Community correction changes pass

Senators passed a bill May 26 related to community corrections.

Omaha Sen. Brad Ashford introduced LB390, a bill containing new jail standards and community corrections provisions. A Judiciary Committee amendment replaced the bill’s provisions and, among other changes:
• provides new duties to the executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice to establish a community corrections division, appoint and remove the director of the training center and appoint and remove the director of the Office of Violence Prevention;
• provides a new duty that the probation administrator collaborate with the new Community Corrections Division and the Office of Parole Administration in developing rules governing the participation of parolees in community corrections programs operated by probation;
• limits the ability of the Police Standards Advisory Council to delegate powers and duties to the director of the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center and to supervise the director;
• provides that nationally certified correctional facilities are not subject to the supervision of the Jail Standards Board;
• removes the duty to review, analyze, produce and update a report of all homicide cases in the state; and
• clarifies the structure and operation of the Community Trust.

The committee amendment was adopted 27-0 on May 23. Technical amendments were adopted on general and select file and the bill passed May 26 on a 47-0 vote.