Prison Overcrowding in Nebraska

Policy Claims:

A proposal to increase the prison budgets should be passed to lower the overcrowded population within Nebraska prisons by expanding the prisons.

Nebraska should not give out parole to inmates as a way to reduce overcrowding within prisons.

Factual Claims:

Population

• A special legislative committee found 301 vacant staff positions, with an average of 37 employees leaving positions each month. Source

• Overall, the daily population was approximately 5,272 people while the max compacity 3, 275 people. Source

• Nebraska's corrections department completed a new 100-bed unit in September to house work-release inmates. Source

Bills In Place

• LB 472 provides a real opportunity for individuals with mental illness to access healthcare and treatment systems to prevent being swept up in the criminal justice system. Source

• Calculations in the report estimate passing LB 472 would prevent 400 Nebraskans from returning to prison and save the state Department of Corrections $11 million in the first year. Source

Overworked Employees as A Result of Overcrowding

• Correctional officers, corporals, and caseworkers — remained high but declined slightly from last year. There were 292 vacant positions in corrections as of June 30, up from 252 vacancies one year earlier. Source

Casual Claims:

Even though overcrowding prisons has kept criminals off the streets, prisons will be criticized.

Even though overcrowding prisons is unethical, it still occurs in Nebraska and even in the United States.

Even though overcrowding prisons is unethical, Nebraska still hasn't found nor created a solution to this problem.

Definitional Claims:

If the United States has one of the highest incarceration rates, according to the Penal Reform website, then Nebraska is part of the problem and therefore increasing prison budgets will help to expand prisons to release pressure off of overcrowding.

If you would like to see more, follow me on Twitter @AmandaH23942284.