LINCOLN- Nebraska lawmakers heard more than seven hours of public testimony Thursday on a trio of bills related to minors and crime — including a controversial proposal that, in part, would allow alleged offenders as young as 11 to be detained. Those addressing the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee were wide-ranging: law enforcement, elected officials, nonprofits, educators, moms of victims, Nebraskans imprisoned as youths, and more.

The lengthiest and most emotional discussion came in response to Legislative Bill 556, which State Sen. Merv Riepe has named his priority this session. The Ralston lawmaker said he introduced the measure at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen, with support from Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine and Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson. Under LB 556, the age at which a Nebraska youth could be detained for an alleged crime would be lowered from 13 to 11, and the age at which a minor could be charged as an adult for the “most serious” felonies would drop from 14 to 12.

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