The summer partnership between the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and the jail is a first for creating an educational, informational program in Spanish for the Latino inmates who cannot take advantage of the existing English-only programs.

The program, Project Improve, included activities that focused on writing, reading and film analysis. The activities led to reflection, introspection, self-expression and discussion of family-related issues, Cruz said.

A highlight was the reading and recording of a children’s story.  "We provided the parents with an array of children’s books in Spanish, from which they could choose one per child," Cruz said.   "We encouraged the parents to provide a brief, personal message to the child prior to reading the story."  The book, along with the CD, was mailed by the Programs Coordinator of the Douglas County Correctional Center to the inmate’s home.