofGuinea-Bissau, Republic ofGuyana, Republic ofHeard and McDonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)Honduras, Republic ofHong Kong, Special Administrative Region of ChinaHrvatska (Croatia)Hungary, Hungarian People's RepublicIceland, Republic ofIndia, Republic ofIndonesia, Republic ofIran, Islamic Republic ofIraq, Republic ofIrelandIsrael, State ofItaly, Italian RepublicJapanJordan, Hashemite Kingdom ofKazakhstan, Republic ofKenya, Republic ofKiribati, Republic ofKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwait, State ofKyrgyz RepublicLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanon, Lebanese RepublicLesotho, Kingdom ofLiberia, Republic ofLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtenstein, Principality ofLithuaniaLuxembourg, Grand Duchy ofMacao, Special Administrative Region of ChinaMacedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascar, Republic ofMalawi, Republic ofMalaysiaMaldives, Republic ofMali, Republic ofMalta, Republic ofMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritania, Islamic Republic ofMauritiusMayotteMicronesia, Federated States ofMoldova, Republic ofMonaco, Principality ofMongolia, Mongolian People's RepublicMontserratMorocco, Kingdom ofMozambique, People's Republic ofMyanmarNamibiaNauru, Republic ofNepal, Kingdom ofNetherlands AntillesNetherlands, Kingdom of theNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaragua, Republic ofNiger, Republic of theNigeria, Federal Republic ofNiue, Republic ofNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorway, Kingdom ofOman, Sultanate ofPakistan, Islamic Republic ofPalauPalestinian Territory, OccupiedPanama, Republic ofPapua New GuineaParaguay, Republic ofPeru, Republic ofPhilippines, Republic of thePitcairn IslandPoland, Polish People's RepublicPortugal, Portuguese RepublicPuerto RicoQatar, State ofReunionRomania, Socialist Republic ofRussian FederationRwanda, Rwandese RepublicSamoa, Independent State ofSan Marino, Republic ofSao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic ofSaudi Arabia, Kingdom ofSenegal, Republic ofSerbia and MontenegroSeychelles, Republic ofSierra Leone, Republic ofSingapore, Republic ofSlovakia (Slovak Republic)SloveniaSolomon IslandsSomalia, Somali RepublicSouth Africa, Republic ofSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSpain, Spanish StateSri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic ofSt. HelenaSt. Kitts and NevisSt. LuciaSt. Pierre and MiquelonSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesSudan, Democratic Republic of theSuriname, Republic ofSvalbard & Jan Mayen IslandsSwaziland, Kingdom ofSweden, Kingdom ofSwitzerland, Swiss ConfederationSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwan, Province of ChinaTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailand, Kingdom ofTimor-Leste, Democratic Republic ofTogo, Togolese RepublicTokelau (Tokelau Islands)Tonga, Kingdom ofTrinidad and Tobago, Republic ofTunisia, Republic ofTurkey, Republic ofTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUganda, Republic ofUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom of Great Britain & N. IrelandUruguay, Eastern Republic ofUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofViet Nam, Socialist Republic ofWallis and Futuna IslandsWestern SaharaYemenZambia, Republic ofZimbabwe

What's your delivery address?

Copy billing location

Address

City

State AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyomingPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces PacificArmed Forces EuropeNorthern Mariana IslandsMarshall IslandsAmerican SamoaFederated States of MicronesiaGuamPalauAlberta, CanadaBritish Columbia, CanadaManitoba, CanadaNew Brunswick, CanadaNewfoundland, CanadaNova Scotia, CanadaNorthwest Territories, CanadaNunavut, CanadaOntario, CanadaPrince Edward Island, CanadaQuebec, CanadaSaskatchewan, CanadaYukon Territory, Canada

Zip code

Country

United States of AmericaUS Virgin IslandsUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsCanadaMexico, United Mexican StatesBahamas, Commonwealth of theCuba, Republic ofDominican RepublicHaiti, Republic ofJamaicaAfghanistanAlbania, People's Socialist Republic ofAlgeria, People's Democratic Republic ofAmerican SamoaAndorra, Principality ofAngola, Republic ofAnguillaAntarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S)Antigua and BarbudaArgentina, Argentine RepublicArmeniaArubaAustralia, Commonwealth ofAustria, Republic ofAzerbaijan, Republic ofBahrain, Kingdom ofBangladesh, People's Republic ofBarbadosBelarusBelgium, Kingdom ofBelizeBenin, People's Republic ofBermudaBhutan, Kingdom ofBolivia, Republic ofBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswana, Republic ofBouvet Island (Bouvetoya)Brazil, Federative Republic ofBritish Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago)British Virgin IslandsBrunei DarussalamBulgaria, People's Republic ofBurkina FasoBurundi, Republic ofCambodia, Kingdom ofCameroon, United Republic ofCape Verde, Republic ofCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChad, Republic ofChile, Republic ofChina, People's Republic ofChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombia, Republic ofComoros, Union of theCongo, Democratic Republic ofCongo, People's Republic ofCook IslandsCosta Rica, Republic ofCote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of theCyprus, Republic ofCzech RepublicDenmark, Kingdom ofDjibouti, Republic ofDominica, Commonwealth ofEcuador, Republic ofEgypt, Arab Republic ofEl Salvador, Republic ofEquatorial Guinea, Republic ofEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaeroe IslandsFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Fiji, Republic of the Fiji IslandsFinland, Republic ofFrance, French RepublicFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabon, Gabonese RepublicGambia, Republic of theGeorgiaGermanyGhana, Republic ofGibraltarGreece, Hellenic RepublicGreenlandGrenadaGuadaloupeGuamGuatemala, Republic ofGuinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c ofGuinea-Bissau, Republic ofGuyana, Republic ofHeard and McDonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)Honduras, Republic ofHong Kong, Special Administrative Region of ChinaHrvatska (Croatia)Hungary, Hungarian People's RepublicIceland, Republic ofIndia, Republic ofIndonesia, Republic ofIran, Islamic Republic ofIraq, Republic ofIrelandIsrael, State ofItaly, Italian RepublicJapanJordan, Hashemite Kingdom ofKazakhstan, Republic ofKenya, Republic ofKiribati, Republic ofKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwait, State ofKyrgyz RepublicLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanon, Lebanese RepublicLesotho, Kingdom ofLiberia, Republic ofLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtenstein, Principality ofLithuaniaLuxembourg, Grand Duchy ofMacao, Special Administrative Region of ChinaMacedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascar, Republic ofMalawi, Republic ofMalaysiaMaldives, Republic ofMali, Republic ofMalta, Republic ofMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritania, Islamic Republic ofMauritiusMayotteMicronesia, Federated States ofMoldova, Republic ofMonaco, Principality ofMongolia, Mongolian People's RepublicMontserratMorocco, Kingdom ofMozambique, People's Republic ofMyanmarNamibiaNauru, Republic ofNepal, Kingdom ofNetherlands AntillesNetherlands, Kingdom of theNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaragua, Republic ofNiger, Republic of theNigeria, Federal Republic ofNiue, Republic ofNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorway, Kingdom ofOman, Sultanate ofPakistan, Islamic Republic ofPalauPalestinian Territory, OccupiedPanama, Republic ofPapua New GuineaParaguay, Republic ofPeru, Republic ofPhilippines, Republic of thePitcairn IslandPoland, Polish People's RepublicPortugal, Portuguese RepublicPuerto RicoQatar, State ofReunionRomania, Socialist Republic ofRussian FederationRwanda, Rwandese RepublicSamoa, Independent State ofSan Marino, Republic ofSao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic ofSaudi Arabia, Kingdom ofSenegal, Republic ofSerbia and MontenegroSeychelles, Republic ofSierra Leone, Republic ofSingapore, Republic ofSlovakia (Slovak Republic)SloveniaSolomon IslandsSomalia, Somali RepublicSouth Africa, Republic ofSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSpain, Spanish StateSri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic ofSt. HelenaSt. Kitts and NevisSt. LuciaSt. Pierre and MiquelonSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesSudan, Democratic Republic of theSuriname, Republic ofSvalbard & Jan Mayen IslandsSwaziland, Kingdom ofSweden, Kingdom ofSwitzerland, Swiss ConfederationSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwan, Province of ChinaTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailand, Kingdom ofTimor-Leste, Democratic Republic ofTogo, Togolese RepublicTokelau (Tokelau Islands)Tonga, Kingdom ofTrinidad and Tobago, Republic ofTunisia, Republic ofTurkey, Republic ofTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUganda, Republic ofUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom of Great Britain & N. IrelandUruguay, Eastern Republic ofUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofViet Nam, Socialist Republic ofWallis and Futuna IslandsWestern SaharaYemenZambia, Republic ofZimbabwe

Phone

Purchase detail

Subtotal:

Total:

How would you like to pay?

Ending in

Add New Card

Terms of service confirmation

I Agree to the Subscription Terms of Use.
This service will be automatically renewed and your credit card billed once it nears expiration.

Secure transaction. Secure transaction. Cancel anytime.

×

You're all set!

Thank you.

Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.

Rate: Begins: Transaction ID:

A receipt was sent to your email.

OK

×

An error occurred

This offer is currently unavailable.

Close

Search AI Answers