LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A legislative panel is looking at ways to reduce crowding, expand oversight and increase access to mental health services in Nebraska's problem-plagued corrections department.
The Judiciary Committee heard testimony Friday on bills that were introduced in response to department scandals.
One bill would expand the definition of mental illness so that more prisoners could qualify for treatment, while requiring that department officials notify law enforcement when a potentially mentally ill inmate is released.
Another would require the governor to declare a state emergency that would lead to more inmates being paroled.
A third measure would create an inspector general position under the Legislature that would serve as a watchdog for the department.
A fourth bill would require the department to specify how and when inmates are placed in segregation.
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