Phelps County Inmate Population Overview
Phelps County's detention map is compact, but the custody mix is not simple. Official county and sheriff-linked sources point to Phelps County Corrections as the local jail and correctional facility serving Holdrege and the rest of Phelps County. The facility is operated through the Phelps County Sheriff's Office and Phelps County Corrections. It holds pre-trial county inmates, short county sentences, people held for surrounding counties when needed, immigration detainees, U.S. Marshals detainees, and some Nebraska Department of Correctional Services contract inmates. That means the Phelps County inmate population is a facility population, not just a count of Phelps County residents arrested locally.
The local roster is the main source for a same-day view. The JDS roster inspected in the research file listed a point-in-time population of 25 people, with 20 males, 5 females, and 0 listed as other. Many visible entries were tied to immigration, federal marshal holds, court commitments, parole holds, or other-agency holds. Those labels matter. A person may appear in the Phelps County inmate population because they are physically held in Holdrege, even if the case, detainer, or sentence comes from a different agency.
The Phelps County Sheriff's Office homepage links readers toward the corrections site and the inmate list. The county government sheriff profile also identifies Sheriff Gene Samuelson and the sheriff office contact information. Those official pages are useful for verifying the agency relationship before relying on any roster field.
The sheriff homepage screenshot captured for this project shows the local office link structure that sends users toward corrections and roster resources.
The screenshot supports the local access path: sheriff site, corrections information, and the current roster are connected rather than separate county systems.
Phelps County Inmate Population Statistics
The strongest local numbers are the facility capacity, the current roster count captured during research, and county population figures from Census QuickFacts. Phelps County Corrections states that the current jail opened as a 51-bed correctional facility in 2004 after replacing a 16-bed facility built in 1913. The JDS current roster inspected on June 20, 2026 at 16:54 listed 25 current inmates. Census QuickFacts listed a July 1, 2025 Phelps County population estimate of 8,994. The calculated rate below uses a current roster count, so it should not be read as an annual incarceration rate or average daily population.
| Measure | Figure | Source / Year |
|---|---|---|
| Facility capacity | 51 beds | Phelps County Corrections about page, accessed in 2026 research |
| Old facility capacity | 16 beds | Phelps County Corrections history of the 1913 jail |
| Current roster count | 25 total, 20 male, 5 female, 0 other | JDS roster run date/time 06/20/2026 - 16:54 |
| Capacity use at captured count | About 49.0% | Calculated from 25 current inmates and 51 beds |
| Phelps County population estimate | 8,994 | U.S. Census QuickFacts, July 1, 2025 estimate |
| Point-in-time jail population rate | About 278 per 100,000 residents | Calculated from the captured roster count and 2025 Census estimate |
| Average daily population | Not located in accessible official Phelps sources | Research file found no current official Phelps ADP table |
Census QuickFacts for Phelps County provides the denominator used to put the local custody snapshot in context.
The Census figure is not a jail statistic, but it helps explain why a contract-hold jail count can look large in a small county.
Phelps County Inmate Population Trends
Official local trend data is thin. The research file did not locate a public Phelps County annual bookings total, average daily population, average length of stay, or multi-year local jail ADP table in accessible official sources. The trend that can be stated safely is structural: Phelps County moved from a 16-bed 1913 facility to a 51-bed facility opened in 2004, and the current jail serves both local and contract populations. That expanded role explains why local roster interpretation should account for ICE, USMS, surrounding-county, and NDCS entries.
| Year or Date | Population or Capacity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1913 facility | 16 beds | Historical jail capacity replaced by the current facility |
| 2004 opening | 51 beds | Current Phelps County Corrections facility opened |
| 06/20/2026 16:54 | 25 current inmates | JDS current roster point-in-time count |
| 2013-2025 ADP | Not located | No official Phelps-specific multi-year ADP table was captured |
For statewide context, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services research and reports page publishes prison system reports, but the research file did not find a Phelps County jail ADP figure there. The Nebraska Crime Commission jail demographic data page is the better place to look for jail-level data when a current public table is available.
Phelps County Inmate Custody Mix
The Phelps County inmate population snapshot had a clear sex-count summary, but it did not publish a full demographic file with age, race, residence, or case-level breakdowns. The roster did show a custody mix. Immigration-labeled entries were numerous. Federal marshal holds were present. Local arrests and court commitments also appeared. Other-agency holds from nearby counties or parole authorities were visible. This mix is why a roster result must be read with the arresting agency and disposition fields, not just the charge label.
- County custody: Phelps County Corrections holds local pre-trial and sentenced county inmates.
- Contract custody: The facility reports active DHS, USMS, and NDCS contracts.
- Outside holds: Visible roster entries included other-agency and parole-related holds.
- Sex summary: The captured JDS count listed 20 males, 5 females, and 0 other.
- Case stage: The roster combines booking labels, dispositions, bond fields, and hold statuses.
Note: A roster charge or hold is not the same as a conviction, and a federal or immigration hold may block release after local bond is posted.
Phelps County Jail Capacity
The captured roster count of 25 was below the stated 51-bed capacity. That is a useful snapshot, but it does not prove a long-term trend. The roster changes as new arrests arrive, people post bond, court commitments begin or end, and outside agencies move detainees. Phelps County Corrections also reports that the jail is inspected and in full compliance with state and federal standards. Nebraska jail oversight is tied to the Nebraska Crime Commission Jail Standards program and the Jail Standards Board.
The Nebraska Crime Commission jail standards page explains the statewide inspection and minimum-standard framework for adult and juvenile detention facilities.
Those standards do not replace the local roster, but they explain why jail capacity, operations, and reporting are governed beyond the county level.
Phelps County Inmate Records Law
Nebraska public-records law supports access to existing jail and booking records unless a specific exception applies. Neb. Rev. Stat. 84-712 gives interested persons access to examine and copy public records during office hours, subject to other statutes. Neb. Rev. Stat. 84-712.01 defines public records broadly for state, county, city, village, and other public bodies. Neb. Rev. Stat. 84-712.03 covers response and denial timing. The Nebraska Attorney General's public-records summary highlights a four-business-day response framework.
Key statutes:
Neb. Rev. Stat. 47-106 requires the sheriff or jail administrator to keep and preserve the jail register.
Nebraska Chapter 47 includes jail-record, inspection, work-release, medical-cost, and jail governance provisions.
Neb. Rev. Stat. 84-712.05 lists records that may be withheld, including some law-enforcement and security-sensitive material.
Public access does not require an agency to create a custom report. If an older booking record, roster entry, or booking photo is no longer online, the practical route is a records request to the sheriff or corrections custodian with enough detail to identify the record.
Phelps County and State Prison
Nebraska Department of Correctional Services is the state prison system. No NDCS prison was located inside Phelps County in the official sources reviewed. Still, Phelps County Corrections reports a contract with the Nebraska Department of Corrections to hold prison inmates, and a roster line can include court commitment or state-related custody language. Once a person is sentenced to state prison or transferred into state custody, the Phelps County jail roster is no longer the main search tool. Use the NDCS incarceration record search by last name or DCS ID.
| Phelps County Jail Roster | NDCS Locator | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | People physically held at Phelps County Corrections | Sentenced state prisoners and NDCS custody |
| Search style | Current list with no search form | Last name or DCS ID search |
| Common confusion | Contract holds may appear with local inmates | County jail inmates may not appear before state transfer |
Search Phelps County Inmate Population
The official current roster channel is the JDS list linked by the sheriff and corrections sites. It is not a name-search form. It is a current roster grouped by male and female sections, with a run date and a population summary. Start by checking the run date and time, then scan the names or use the browser's find feature for a last name. The JailId field is important because Phelps County's bond and account pages state that online bond or account transactions require the inmate's jail ID number.
- Open the Phelps County JDS current inmate roster.
- Check the run date and time before relying on a custody result.
- Scan the male and female sections or use browser find for the last name.
- Read JailId, charges, disposition, bond, SID, booking date, attorney, court date, arresting agency, and release date together.
- If the roster points to another agency, contact that agency or use the NDCS, BOP, ICE, NEVCAP, or court systems as needed.
The JDS roster screenshot shows the current-list structure and why users should not expect a typical search form.
The roster image reinforces the main lookup rule: read the person record and custody status together before drawing conclusions.
Phelps County Roster Fields
The county roster is most useful when each field is read as part of a custody record. A charge label may explain why the person was booked or held. The current disposition explains what is happening to that listed item. The arresting agency can show whether the matter is local, federal, immigration-related, or from another county. Blank release dates often mean the person was still current at the time of the roster run.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search fields | None visible | Not applicable | The roster is a current list, not a search form. |
| JailId | Roster field | Not applicable | Local numeric jail ID used for some bond and account actions. |
| Photo | Roster field | Not applicable | A photo column exists, though every image was not confirmed in text capture. |
| Charges | Roster field | Not applicable | May include local charges, immigration labels, court commitments, or holds. |
| Current Disposition | Roster field | Not applicable | Examples include bond, hold, holding for immigration, sentenced to jail, and case dismissed. |
| Arresting Agency | Roster field | Not applicable | Examples included Phelps Co SO, Holdrege PD, Immigration, USMS, and other counties. |
Past Phelps County Inmate Records
The public JDS list captured in the research file is a current roster, not a full historical archive. If a person is no longer listed, first decide whether the person was released, transferred to state prison, moved to federal custody, transferred to immigration custody, or held for another agency. For older booking details, request existing records from the sheriff or corrections custodian under Nebraska public-records law. Include the full name, JailId if known, booking date, arresting agency, and the type of record requested.
Victims and other eligible users may also use the Nebraska Victims of Crime Alert Portal for custody or release notifications when the person and custody type are covered. NEVCAP is not the same as the county roster. It is an alert and offender-search system, while the JDS roster is the current list for people held at Phelps County Corrections.
The NEVCAP screenshot documents the Nebraska victim-notification channel used alongside roster searches.
Use NEVCAP for notification needs, but confirm facility-specific questions through Phelps County Corrections.
State and Federal Inmate Search
Federal and immigration custody are significant in Phelps County because the corrections facility reports DHS and USMS contracts, and the inspected roster included many immigration and federal marshal entries. If the person is a USMS detainee physically held in Holdrege, the Phelps roster may show the local custody record, but federal case questions go through the Marshals or federal court channels. If the person is in Bureau of Prisons custody from 1982 to the present, use the BOP inmate locator. If the person is in ICE civil immigration custody, use the ICE Online Detainee Locator System and Alien ID details when available.
| System | Covers | Does Not Cover Well |
|---|---|---|
| Phelps JDS roster | People physically held at Phelps County Corrections, including many contract holds | BOP prison transfers and full federal case records |
| NDCS locator | Sentenced Nebraska state prisoners and NDCS records | Fresh Phelps County arrests before state transfer |
| BOP locator | Federal inmates in BOP custody from 1982 to present | USMS pretrial detainees temporarily housed in county jails |
| ICE ODLS | ICE civil immigration detainees | Local criminal charges or Nebraska court case history |
The NDCS locator screenshot shows the state search form used after a person leaves county jail for state custody.
The state locator is a separate system, so a missing county roster result does not rule out state custody.
The BOP inmate locator screenshot shows the federal search channel for people who have moved into Bureau of Prisons custody.
The BOP locator is helpful for sentenced federal custody, but it is not a complete view of USMS holds at Phelps County Corrections.
Phelps County Inmate Record Fields
A Phelps County inmate record on the current roster is a custody snapshot. It can show a photo column, JailId, name, charges, current disposition, total bail, SID number, book date, attorney, next court date, arresting agency, and release date. The research file did not capture housing unit, date of birth, home address, height, weight, or judge fields on the visible text. Treat blank fields as missing from the current public display, not as proof that the fact does not exist in the jail's internal record.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| JailId | The local numeric identifier used by the Phelps County roster and some payment workflows. |
| Photo | A booking-photo column exists; image availability can vary by entry or browser display. |
| Charges | One or more allegations, holds, commitments, or custody labels listed for the person. |
| Current Disposition | The current status of the listed charge or hold, such as bond, detainer, immigration hold, or sentence. |
| Total Bail | A decimal dollar-style amount when a bail field is published. |
| Arresting Agency | The agency tied to the arrest or hold, such as Phelps Co SO, Holdrege PD, Immigration, or USMS. |
Phelps County Detention Facilities
The Facility Map contains one local detention facility. That facility is not merely a local city holding room. It is the county correctional facility, the roster source for current local custody, and a contract-hold location for federal, immigration, and NDCS populations. No separate city jail, state prison, BOP prison, or ICE-owned detention center physically inside Phelps County was located in official sources.
- Phelps County Corrections - 51-bed county jail and correctional facility in Holdrege holding local pre-trial and sentenced inmates, surrounding-county inmates as needed, ICE detainees, USMS detainees, and some NDCS contract inmates.
Phelps County Inmate Population FAQ
How large is the Phelps County inmate population?
The best current source is the JDS roster count. The captured roster run on June 20, 2026 listed 25 current inmates. The facility reports 51 rated beds. That is a point-in-time jail count, not an average daily population and not a pure count of Phelps County residents.
How do I search the Phelps County inmate population?
Use the JDS current roster first. It is a current list, not a search box. Check the run date and time, scan by name, and read JailId, disposition, bond, arresting agency, and release date. If the person is not there, use NDCS, BOP, ICE, NEVCAP, court records, or a records request depending on the custody type.
Does Phelps County hold federal or immigration detainees?
Yes. Phelps County Corrections reports active DHS and USMS contracts, and the inspected roster included immigration and federal marshal entries. Use the Phelps roster for people physically held at the facility, but use BOP or ICE systems for federal prison or immigration locator questions outside the county roster.
Where do court records fit after a jail arrest?
The jail roster documents custody and booking information. Formal charges and case events are tracked through Nebraska JUSTICE and Phelps County Court after prosecutor review and court filing. New cases can lag behind the booking record.