Pierce County Jail
Pierce County Jail
Physical Address
111 W. Court Room 7Pierce, NE 68767
Jail Phone Number
402-329-6346Pierce County Inmate Search: Finding and Contacting a Family Member
To find someone arrested in Pierce County, call the Sheriff at 402-329-6346 and ask which jail received the person. Have the full legal name, birth date and approximate arrest time ready, then ask whether booking is complete and which booking number to keep.
The Sheriff’s office contact is 111 West Court Street, Room 7, Pierce, NE 68767. An office address does not confirm detention. You can also check NEVCAP for participating Nebraska custody records and alert options. Confirm the actual receiving jail before visiting, mailing a letter or paying for a service.
The questions below explain mugshots, warrants, calls, visits, mail, money and urgent family concerns. Our Bail guide covers release questions, while the Court guide covers Pierce County records, clerk contacts and hearing locations.
Read inmate search answers
Read inmate search answers1. How do I find someone arrested in Pierce County?
Call the Pierce County Sheriff at 402-329-6346 and ask whether booking is complete and which jail currently holds the person. Have the full legal name, birth date and approximate arrest time ready. Write down the booking number and any transfer information.
You can also check Nebraska Victims of Crime Alert Portal (NEVCAP) for participating Nebraska custody records and alert options. Match the person and agency carefully. A missing entry does not prove release, and a record filed in Pierce County does not establish that the person is detained in Pierce. Confirm housing before arranging a visit or payment.
2. What if I cannot find a recent arrest online?
Ask the department that made the arrest where officers took the person and whether another agency now has custody. For Pierce County Sheriff assistance use 402-329-6346. Keep the event date, location, incident number and any brief family message available.
Booking, medical care and a transfer can make the first hours confusing. Do not infer release from a missing web entry or choose a destination simply because it is nearby. Follow the receiving agency’s information and ask for the name and phone number of any next holding facility.
3. Where is the Pierce County jail, and which number should I call?
The Sheriff’s published office contact is 111 West Court Street, Room 7, Pierce, NE 68767, 402-329-6346. Ask which jail currently holds the person. An office address, an older jail listing or a past housing agreement does not establish the individual’s current detention location.
For a visit, payment or property pickup, obtain the receiving jail’s directions, correct entrance, identification and appointment requirements. Do not treat courthouse office hours as a visiting schedule.
4. Can I see a mugshot or request an arrest report?
Ask the department that created the record about its public-records procedure. Give the person’s name, event date and incident or booking number, and explain whether you want a booking photograph, police report or court filing. Availability and copying charges can differ.
A photograph or arrest allegation does not establish guilt or explain the final outcome. Use the related court case for that. Keep a request for copies separate from an urgent call about someone’s location, medication or safety.
5. How can I receive custody notifications?
Use Nebraska Victims of Crime Alert Portal (NEVCAP) to check the available registration options for the person and agency. The Nebraska Attorney General describes the service as free and confidential, with text and email notifications. Keep your registration details private and update a changed phone number or email address.
Read which events the registration covers. A notification is useful, but confirm the actual holding location with staff before driving, sending money or mailing a letter. Do not rely on a notification service as the only response to an immediate safety concern.
6. How do I find the bond amount and help with release?
Call 402-329-6346 and ask which case and order control release, the authorized bond form, the amount currently required and where payment is accepted. Ask whether another case, warrant or agency hold could prevent release after this bond is paid.
Our Pierce County Bail guide explains percentage deposits and review of conditions; the Nebraska Bail guide gives statewide context. An inmate spending deposit does not pay a court bond. Save the receipt and written conditions, and get pickup instructions from staff after processing.
7. Where can I read the filed charges and court records?
Use the Nebraska Judicial Branch case-search services and match Pierce County, the person and case number. Online one-time searches have a fee; the Judicial Branch also provides free courthouse-kiosk and law-library access. Check current prices and access terms before paying.
Booking information and the filed charge can differ. Read the latest docket entries and ask the clerk for the appropriate access route when a record is missing or restricted. A lawyer can explain what a charge change, dismissal or release condition means.
8. How can someone ask for a public defender?
Ask Pierce County Court at 402-329-6245 about applying for appointed counsel and supplying financial information. Give the case number, next hearing and actual jail location. The court decides eligibility and appointment.
Family can help organize records, but an inquiry does not appoint a lawyer or postpone a hearing. Ask how a detained applicant can submit paperwork. Federal and other proceedings have their own appointment processes.
9. How do I arrange a visit?
Call the jail at 402-329-6346 to confirm current housing, visitor approval, identification, appointment requirements and the actual visit location. Explain whether a child will attend. Ask whether the available contact is onsite or remote before planning travel or purchasing a session.
Our visitation guide helps organize those questions. The Sheriff’s business-lobby hours are not by themselves an inmate visiting schedule. Check current access for your relative, keep the appointment confirmation and ask how cancellations or restrictions will be communicated.
10. How do I put money on an inmate’s account?
Ask the actual holding jail for its approved account-funding route, recipient identifier, accepted payment methods and current fees. If you do not know the receiving facility, start with the Sheriff at 402-329-6346. Do not assume a service used by another county also applies here.
Our money page and commissary guide help distinguish spending money, goods and other purchases. A communication balance and a bond are separate transactions. Keep the receipt and recheck the receiving jail’s arrangements if the person moves.
11. How can I receive calls or send electronic messages?
Ask the holding jail at 402-329-6346 to confirm the current phone or video provider, registration route and services available for your relative. Verify the facility and recipient before adding funds. Read the current costs and protect your account details.
Our phone guide and electronic-contact page help you prepare. A paid account does not guarantee immediate contact. Ask staff separately how to report an urgent family concern and retain any service error when requesting provider support. Ordinary office calls may not be transferred to housing.
12. Where should I send a letter or photograph?
Ask the Sheriff’s Office at 402-329-6346 for the current personal-mail address, required name and booking number, and rules for photographs and stationery. Do not assume the Sheriff’s courthouse mailing address or an older jail address is the approved destination.
Review the mail guide before sending anything. Legal mail, books and subscriptions may follow different instructions from ordinary letters. Get approval before enclosing funds or ordering an item. After a transfer, confirm the receiving jail’s rules and do not rely on automatic forwarding.
13. How can I collect belongings or deliver clothing?
Ask which agency holds the item and what authorization is required. Intake belongings, evidence, a vehicle and clothing needed for court may involve different employees or departments. Have the inventory or incident number ready and ask about identification, hours and appointment requirements.
Get an approved delivery list before buying clothing or bringing a bag. Permission to visit or provide a ride does not authorize collection of property or delivery of medicine. Keep the release paperwork and receipt, especially if another person collects items on the owner’s behalf.
14. How do I report medication needs or an urgent safety concern?
Call the actual holding jail promptly. For the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office use 402-329-6346 and ask for the staff member responsible for medical or safety concerns. Identify the person clearly, explain the risk and leave a callback number. Ask how a clinician can securely supply prescriptions or relevant records.
Do not drop off medication without instructions. Staff may receive important information even when privacy limits what they can tell a relative. Keep medical details out of public posts. Call 911 for an emergency occurring outside the jail.
15. How can I check for a warrant in Pierce County?
Ask the Pierce County Sheriff at 402-329-6346 about its current warrant-verification procedure and identification requirements. A court docket may help identify an order, but an empty public search does not certify that no warrant exists.
Counsel can help identify the issuing court and the proper response to a missed hearing or surrender question. Keep separate case numbers when several counties or states are involved. Independently verify a caller’s demand for immediate payment through the published office contact, and keep any written order resolving the warrant.
16. Who can confirm the next court appearance?
County Court: 111 West Court Street, Room 11, Pierce, NE 68767, 402-329-6245. District Court clerk: 111 West Court Street, Room 12, Pierce, NE 68767, 402-329-4335. Follow the hearing notice and confirm the assigned room, entrance and any remote-appearance instructions.
Our Court guide explains records and hearings. Tell counsel about a transfer or medical problem affecting attendance. A jail in another county does not itself move the court file, and release does not cancel a hearing. A relative’s call does not excuse an appearance.
17. What if another jail is holding my relative?
Ask the Sheriff at 402-329-6346 for the receiving jail, transfer time and booking number. A case filed in Pierce County and detention elsewhere can involve different offices. An older agreement or past arrest report does not establish current custody.
Nearby jurisdictions include Knox, Cedar, Wayne, Stanton, Madison and Antelope counties. If someone was moved, ask staff for the receiver, transfer time and booking number. A neighboring jail listing or historical placement is not proof of present custody.
18. Where do I look after a federal arrest?
Nebraska has one U.S. District Court district. The federal clerk’s Omaha office is at 111 South 18th Plaza, Suite 1152, Omaha, NE 68102, 402-661-7350; the Lincoln office is at 100 Centennial Mall North, Room 593, Lincoln, NE 68508, 402-437-1900. Follow the actual hearing notice.
Use the Bureau of Prisons locator for federal corrections records. A recent pretrial detainee may be in a contract jail rather than a federal prison. If the locator does not explain a recent arrest, ask the responsible federal agency or counsel about placement.
19. How can I find someone transferred to ICE?
Use the ICE detainee locator and follow its identity-search instructions. If a local jail reports an immigration transfer, ask which agency received the person and when. Do not assume that a state bond ends separate immigration proceedings.
An immigration detainer requests holding up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released. Ask qualified counsel about the interaction of criminal and immigration matters. For agency documents, follow ICE’s records-request instructions.
20. How do I find someone in a Nebraska state prison?
Use the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services incarceration search. Compare identifying information and the reported facility, and retain the corrections number for future questions. A county booking number and a state corrections number serve different systems.
After confirming arrival, read the receiving prison’s current guidance for calls, visits, mail and money. A county visitor approval or service balance does not automatically carry over. Our Nebraska prison directory helps locate facility information.
21. How can a parent locate a detained child?
Ask Pierce County Court at 402-329-6245 for the assigned juvenile-case contact. Identify yourself as the parent or guardian seeking placement, hearing and attorney information. An adult custody search does not locate every juvenile placement.
Confirm the actual housing facility through the assigned officer or attorney before traveling. A court office is not necessarily where the child stays. Ask which adults may visit and what identification or permission is needed. Keep hearing notices separate from placement and visitor instructions.
22. Which local department should I contact?
The Pierce County Sheriff is at 111 West Court Street, Room 7, Pierce, NE 68767, 402-329-6346. Plainview’s official Police page lists 302 West Locust, Plainview, NE 68769, 402-329-6000, with mail to P.O. Box 715.
For an arrest in Pierce, Plainview, Osmond, Hadar, Foster, McLean or rural Pierce County, ask which agency handled it and where the person was delivered. A police address does not establish a separate city jail. Use 911 for emergencies.
Pierce County Bail and Bond: Helping a Relative Get Released
To help someone get released on a Pierce County case, confirm the bond order and actual holding jail before paying. Call the Sheriff at 402-329-6346 and ask which office can accept the particular bond and whether any other hold could prevent release.
A judge decides release conditions. Nebraska permits recognizance and other arrangements, including a percentage cash deposit when the order allows it. Read the order rather than assuming every case requires ten percent. County Court is at 402-329-6245; the District Court clerk is at 402-329-4335.
Confirm the receiving facility before traveling, mailing a letter or funding an account. Our Inmate Search guide helps locate someone, the Court guide explains hearings and records, and the Nebraska Bail guide explains statewide release rules.
1. When is the Pierce County Sheriff's Office open?
The Sheriff lists administrative office hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., open through lunch and closed on holidays. The office is at 111 West Court Street, Room 7, Pierce, NE 68767, 402-329-6346.
Office hours are separate from jail visiting or bond-acceptance hours. Ask for the actual holding facility, correct public entrance and approved payment route before traveling.
2. Where is a Pierce County inmate held?
The county’s official Sheriff page describes jail responsibilities but does not identify the current housing location of a particular person. Call 402-329-6346 to ask whether booking is complete, which facility has custody and what booking number to keep.
Historical jail statistics do not establish current individual custody. If another jail holds the person, ask which release order applies and which office can accept that bond.
3. Which court sets bond on a Pierce misdemeanor?
Pierce County Court in Pierce. It hears misdemeanors and traffic cases, and it holds the first appearance and preliminary hearing in felony cases. Clerk: 111 West Court Street, Room 11 Pierce, NE 68767, 402-329-6245. The judge explains the release terms at that hearing (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-901.06).
4. Where are Pierce County felonies tried?
Pierce County District Court, in the Seventh Judicial District (Neb. Rev. Stat. 24-301.02). Clerk: 111 West Court, Room 12 Pierce, NE 68767, 402-329-4335. A felony bond can be reviewed again there.
5. How is bail set after an arrest in Pierce County?
A judge sets release conditions under Nebraska’s release statute, considering appearance, safety and the person’s ability to meet financial conditions. Some cases allow recognizance or nonfinancial conditions. Others require a deposit or another authorized bond form. Do not assume every amount shown online can be paid at ten percent.
Ask the Sheriff at 402-329-6346 what the written order requires, which office accepts payment and whether any other hold prevents release. A bond schedule may apply to an eligible case, but it does not guarantee immediate release in every arrest.
6. How does the 10% deposit work for a bond set in Pierce?
Nebraska has no commercial bail bondsmen. Bail is posted with the court or the jail, usually as a cash deposit. The judge sets a bond amount. You may post a deposit of up to 10% of that amount with the clerk, and never less than $25 (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-901). On a $5,000 bond, the deposit is $500. When every court date is kept, 90% of the deposit comes back. The clerk keeps 10% of the deposit as a bond fee. That fee is 1% of the full bond, so $50 on a $5,000 bond, and you get $450 back.
These figures describe the statutory percentage appearance bond when that form is ordered. A different bond form, forfeiture or separate order can change the result. The statute directs return to the defendant. A relative supplying money should ask the clerk about ownership, paperwork and the return process before paying.
7. Does a minor charge in Pierce County need money bail?
Often not. For Class IIIA, IV, and V misdemeanors and city or county ordinance violations, Nebraska says the person must be released without a money bond, unless three things are all true: the person missed court in the last six months, the judge finds release unsafe or unlikely to bring them back, and the arrest was on a warrant (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-901). This rule does not cover partner assault or DUI charges.
8. What if a Pierce County bond is too high to pay?
Under section 29-901.03, a person still detained more than 24 hours after release conditions are imposed because they cannot meet them can request review by the judicial officer who imposed them, other than a District Court judge. The review is on the first regular court day after the request. An indigent applicant is entitled to appointed counsel for that review. Ask defense counsel or the clerk how to submit the request; a family call alone does not change the bond.
9. Can a bail bondsman post bond for someone in a Pierce County case?
No. Nebraska has no commercial bail bondsmen. Bail is posted with the court or the jail, usually as a deposit of 10% of the bond amount (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-901). A judge may approve a personal surety instead. Each surety must swear to twice the bond amount and list Nebraska real estate worth that much above any debt. With the deposit, 90% of what you paid comes back.
These figures describe the statutory percentage appearance bond when that form is ordered. A different bond form, forfeiture or separate order can change the result. The statute directs return to the defendant. A relative supplying money should ask the clerk about ownership, paperwork and the return process before paying.
10. When does the Pierce County clerk return the deposit?
After the person makes every required court date, the clerk returns 90% of the deposit (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-901). If no charge is ever filed, or the charges are dropped before the court date, all of it comes back. If the judge lowers the bond after you post, the clerk refunds the extra bond fee. If the case moves to another Nebraska court, the 90% moves with it, and no new fee is charged.
These figures describe the statutory percentage appearance bond when that form is ordered. A different bond form, forfeiture or separate order can change the result. The statute directs return to the defendant. A relative supplying money should ask the clerk about ownership, paperwork and the return process before paying.
11. What happens after a missed court date in Pierce?
The judge must declare the bail forfeited (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-1106) and can issue a warrant. The court can set the forfeiture aside if justice does not require it (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-1107). A forfeited cash deposit goes to the county treasury after court costs (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-1108). A surety can turn the person in to the sheriff before judgment to get off the bond (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-906).
12. How can someone apply for appointed counsel in Pierce County?
Ask County Court at 402-329-6245 about applying for appointed counsel and supplying financial information. The court decides eligibility and appointment. Give the case number, next hearing and actual jail location. A family inquiry does not appoint an attorney or postpone a hearing.
13. What happens if a teenager is arrested in Pierce County?
Officers must try right away to reach a parent, guardian, or relative (Neb. Rev. Stat. 43-250). Only Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy have separate juvenile courts. In Pierce County, the County Court sits as the juvenile court. Youth cases do not use the adult bond deposit.
14. Where would a federal case from Pierce be heard?
In the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska, which sits in Omaha, Lincoln, and North Platte. Prosecutors ask for trial in Omaha or Lincoln when they file. North Platte is used only if the court grants a motion (NECrimR 18.1). Federal judges set release terms. The county deposit rules do not apply there.
15. How can I spot a scam call about Pierce bail?
Independently call the Sheriff at 402-329-6346 or the court named on the order before paying. Confirm the case, required amount, authorized receiving office and accepted method. Nebraska’s general Judicial Branch online payment system does not accept bonds; ask staff about any separate approved local service. Do not act on demands for gift cards, cryptocurrency or transfers to a stranger’s personal account.
16. Who do I call to confirm a Pierce County bond?
Call the Sheriff at 402-329-6346 to confirm the actual holding jail. County Court is at 402-329-6245; the District Court clerk is at 402-329-4335. Ask which order controls release, what amount is required, who accepts it and whether another hold prevents release. An account deposit is not a bond payment.
Pierce County Jail Inmate Visitation
Friends and Family – Official Pierce County sheriff and jail pages in Nebraska do not spell out when friends and family may visit Pierce County Jail. Call the facility at 402-329-6346 to ask when friends and family may visit, whether the visit is in person or by video, and to confirm that the person you hope to see is still in custody there.
Pierce County Court Guide: Case Searches, Locations and Family Help
For Pierce County court records and hearing information, call County Court at 402-329-6245 or the District Court clerk at 402-329-4335. County Court lists 111 West Court Street, Room 11, Pierce, NE 68767; the District Court clerk lists 111 West Court Street, Room 12, Pierce, NE 68767. Confirm the actual hearing room before traveling.
County Court handles most misdemeanors, traffic cases and preliminary felony proceedings. District Court handles felony trials and sentencing in the Seventh Judicial District. The Nebraska Judicial Branch case-search services explain online searches and free courthouse access.
For an arrest and actual housing, call the Sheriff at 402-329-6346. Ask which jail received the person; a court office does not confirm detention. Our Inmate Search guide helps locate someone, and our Bail guide explains release and bond.
1. Which Pierce County court handles the case, and where should I call?
District Court hears felony trials and sentencing.
- Pierce County Court: 111 W. Court St., Room 11, Pierce, NE 68767; 402-329-6245. County Court clerk contact.
- Pierce County District Court Clerk: 111 West Court Street, Room 12, Pierce, NE 68767; 402-329-4335. 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.
2. 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 Pierce 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, 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.
3. How does a misdemeanor case move through court?
Most misdemeanor charges filed in Pierce 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.
4. What happens if the accusation is a felony?
When Pierce 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.
5. How are serious violent charges treated?
A charge involving serious injury, sexual violence or a death in Pierce 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.”
6. What if police arrest a child under 18?
If a person younger than 18 is accused of an offense in Pierce County, the rules may be very different from an adult criminal case.
Which juvenile court applies?
County Court usually handles juvenile matters here, using its juvenile jurisdiction rather than treating the youth as an ordinary adult defendant. 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.
7. What are the actual jail, prison, and fine limits?
In Pierce 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.
8. When is a charge federal, and where does that case go?
A prosecution from Pierce 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.
9. How do I search a Pierce County case and confirm the next hearing?
Use the Nebraska Judicial Branch case-search services for public County Court and District Court records. Online one-time searches have a fee; free access is available at courthouse kiosks and participating law libraries. Match Pierce County, the person and case number. Newly filed and restricted matters may not appear publicly.
County Court: 111 West Court Street, Room 11, Pierce, NE 68767, 402-329-6245. District Court clerk: 111 West Court Street, Room 12, Pierce, NE 68767, 402-329-4335. Follow the hearing notice and confirm the assigned room, entrance and any remote-appearance instructions. A court contact address is not proof of where someone is held.
Information for this service is currently unavailable.
Information for this service is currently unavailable.
The Pierce County Sheriff's Office manages the county jail in the courthouse on West Court Street in Pierce, Nebraska. It is a small jail that still takes paper letters by U.S. Mail, and staff inspect each one. One address is used for personal letters, legal mail and anything mailed by a publisher.
Send letters, legal mail and publications here:
Pierce County Jail
111 W. Court St.
Pierce, NE 68767
- Addressing it: Use the name the person was booked under and their inmate ID or booking number from the inmate search.
- Return address required: In the top left corner, print your full name and mailing address. Mail missing it is usually not delivered.
- Inks allowed: Blue or black only. The jail refuses letters done in crayon, felt marker or colored ink, and anything with perfume or lipstick on it.
- Envelopes: Don't decorate them or put glitter, confetti or other objects inside.
- Greeting cards: Plain cards are okay. Musical ones are not.
- Books, magazines, newspapers: Each one must be a new copy sent to Pierce by the publisher.
- Postage: Pierce staff remove any stamps you enclose, so don't add them. Inmates get theirs through commissary, and those with no funds receive two or three each week.
- No-contact rules: No letters may pass between an inmate and a co-defendant, another prisoner or a person protected by a no-contact order.
Pierce County hands out letters on weekdays. Questions go to the sheriff's office at 402-329-6346.
NCIC Inmate Communications provides telecommunications services that allow incarcerated individuals to place outbound voice calls from dayroom telephones to family and friends. Because correctional facilities do not permit incoming phone calls, establishing an NCIC prepaid calling account connects calls directly to your cell phone or landline without being blocked by wireless carriers.
Important: Mobile Phones Automatically Block Inmate Calls
Cellular phone carriers automatically reject standard collect calls originating from jail phone systems. While some residential landlines might permit direct monthly billing, mobile devices and internet-based telephone lines require an active prepaid calling balance, which you can verify by checking with your provider. If you do not register online and fund an NCIC account right away, your loved one will receive an automated disconnect announcement when attempting to call your number.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Register and Fund an Account
- Visit account.ncic.com or call NCIC customer care at 1-800-943-2189.
- Click Create Account and register using the primary 10-digit telephone number where you want to receive calls.
- Select the state and correctional facility where your loved one is currently detained.
- Search for and add the inmate using their full legal name or booking ID number.
- Select your deposit dollar amount and enter your debit or credit card billing details.
- Submit payment and ensure your mobile phone settings allow calls from automated or unfamiliar correctional numbers.
What the Inmate Needs to Do
The inmate dials your 10-digit number from any dayroom telephone and keys in their assigned PIN. The automated system verifies that your phone number has an active prepaid balance and prompts you to press a digit to accept the call. All personal telephone conversations are recorded and monitored by facility staff.
Official Provider: NCIC Official Website
Customer Service Telephone: 1-800-943-2189
Support Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Supported Languages: English and Spanish
Other Services Provided by NCIC Inmate Communications
In addition to Prepaid Phone Calling, NCIC provides several other digital communication and visitation services at participating facilities:
- Remote Video Visitation: Schedule and join live face-to-face video visits from home using your computer or smartphone.
• Learn more on our website: Video Visitation Guide | • Visit official vendor page: NCIC Video Visits - Inmate Messaging Services: Send electronic messages and photos directly to an inmate's housing unit terminal.
• Learn more on our website: Inmate Messaging Guide | • Visit official vendor page: NCIC Messaging
Information for this service is currently unavailable.
Information for this service is currently unavailable.
Nearby counties
- Jail (Main): 402-329-6346
- Sheriff: 402-329-6346
The Pierce County Jail serves the following cities and towns of Pierce County: Hadar, McLean, Osmond and Pierce.