April 16
NEBRASKA:
Ricketts, prosecutors say lawmakers 'mocked' input on prison reform
A group of prosecutors and Republican leaders accused Nebraska lawmakers
Thursday of ignoring their opinions on prison and criminal sentencing reform as
the Legislature debates the issues this week.
"They mocked our input," said Attorney General Doug Peterson during a news
conference at City Hall in Omaha.
Peterson appeared alongside Gov. Pete Ricketts, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, the
Lancaster and Douglas county attorneys and others. They voiced concerns about a
pair of criminal justice bills that received 1st-round approval earlier this
week, and repeated concerns about repealing the death penalty, which the full
Legislature began debating Thursday.
Ricketts vowed to veto any death penalty repeal that reaches his desk.
But the news conference took particular aim at an effort by the Legislature's
Judiciary Committee to restore indeterminate sentencing, known as the "1/3
rule," which requires a judge to set a convicted person's minimum sentence at a
number of years not greater than 1/3 of the maximum sentence.
The committee unanimously advanced a bill (LB483) on Wednesday that would
restore the one-third rule to include all felony crimes, except those for which
the maximum sentence is life. Similar language is amended onto one of the
reform bills (LB605) approved by lawmakers this week.
Supporters say restoring the 1/3 rule would help ease crowding in Nebraska
prisons, which are at 159 % capacity.
"This 1/3 rule is not a proposal to reduce prison overcrowding," Peterson said
Thursday, instead calling it something "from the ACLU playbook."
Peterson claimed prosecutors and other public safety officials aren't being
given a seat at the table to talk about criminal sentencing, saying they are
the most qualified people to address the issue.
"Having hearings and being out in the lobby is not enough," he said.
He also took issue with recent comments made by Omaha Sen. Bob Krist. During
debate on the reform bills this week, Krist gestured to the Capitol lobby,
where prosecutors were watching, and referred to it as "Disney World."
"These senators are not taking our gang problem seriously," Mayor Stothert said
Thursday.
Ricketts said people shouldn't "jump in without thinking" to address prison
reform, and instead should wait for the new director of the Nebraska Department
of Correctional Services, Scott Frakes, to complete his own examination of the
system, which should be complete this fall.
He blamed "management problems" for the prison system's issues and the state's
inability to obtain the drugs required to carry out a lethal injection under
current law.
Ricketts wouldn't say whether building a new prison is on the table for Frakes.
"I don't believe building a new prison at this point is going to solve any
problems," Ricketts said.
(source: Lincoln Journal Star)
****************
Nebraska may repeal death penalty amid drug shortage
Nebraska is considering repealing the death penalty amid a shortage of lethal
injection drugs.
A bill to repeal the death penalty won 1st-round approval from lawmakers
Thursday.
Lawmakers advanced the bill 30-13. If that support holds, death penalty
opponents would have enough votes to override Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts'
promised veto.
2 additional votes are required, and death penalty supporters are still working
to block the legislation. This year, the measure has won support from a
coalition of Republicans who say the death penalty costs too much and the state
doesn't even have the drugs to kill those on death row.
Nebraska last executed someone in 1997.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, has fought for 4 decades
years to abolish capital punishment.
The bill is LB268.
(source: Associated Press)
USA:
I am seeking copies of any (primarily, but not exclusively, US) city council
resolution which was passed opposing the death penalty or calling for its
suspension or abolition. Please feel free to email me.
THANKS!
Rick Halperin
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