For the second time in seven years, state lawmakers have rejected the advice of national authorities on how to reduce spending on prisons. On Wednesday, a filibuster blocked a bill enacting criminal justice reforms developed after a months-long study in conjunction with the Crime and Justice Institute.
The death of Legislative Bill 920, which recommended 21 steps to reduce the state’s nation-leading prison overcrowding, came after debate spread over three days and after hours of negotiating a compromise that never materialized.
Advocates, led by State Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha, said the steps represented proven “smart on crime” strategies that have helped dozens of states reduce spending on corrections and prevention of crime.
But opponents, led by Lincoln Sen. Suzanne Geist and Sterling Sen. Julie Slama, argued that some of the steps were soft on crime and threatened public safety.
You can read Paul Hammel’s full story in the Nebraska Examiner here