Criminal Justice (Corrections) in Nebraska

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 790: Change sanctions available for substance abuse violations of parole

This bill changes how Nebraska handles parole violations related to substance abuse. It requires the Department of Corrections to create a "matrix" of graduated sanctions for parolees who violate conditions related to substance use or technical violations (like missing appointments or failing tests). Instead of immediately revoking parole, officers can first impose administrative sanctions (such as more testing, counseling, or curfews) or request up to 30 days in a correctional or contract facility. The bill directly affects parolees in Nebraska who face substance abuse or technical violations, shifting the response from automatic revocation toward more structured, tiered consequences.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 1079: Change provisions relating to the habitual criminal enhancement for theft offenses

This bill changes Nebraska's sentencing rules for repeat offenders convicted of certain theft-related crimes. It raises the minimum prison term from 10 years to 25 years for individuals convicted of specific theft offenses (like shoplifting or property crimes listed in the bill) who have prior felony convictions for similar offenses. The bill creates new sentencing categories based on the type of current and prior offenses, including a reduced 3-year minimum for some repeat property crime convictions. It replaces the existing law and applies to people convicted of theft crimes with prior felony convictions in Nebraska or other jurisdictions.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 961: Adopt the Collateral Sanction Relief Act

LB 961, the Collateral Sanction Relief Act, creates a process for individuals with completed criminal sentences to seek relief from employment barriers caused by past convictions. It directly affects people who face job disqualifications (like losing a professional license or being denied employment) due to a conviction but have finished all sentence requirements, including prison time, fines, and probation. The bill establishes a court petition process where applicants must submit personal details, employment history, references, and a statement explaining how the certificate would help them secure work; no filing fee is charged. Once approved, the certificate helps individuals overcome "collateral sanctions" like occupational license denials, allowing them to pursue employment opportunities they were previously barred from.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Probation & Parole

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 994: Change provisions of the Nebraska Treatment and Corrections Act relating to good time and parole eligibility

This bill (LB 994) requires Nebraska's Department of Correctional Services to recalculate parole eligibility dates for all offenders incarcerated on or after July 1, 2011, by April 15, 2027. It clarifies that good-time credits - earned through behavior and programming - apply to both parole eligibility dates and tentative release dates, with specific formulas: 6 months per year of sentence and 3 additional days monthly for good conduct. The recalculation must occur in phases to avoid administrative strain, and individuals on parole as of the law's effective date may request reduced parole terms if their eligibility would have changed under the new rules. The bill directly affects incarcerated people and parolees in Nebraska who were sentenced after July 2011.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LR 299CA: Constitutional amendment to create the Nebraska Board of Commutation and transfer powers of the Board of Pardons

This Nebraska legislative resolution (LR 299CA) proposes a constitutional amendment to create a new Nebraska Board of Commutation, transferring the power to reduce prison sentences (commutations) from the current Board of Pardons to this new board. The amendment specifies the Board of Commutation would consist of seven members appointed by the Governor (nonpartisan) and confirmed by the Legislature, requiring diverse expertise including mental health, restorative justice, criminal law, law enforcement, and lived experience with incarceration or victimization. It would not affect the existing powers of the Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State regarding pardons, fines, or reprieves. This change requires voter approval in the November 2026 general election.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Probation & Parole

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 902: Adopt the Medical Standards for Incarcerated Individuals Act and provide powers and duties for the office of the Inspector General of the Nebraska Correctional System

Nebraska's LB 902 establishes standardized medical care protocols for incarcerated individuals in state correctional facilities. It requires the Department of Correctional Services to develop clear protocols for managing chronic and acute health conditions, including timely assessments within 48 hours of health complaints (or immediately for urgent cases) and mandatory documentation of all care. The bill mandates that staff report suspected medical neglect to the Office of the Inspector General, which gains authority to investigate inmate deaths linked to care failures. These provisions directly affect inmates, correctional facilities, and the Department of Correctional Services by replacing vague "community standard" language with specific, enforceable medical care requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Corrections

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 369: Allow persons eighteen years of age to make health care decisions and persons under nineteen years of age in correctional facilities to consent to medical and mental health care

Nebraska bill LB 369 changes the age at which certain health decisions can be made without parental consent. It allows individuals aged 18 or older to make their own medical and mental health care decisions, removing the need for parental or guardian approval. The bill also specifically permits youth under 19 who are committed to the Department of Correctional Services to consent to their own medical and mental health care during their incarceration, without parental consent (except as required by other law). This amendment modifies Section 43-2101 of Nebraska law to update these consent provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 99: Limit use of restrictive housing and solitary confinement

Nebraska's LB 99 limits restrictive housing and solitary confinement in state correctional facilities. It prohibits holding any inmate in restrictive housing for more than 15 consecutive days and bans placing vulnerable populations - including minors, pregnant people, and those with serious mental illness, developmental disabilities, or traumatic brain injuries - in restrictive housing (Section 83-173.03). The bill defines restrictive housing as conditions with less than 10 hours of out-of-cell time daily and solitary confinement as 22+ hours in a cell with no visual/auditory contact or restricted activities (Section 83-4,114). It requires facilities to develop individualized transition plans for inmates moving from restricted housing back to general population. The law directly affects all incarcerated individuals in Nebraska's correctional system, with specific protections for medically vulnerable inmates.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Corrections

signed · Nebraska · Legislature May 13, 2025

LB 519: Require independent confirmatory testing of potential items of contraband or drugs in prisons

LB 519 requires Nebraska prisons to provide independent confirmatory testing for inmates who test positive for drugs via initial screening (urinalysis or field tests on suspected contraband items) before disciplinary action is taken. This applies directly to incarcerated individuals facing drug-related allegations, ensuring their results are verified by a separate lab. The bill mandates that correctional departments must arrange this testing upon inmate request, though inmates may be required to cover the cost if the confirmatory test remains positive. The legislation amends Nebraska's correctional statutes to establish this verification step, replacing the prior standard for handling drug-related disciplinary cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 387: Redefine a term under the Nebraska Treatment and Corrections Act

Nebraska bill LB 387 redefines "solitary confinement" in the state's Correctional Services Act to specifically mean "confinement in an individual cell having solid, soundproof doors that deprives an inmate of all visual and auditory contact with others." This change directly affects Nebraska correctional facilities and inmates held in restrictive housing, as it establishes a clear legal definition for this practice. The bill amends section 83-170 of the law by adding this definition and repealing the previous version. This is a technical clarification of terminology, not a new policy or funding change.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections

All criminal justice bills