Criminal statutes updates, parole oversight approved

Lawmakers passed a bill April 13 that updates the state’s criminal statutes.

LB1094, introduced by the Judiciary Committee, clarifies several provisions of a bill pertaining to the state Department of Correctional Services passed last session. These were designed to slow Nebraska’s prison population growth, ease prison overcrowding, contain department spending and reinvest a portion of savings in strategies to reduce offender recidivism and increase public safety.

The bill includes provisions of LB910 originally introduced by Lincoln Sen. Kate Bolz. These require the parole administration office to provide access for public counsel and the Office of the Inspector General to all computerized records, reports and documents maintained by the office in connection with the administration of parole. Release of medical or mental health records are subject to a parolee’s consent.

The department director is required to annually submit a report detailing the race, gender and age of all inmates held in restrictive housing as well as the length of time spent in such housing. The report must include the number of inmates diagnosed with mental illness and behavior disorders held in restrictive housing.

The bill passed on a 47-0 vote.