By Cory Matteson
Lincoln Journal Star
LINCOLN, Neb. — Lancaster County Attorney Joe Kelly said Tuesday he will not file charges against three former Nebraska State Penitentiary corrections officers who boasted on Facebook about using force against an inmate.
Staff members did use force against an inmate at the penitentiary Feb. 8, Nebraska Department of Corrections Director Robert Houston said earlier this month.
Caleb Bartels, Shawn Paulson and Derek Dickey no longer work for the corrections system after an internal investigation into their Facebook posts.
“When you work in a prison a good day is getting to smash an inmates face into the ground ... for me today was a VERY good day,” said a post on Bartels’ page Feb. 8.
Department policy directs staff members to record when force is used with inmates and record instances that could lead to force even if they do not. Use of force was considered a possibility before corrections officers interacted with the inmate Feb. 8.
Kelly said he reviewed video footage provided by the Department of Corrections that documented not only the use-of-force incident but also an officers’ meeting before the incident, as well as footage of the officers walking toward the inmate’s cell and into his room.
“There were no crimes committed,” Kelly said.
Copyright 2010 Lincoln Journal Star