By C1 Staff
LINCOLN, Neb. — The New director of the Nebraska Department of Corrections answered questions about the direction he plans to take the department in.
During the appointment hearing, lawmakers asked why Scott Frakes hadn’t yet fired Mark Weilage, a prison psychologist at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution, reports the Journal Star. Weilage is being held responsible for the release of Nikko Jenkins, an inmate who killed four upon his release.
Frakes stated that he’s just started the process of rebuilding, having only taken over his post Feb. 2.
He said he’s currently assessing leadership within the department. He assured lawmakers that there would be changes, but he’s not yet ready to remove or reassign staff.
Frakes said he plans to bring in a consultant to look at the prison system’s operations, and to make recommendations related to staffing, approaches and the use of resources.
He also hopes to tackle the ongoing problem of prison overcrowding. He said Gov. Pete Ricketts asked him to restore the department’s reputation.
Frakes described what he’s heard from a few DOC employees describes a culture of fear, but he said he’s seen that employees aren’t willing to turn their back on the department because of bad press.
“I just want us to do better,” he said.