Nebraska lawmakers question earned time proposal

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A proposal that would end automatic “good time” credit for violent prisoners in Nebraska is facing scrutiny from lawmakers.

Members of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee questioned Wednesday whether the bill would work if adequate rehabilitation programs weren’t available in Nebraska’s prisons.

Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh of Omaha introduced the bill, which would require those convicted of murder, robbery, sexual assault and other violent crimes to behave and participate in rehabilitation programs to earn reductions in their prison sentences.

The state’s good time system automatically gives inmates one day of credit for every day served, effectively cutting their prison sentences in half.

Lautenbaugh introduced the legislation on behalf of Gov. Dave Heineman. Attorney General Jon Bruning also supports the bill.

Michael Kenney, director of the Department of Correctional Services, who testified in support of the bill, said it targets offenders who present the greatest risk to the community.

“They will be under greater scrutiny and they will have to perform better to get out at the same time,” Kenney said.

An inmate could be in compliance even if they are on a waiting list, he said, because it shows they are taking personal responsibility for a need they have.

The bill would be an illusion if the services aren’t in place to help the inmates, said Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha.

The state is in need of both space and programming, said Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha. A lot of vocational programming is gone, for example, Ashford said.

Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer, who testified in support of the bill, said it’s a start for improving public safety and assisting those who are incarcerated.

“Just because corrections may not have the programs doesn’t mean we abandon a good concept,” he said.

A lobbyist for the ACLU was the only person to testify against the bill. Alan Peterson said other bills make greater strides to address prison overcrowding.

Nebraska lawmakers are using the session to address problems with the state’s prisons, which have risen to 153 percent of their design capacity with nearly 4,900 inmates.

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The bill is LB832