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Report: Crowding not a factor in prisons scandal

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Attorneys who investigated Nebraska's prison-sentence miscalculations say there's no evidence that employees disregarded a Supreme Court decision in an effort to reduce overcrowding.

But their report released Thursday says at least five employees violated state personnel rules. Hundreds of inmates were released too early as a result.

The report by Lincoln law firm Jackson Lewis places most of the blame on George Green, the department's former top lawyer, who retired in August under threat of being fired.

Also faulted were records administrator Kyle Poppert, who was suspended; attorney Sharon Lindgren, who retired; and attorney Kathy Blum, who was suspended. Former records manager Jeannene Douglas was also found responsible. She retired before the scandal broke.

The report says prisons director Michael Kenney and former director Bob Houston were not culpable.

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