The courthouse process in Lancaster County depends mostly on the level of the charge. A low-level offense and a major felony do not follow identical paths.
- Where are the county criminal courts and whom can my family call?
- What happens right after someone is arrested?
- How does a misdemeanor case move through court?
- What should families expect if the accusation is a felony?
- How are serious violent charges treated?
- What if police arrest a child under 18?
- What are the actual jail, prison, and fine limits?
- When is a charge federal, and where does that case go?
Where are the county criminal courts and whom can my family call?
In Lancaster County, County Court normally handles misdemeanor and traffic prosecutions and conducts a first review of felony evidence. District Court hears felony trials and sentencing.
- Lancaster County Court: 575 S. 10th St., Lincoln, NE 68508; 402-441-7291. County Court clerk contact.
- {E(name)} District Court Clerk: {E(da)}; {phone(dp)}. District Court clerk contact.
Who does what?
The County Court clerk can identify county-court case dates and filings. The District Court clerk handles records for felony proceedings in that court. A sheriff or jail is a separate office; a court clerk cannot promise release or change bond. In Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy counties, a separate Juvenile Court hears most juvenile cases.
What happens right after someone is arrested?
An officer may give someone a ticket with a date to appear or take the person into custody. A custodial arrest in Lancaster County is followed by identification checks, fingerprinting and a booking record.
Bail and the first appearance
A judge or authorized judicial officer determines whether to release the person, require a bond, or impose conditions such as no contact with another person. A defendant must follow the written release order and return to court. A cash percentage, a bondsman's fee, or a specific amount should never be assumed without seeing the actual bond order.
What should relatives have ready?
Keep the person's legal name and birth date, find out which jail has custody, write down the charge and next court date, and ask whether an attorney has been appointed. Medical concerns should be communicated to the detention facility directly.
How does a misdemeanor case move through court?
Most misdemeanor charges filed in Lancaster County are decided in County Court. The first court date explains the accusation and provides a chance to enter a plea.
Possible steps before a verdict
The court may schedule discussions between the prosecutor and defense, hear motions about evidence, or set a trial. A defendant may plead guilty, plead not guilty, or make another plea allowed by law. A plea offer is optional; it is not the same as a court finding of guilt.
Penalties are based on the charge's class
- Class I misdemeanor: up to 1 year in jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both.
- Class II misdemeanor: up to 6 months in jail and/or $1,000.
- Class III misdemeanor: up to 3 months and/or $500.
- Class IIIA misdemeanor: up to 7 days and/or $500.
- Class IV misdemeanor: no jail; maximum $500 fine.
- Class V misdemeanor: no jail; maximum $100 fine.
- Class W misdemeanor: a special classification for DUI and implied-consent offenses; sentencing depends on prior convictions, testing, and court-authorized alternatives.
A class maximum is a legal ceiling, not a promise that the judge will impose it. Court costs, restitution, probation, and driving restrictions can matter too.
What happens if the accusation is a felony?
When Lancaster County prosecutors allege a felony, the County Court can hold a preliminary hearing to decide whether enough evidence exists to move the case forward.
County Court to District Court
At a preliminary hearing the state presents enough information for the judge to decide whether the felony may continue. If the judge finds probable cause, the charge is bound over to District Court. The case can also follow another lawful charging procedure. The District Court then handles arraignment, scheduling, motions, trial and sentencing.
Lawyers and a possible jury trial
A person who cannot afford counsel should ask the court about a court-appointed attorney and complete the required financial information. Felony defendants should not assume a public defender is automatically assigned. A plea can end the case without a trial. When there is a criminal jury trial, a guilty verdict must satisfy the constitutional unanimity requirement.
How are serious violent charges treated?
A charge involving serious injury, sexual violence or a death in Lancaster County can expose the accused to penalties far beyond those for a routine misdemeanor.
Release decisions and evidence
A judge may assess public safety, risk of missing court, the charge and the facts when considering bail and conditions. Lawyers may review medical records, videos, witness statements, laboratory testing and other evidence. The court may hold hearings about what proof can be used at trial.
How serious can the punishment be?
Nebraska authorizes life imprisonment and, for Class I felonies under applicable law, the death penalty. Other violent offenses may carry long mandatory minimums. The exact penalty depends on the charged statute and any proven enhancements, not merely the label “violent.”
What if police arrest a child under 18?
If a person younger than 18 is accused of an offense in Lancaster County, the rules may be very different from an adult criminal case.
Which juvenile court applies?
Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy counties have Separate Juvenile Courts that handle most juvenile matters. The prosecutor, court and probation staff may consider supervision, services, family involvement or placement if authorized.
Detention, hearings and records
Detaining a child is not the same as sentencing that child to prison. Youth detention and placement decisions require the proper juvenile-court process. Parents or guardians should ask about the next hearing, an attorney for the child, and contact rules. Juvenile records generally have protections that do not apply to open adult records, subject to statutory exceptions.
What are the actual jail, prison, and fine limits?
In Lancaster County, the maximum punishment comes from Nebraska law and the offense proved in court, not from a county-specific price list.
Actual misdemeanor maximums — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-106
- Class I misdemeanor: up to 1 year in jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both.
- Class II misdemeanor: up to 6 months in jail and/or $1,000.
- Class III misdemeanor: up to 3 months and/or $500.
- Class IIIA misdemeanor: up to 7 days and/or $500.
- Class IV misdemeanor: no jail; maximum $500 fine.
- Class V misdemeanor: no jail; maximum $100 fine.
- Class W misdemeanor: a special classification for DUI and implied-consent offenses; sentencing depends on prior convictions, testing, and court-authorized alternatives.
Actual felony ranges — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-105
- Class I: death.
- Class IA: life imprisonment.
- Class IB: 20 years to life.
- Class IC: mandatory minimum 5 years, maximum 50 years.
- Class ID: mandatory minimum 3 years, maximum 50 years.
- Class II: 1 to 50 years.
- Class IIA: up to 20 years, without a statutory minimum for the class.
- Class III: up to 4 years in prison and 2 years post-release supervision, or a fine up to $25,000, or both, subject to sentencing provisions.
- Class IIIA: up to 3 years in prison and 18 months post-release supervision, or a fine up to $10,000, or both.
- Class IV: up to 2 years in prison and 12 months post-release supervision, or a fine up to $10,000, or both.
Sentencing details families should understand
For the highest felony classes, the stated minimums may be required; for other classes the law allows different outcomes, including probation when permitted. Habitual-criminal enhancements and special offense provisions can increase the exposure. Nebraska generally places felony sentences with maximum terms of one year or more in state correctional institutions; misdemeanor jail terms ordinarily are served locally. Federal crimes have their own separate sentencing laws.
When is a charge federal, and where does that case go?
A prosecution from Lancaster County becomes federal only when the conduct falls under a federal criminal law and federal prosecutors bring the case.
Examples of federal offenses
Federal charges may involve drug distribution across state lines, certain firearm offenses, bank robbery, federal-program fraud, or crimes committed on federal land. Some behavior violates both state and federal laws, but many ordinary assaults, thefts and DUI cases remain state matters.
United States District Court for the District of Nebraska
Nebraska has one federal judicial district. Its main courthouse and federal clerk contacts are listed below. The location of a particular hearing is controlled by the case assignment and court order, not simply by the county of arrest.
- Omaha — Roman L. Hruska Federal Courthouse: 111 South 18th Plaza, Suite 1152, Omaha, NE 68102; (402) 661-7350.
- Lincoln — Robert V. Denney Federal Building: 100 Centennial Mall North, Room 593, Lincoln, NE 68508; (402) 437-1900.
- North Platte federal court sessions: Lincoln County Courthouse, 301 North Jeffers Street, North Platte, NE 69101. For federal clerk assistance use the Omaha or Lincoln clerk's number.
The federal criminal process
A federal defendant may appear before a U.S. magistrate judge for an initial hearing and a release-or-detention decision. A grand jury indictment or other lawful charging document may follow; later stages can include arraignment, evidence exchange, motions, a plea or jury trial, and sentencing under federal statutes and advisory guidelines. Federal public defenders or appointed counsel may represent those who qualify.
This page is an educational overview of criminal proceedings, not advice about an individual case. Court orders, the specific charged statute, and judicial findings control the result.
