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IN THEIR WORDS: What public officials do for usAuthor: CITIZENARTS
We know what the presidents job is, right? And maybe our governors and mayors, too. But how about judges, comptrollers, secretaries of state and so on? IN THEIR WORDS: What public officials do for us, a new podcast series from CITIZENARTS, presents key local, state and federal public servants whose work is often little understood but has an immediate, direct impact on our daily lives. Language: en-us Genres: Education, Government Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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IN THEIR WORDS: What public officials do for us. Rob Jeffreys, Director, Nebraska Department of Correctional Services
Episode 10
Wednesday, 28 January, 2026
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-CITIZENARTS essential mission is to foster greater understanding of civic issues. We'd love to hear from you about this topic! Email jeff.lewis@citizenartscreative.org and follow us on Instagram @citizenartsedu, Facebook @citizenartsedu, Twitter/X @citizenartsedu, Threads @citizenartsedu-We are a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit educational organization. Visit https://www.citizenartscreative.org/podcasts to access our growing selection of civics-related and historically significant programs. These include San Francisco: Poster child for big city decline? Or vibrant, iconic City by the Bay?; Wartime Moments in Israel: A Diary of Encounters and Reflections; Hungary’s Cautionary Tale - How Autocrats Broke Democracy; MARCH, an audio drama based on an historically documented moment of Hitler’s rise to dictatorial power; and Liberty vs. Tyranny: Czech Views on Ukraine, Freedom and Democracy Shaped by Strife with Russia-CITIZENARTS podcasts are presented courtesy of gabbegroup Productions. Copyright © gabbegroup Productions
