By C1 Staff
LINCOLN, Neb. — A series of new bills introduced in the Nebraska legislature hope to fix the state’s prison system.
The Journal Stare reports that ten Nebraska prisons are over capacity at 159 percent, and many reports cite a major lack of attention given to mental health and substance abuse of inmates.
The bills, totaling seven in all, would update the prison’s code that was last reviewed in 1970, create an inspector general for Corrections and address mental health treatment, Parole Board independence, mandatory minimum and habitual criminal sentences and solitary confinement practices.
Another would seek to continue the Department of Correctional Service’s investigative committee and another would designate $261.6M to implement a 2014 prisons master plan if new or renovated prisons are needed.
Despite all of this, Omaha Sen. Bob Krist said the legislature would still like to hear guidance from Gov. Pete Ricketts and incoming Corrections Director Scott Frakes.