Nebraska considers expanding problem-solving courts to reduce prison overcrowding

Grappling with nation-leading jail progress, Nebraska officers are methods to broaden the state’s problem-solving courts as a possible resolution.

The Nebraska Legislature’s Judiciary Committee held a listening to Tuesday to study extra concerning the obstacles to increasing problem-solving courts. Committee Chairman Steve Lathrop of Omaha mentioned the concept arose whereas the Legislature was contemplating LB920, his failed felony justice reform effort.

“A minimum of my invoice final 12 months has folks coming collectively to speak about how can we broaden the problem-solving court docket capability,” Lathrop mentioned.

Downside-solving courts are intensive supervised remedy packages for high-risk, high-need felony offenders that search to alter their behaviors and cut back recidivism and incarceration charges.

In accordance with Nebraska Supreme Court docket Justice Jeff Funke, the state has 32 problem-solving courts representing a variety of points, together with psychological well being crises, veteran remedy, younger grownup crimes and drug abuse.

Presently, Funke mentioned about 4.2% of Nebraska’s felony offenses are handled in problem-solving courts, however that fee might go as much as 10% or larger.

“There’s clearly some enormous room for enchancment,” Funke mentioned.

One of many largest limitations to that growth is a restricted capability of judges. Downside-solving courts are overseen by district judges who volunteer their time for the circumstances.

Usually, judges are requested to dedicate a half-day to a full day per week for problem-solving courts, Funke mentioned, but when they choose to not do it, there is probably not a problem-solving court docket provided of their jurisdiction.

Funke mentioned district judges have already got heavy workloads and are one of the crucial difficult positions in Nebraska’s judicial system. On common, he mentioned a decide will dedicate about 683 minutes of their time on every case in a problem-solving court docket.

A gaggle of felony justice officers engaged on the problem brainstormed attainable options to the issue.

Funke mentioned one proposal was to herald different court docket workers, resembling Justice of the Peace judges, to supervise problem-solving courts. Nevertheless, he mentioned some judges had been involved that this might decrease this system’s impact.

Funke mentioned another choice was to supply “enhancements,” resembling Justice of the Peace help, to cut back district judges’ workloads and improve their availability for problem-solving courts.

A 3rd risk Funke proposed was tied to growing the demand for problem-solving courts. He mentioned if Nebraska bought as much as 10% of felony circumstances going by these courts, it could require six to eight extra judges, relieving a few of the strain on present judges.

One potential concern with that choice is the right way to divide the workload between judges, as Funke mentioned many judges discover their work in problem-solving courts rewarding.

One other impediment to growing using problem-solving courts is that the majority offenders do not even know it’s an choice following their arrest, he mentioned.

“They do not know about it, so they do not reap the benefits of it,” he mentioned.

Funke proposed growing the quantity of expediters working in state jails to speak the choice to not too long ago arrested people who’re eligible for this system.

No laws was proposed through the listening to. Funke mentioned the identical group finding out the problem can also be planning to analysis the sources accessible. They’ll finally return to the Judiciary Committee with suggestions that will result in laws.