LINCOLN- On Tuesday, Sen. Justin Wayne, chairman of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee, brought together members of the committee met in an executive session to discuss certain aspects of LB50, a bill voted out of the committee last week on a 4-3 vote that would allow inmates to serve the final 15% of their prison sentence outside of prison walls under strict supervision.

Wayne stated that he had introduced the bill in response to the large number of Nebraska inmates "jamming out" of prison, or serving their full sentence but not participating in rehabilitation programs. Under LB50, inmates would have the chance to serve the remaining 15% of their sentence in a heavily supervised halfway house, where they would be given the chance to participate in rehabilitation programs and employment opportunities.

"We can get them out, working jobs and giving them the services they need," said Wayne of LB50, "without reducing their sentence." Newly-appointed Sen. Bosn, who now serves in the Judiciary Committee, said, however, that she was hesitant to support the bill since it's unclear whether the new programs would be 'mandatory.' Wayne argued that, at least for low-level offenders, establishing a mandatory program for inmates will help reduce Nebraska's high recidivism rate.

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