By C1 Staff
LINCOLN, Neb. — A report shows that a records administrator said he didn’t understand how to calculate prison sentences, leading to a massive premature release of hundreds of inmates.
The Omaha reports that Kyle Poppert said he didn’t attend department training sessions and failed to ensure that the department was following a 2013 ruling by the Nebraska Supreme Court.
This lead, in part, to the miscalculation of more than 700 inmate release dates and allowed the premature release of nearly 200 prisoners.
Poppert’s job performance is now under review. He was suspended for two weeks without pay in August for his role in the miscalculations.
The Justice Department’s report used adjectives, according to the Omaha, such as “disturbing,” “failed,” and “tragic mistake” to describe Poppert’s job performance, who is “the gatekeeper” over the state’s 5,151 prison inmates.
State Corrections Director Mike Kinney said the report prompted him to reassign Poppert last month so that he could become “fully immersed in records management training.”
He is currently reviewing Poppert’s performance to decide whether additional action is needed.