Freqently Asked Questions

1. Where is the Sheriff's Office Located?
2. Is the County Sheriff elected or appointed?
3. What are the responsibilities of the Office of the Sheriff?
4. How do I become a deputy sheriff?
5. How do I file a protection order?
6. How do I obtain a carry concealed weapon permit?
7. How do I obtain a handgun purchase permit?
8. How do I register as a sex offender?
9. How do I pay my waiverable citation online?
10. How do I get fingerprinted for a job?
11. Where can I lookup registered sex offenders in my neighborhood?
12. What are the laws regarding junk vehicles on private property?

1. Where is the County Sheriff Department located?
   • The physical location is 575 South 10th Street, Lincoln, NE in the Justice and Law Enforcement Center. (See map below.) The Justice and Law Enforcement Center is a secured facility. Click here for a list of prohibited items.

     
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2. Is the County Sheriff elected or appointed, how long is a term?
   • The County Sheriff is elected to a four-year term.

3. What are the responsiblities of the County Sheriff?
   • The County Sheriff is responsible for maintaining peace and enforcing the law in rural areas of the county and in towns and villages not having municipal police departments. The office investigates criminal offenses and traffic accidents, enforces traffic laws, and serves as a representative of the County Coroner in death investigations. Other duties include: collecting delinquent property taxes; execution of complex court orders; and serving civil process and warrants, extradition of prisoners from other states, transporting jail prisoners and providing security services to County and District courts.

4. Become a Deputy Sheriff
• Visit our recruiting page HERE to find out more about applying to become a Lancaster County Sheriff's Deputy.
5. File a Protection Order
• Our civil division page regarding domestic orders HERE can help explain the process. Information is also available at:
  • Nebraska Supreme Court website with downloadable forms
  • 24 hour Crisis Line for Rape Spouse Abuse Crisis Center and access to Friendship Home emergency shelter: (402)475-7273
  • Lancaster County District Court Clerk's Office: (402)441-7328
  • Lincoln Police Department/Lancaster County Sheriff's Office non-emergency: (402)441-6000
  • Rape Spouse Abuse Crisis Center: (402)476-2110
  • Lincoln Police Department Victim/Witness Unit: (402)441-7181
  • Emergency Law Enforcement: 911
6. Obtain a Concealed Weapon Permit
• The Nebraska State Patrol has a concealed weapons page HERE that explains the procedure for obtaining a concealed weapon permit. You must apply for a permit in person at one of the Nebraska State Patrol Troop Area offices or at the Criminal Identification Division of the State Patrol. The addresses are as follows:
  Criminal Identification Office - 3800 NW 12th Street, Suite A - Lincoln
  Troop A Headquarters - 4411 S. 108th St. – Omaha
  Troop B Headquarters - 1401 Eisenhower Avenue – Norfolk
  Troop C Headquarters – 3431 Old Potash Highway – Grand Island
  Troop D Headquarters – 300 W. South River Road – North Platte
  Troop E Headquarters – 4500 Avenue I – Scottsbluff
7. Obtain a Handgun Purchase Permit
• Applications to obtain a handgun purchase permit must be filled out in person at the LSO Civil Division counter located on the first floor of the Hall of Justice between the hours of 800am - 430pm, Monday-Friday. Background checks and processing times vary. Click here for more information
8. Register as a Sex Offender
• Locations in Lancaster County:
  

  Original Registration in Nebraska Nebraska State Patrol 3800 NW 12th Street Lincoln, Nebraska 68521 By Appointment Only M-F 0830am-330pm Call 402-471-8647.

  Updates-Changes-Verifications Lancaster County Sheriff's Office Hall of Justice 575 South 10th Street Lincoln, Nebraska 68508 0800am-400pm

  All sex offenders that are required by law to register and have never been registered in Nebraska, must do so in person at a Nebraska State Patrol office designated to accept registrations. Any Nebraska registered sex offender needing to update, change, or verify their information must do so in person at the County Sheriff's Office in their jurisdiction. The addresses above apply to any offender who lives (permanently or temporarily for more than three days), works, or attends school in Lancaster County. The Sheriff's Office will accept sex offender registrations between the hours of 8:00am and 4:00pm. Currently registration updates/changes are accepted seven days a week but on October 6, 2012, registration days will be Monday through Friday ONLY.

  If you are unsure if you are required to register as a sex offender, please visit the Nebraska State Patrol's website regarding sex offender registry.

9. Pay Waiverable Citations Online
• Follow this link to the Nebraska State Court Administrator's website where you can pay waiverable citations online.
10. Get Fingerprinted for a Job
• The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office does not offer fingerprinting services. However, these services are available at:

  Lincoln Police Department
  Justice and Law Enforcement Center
  575 S. 10th Street, Lincoln, NE
  Phone: (402) 441-7210
  Hours: Monday through Friday, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  Fee: $5.00 for up to three cards. Additional cards are $5.00 each
  

  Nebraska State Patrol
  Criminal Identification Division Office
  3800 NW 12th, Lincoln, NE
  Phone: (402) 471-4545
  Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  Fee: No fee

11. Where can I lookup registered sex offenders in my neighborhood?
• The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office accepts sex offender registrations and investigates registry violations under our jurisdiction. However, the Nebraska database of registered offenders is maintained by the Nebraska State Patrol. Lookups can be performed on their public website.

  Another resource, the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW), coordinated by the U.S. Department of Justice, is a cooperative effort between Jurisdictions hosting public sex offender registries and the federal government.

12. What are the laws regarding junk vehicles on private property?
• The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners several years ago passed a Resolution adopting the City of Lincoln's Junked Vehicle Ordinance 10.42.110 and enforcement is handled by the Sheriff's Office within the three mile zoning jurisdicition of the City of Lincoln.

  Click here to download the Lancaster County Junk Vehicle informational brochure.