Richardson County

The Detention Center

Richardson County Law Enforcement Center

• Operated byRichardson County Sheriff's Office
• Address65086 706 Trail, Falls City, NE 68355
• What was tried for capacity/PREA/roster/fees/bond/budgethttps://richardsoncounty.ne.gov/sheriff-office/ and https://richardsoncounty.ne.gov/budgets/ — the sheriff page confirms the office 'manages the county jail' but gives no facility name distinct from the Law Enforcement Center, no bed count, PREA status, roster, fee schedule, or bond guidance; the budgets page is a landing page with no documents rendered

Source: Richardson County, NE — Sheriff Office (richardsoncounty.ne.gov) · checked 2026-08-25

• ✗The jail is named — not published
• ✗Who is in custody — not published
• ✗Beds and daily population — not published
• ✗What it costs taxpayers — not published
• ✗Deaths in custody — not published
• ✗PREA audits — not published
• ✗Independent inspection — not published
• ✗Who else it holds, and for how much — not published
• ✗How to post bond — not published
• ✗Phone, video and commissary rates — not published

This rates disclosure, not conduct — what Richardson County publishes about a jail its taxpayers own, checked 2026-08-25. Nothing here says the jail is run well or badly. Every mark moves the moment the county posts the document.

The Building

You paid for it. Here is what the record says it cost.

• Year builtNot found
• Original costNot found
• Paid for byNot found
• BedsNot found

The Sheriff

Sheriff Richard Hardesty Jr.

• Runs the jailYes — the county's own sheriff page states the office 'manages the county jail'
• How the office is filledElected countywide, four-year term (Neb. Rev. Stat. 32-520); the county's own page does not restate this
• Office locationLaw Enforcement Center, 65086 706 Trail, Falls City, NE 68355

Source: Richardson County, NE — Sheriff Office (richardsoncounty.ne.gov) · checked 2026-08-25

The Judges

Nebraska judges are merit-selected, not county officials: the Governor appoints from a judicial nominating commission's list and the judge then faces an uncontested retention vote (Neb. Const. Art. V, sec. 21). The County Court judge sets bail at first appearance. Richardson County's own County Court page names Richard R. Smith as County Court Judge; the District Court Clerk page names only the clerk (Pamela Scott), not the presiding judge.

Source: the state judiciary · checked 2026-08-25

The County Commissioners

They pay for the jail. The sheriff runs it.

• What they controlThe detention budget, the building itself, and the agreements that let other agencies rent its beds.
• What they don'tDay-to-day operations. The sheriff is separately elected and answers to voters, not to the board.
• The boardBoard of County Commissioners →
• Where the jail money is decidedAgendas and minutes →