LINCOLN- Child and civil rights advocates on Thursday railed against a proposed law, promoted by Gov. Jim Pillen, that would give prosecutors and judges the new authority to put Nebraskans as young as 11 in detention facilities and let them charge certain 12-year-olds as adults. State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston said he introduced Legislative Bill 556 at the request of the governor and the urging of Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine.

Opponents led by Voices for Children in Nebraska, ACLU of Nebraska, and RISE, a nonprofit focused on prison and community re-entry support, held a Capitol news conference and also issued statements in opposition. “Let us be clear, LB 556 contemplates jailing and criminally prosecuting children who are still young enough to bring home a weekly spelling list,” said Juliet Summers, executive director of Voices for Children.

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