Early release incentives for good behavior approved

A bill reducing incarceration time for well-behaved inmates and parolees passed March 10.

Currently, the state Department of Corrections can reduce the time an inmate or parolee serves by six months for each year of his or her time served and prorate any time served which is less than one year.

Under LB191, introduced by Omaha Sen. Brenda Council, the department additionally may reduce the time by three days each month during a 12 month period of incarceration during which the inmate has not been found guilty of a Class I or Class II offense or has not had more than three Class III offenses of the department’s disciplinary code.

The bill directs the Parole Board to reduce a parolee’s parole term by an additional 10 days for each month of his or her term for good conduct in conformity with the conditions of a parole. Parolees are currently eligible for a reduction of two days for each month.

The bill passed on a 45-0 vote and takes effect immediately.