By Genell Rothleutner
Associated Press
 |
LINCOLN, Neb. — After years of steady gains, Nebraska’s prison population has leveled off and is showing signs of dropping.
It’s a hopeful sign to prison officials and taxpayers. Three years ago, some officials feared a new prison would have to be built to hold the growing number of inmates.
Corrections Director Robert Houston says more nonviolent offenders are being put on parole and drug offenders are often getting treatment instead of landing back in prison after reoffending.
Still, the prison population is at 138 percent of capacity, close to the 140 percent that allows the governor to declare an emergency.
On the Net: Nebraska Department of Corrections: http://www.corrections.state.ne.us
Caption: **FILE** This file photo from June 5, 2003, shows Inmates at Nebraska’s Lincoln Correctional Center in Lincoln, Neb. After years of steady gains, Nebraska’s prison population has leveled off and is showing signs of dropping. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)