[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----NEB., USA

[Rick Halperin]

April 16




NEBRASKA:

Ricketts, prosecutors say lawmakers 'mocked' input on prison reform



A group of prosecutors and Republican leaders accused Nebraska lawmakers 
Thursday of ignoring their opinions on prison and criminal sentencing reform as 
the Legislature debates the issues this week.

"They mocked our input," said Attorney General Doug Peterson during a news 
conference at City Hall in Omaha.

Peterson appeared alongside Gov. Pete Ricketts, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, the 
Lancaster and Douglas county attorneys and others. They voiced concerns about a 
pair of criminal justice bills that received 1st-round approval earlier this 
week, and repeated concerns about repealing the death penalty, which the full 
Legislature began debating Thursday.

Ricketts vowed to veto any death penalty repeal that reaches his desk.

But the news conference took particular aim at an effort by the Legislature's 
Judiciary Committee to restore indeterminate sentencing, known as the "1/3 
rule," which requires a judge to set a convicted person's minimum sentence at a 
number of years not greater than 1/3 of the maximum sentence.

The committee unanimously advanced a bill (LB483) on Wednesday that would 
restore the one-third rule to include all felony crimes, except those for which 
the maximum sentence is life. Similar language is amended onto one of the 
reform bills (LB605) approved by lawmakers this week.

Supporters say restoring the 1/3 rule would help ease crowding in Nebraska 
prisons, which are at 159 % capacity.

"This 1/3 rule is not a proposal to reduce prison overcrowding," Peterson said 
Thursday, instead calling it something "from the ACLU playbook."

Peterson claimed prosecutors and other public safety officials aren't being 
given a seat at the table to talk about criminal sentencing, saying they are 
the most qualified people to address the issue.

"Having hearings and being out in the lobby is not enough," he said.

He also took issue with recent comments made by Omaha Sen. Bob Krist. During 
debate on the reform bills this week, Krist gestured to the Capitol lobby, 
where prosecutors were watching, and referred to it as "Disney World."

"These senators are not taking our gang problem seriously," Mayor Stothert said 
Thursday.

Ricketts said people shouldn't "jump in without thinking" to address prison 
reform, and instead should wait for the new director of the Nebraska Department 
of Correctional Services, Scott Frakes, to complete his own examination of the 
system, which should be complete this fall.

He blamed "management problems" for the prison system's issues and the state's 
inability to obtain the drugs required to carry out a lethal injection under 
current law.

Ricketts wouldn't say whether building a new prison is on the table for Frakes.

"I don't believe building a new prison at this point is going to solve any 
problems," Ricketts said.

(source: Lincoln Journal Star)

****************

Nebraska may repeal death penalty amid drug shortage



Nebraska is considering repealing the death penalty amid a shortage of lethal 
injection drugs.

A bill to repeal the death penalty won 1st-round approval from lawmakers 
Thursday.

Lawmakers advanced the bill 30-13. If that support holds, death penalty 
opponents would have enough votes to override Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts' 
promised veto.

2 additional votes are required, and death penalty supporters are still working 
to block the legislation. This year, the measure has won support from a 
coalition of Republicans who say the death penalty costs too much and the state 
doesn't even have the drugs to kill those on death row.

Nebraska last executed someone in 1997.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, has fought for 4 decades 
years to abolish capital punishment.

The bill is LB268.

(source: Associated Press)






USA:

I am seeking copies of any (primarily, but not exclusively, US) city council 
resolution which was passed opposing the death penalty or calling for its 
suspension or abolition.  Please feel free to email me.

THANKS!

Rick Halperin