The Buck Will Stop at My Desk

Chuck Hassebrook was in Omaha with law enforcement officials from Douglas County Corrections and the Fraternal Order of Police to talk about the issues in the Nebraska Department of Corrections.

Citing last week’s testimony before the Special Legislative committee by former Corrections Director Bob Houston, Hassebrook re-stated the Department has, but has never fully used, broad authority to take automatically granted good time away from inmates for breaking prison rules.

As a result, four Omahans died and four Omaha families lost loved ones.

But in spite of that tragedy, the Governor and Department of Corrections have still not used their authority under existing statutes to take away all good time when warranted.

“Under current rules, Nikko Jenkins would have had to make six separate assaults on prison guards to lose all of his good time. That is unacceptable,” said Hassebrook. “I will initiate a change in that policy on the day I take office to take every day of automatically granted good time away from prisoners who repeatedly refuse to comply with Department of Corrections rules.”

President of the Nebraska State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police John Francavilla added, “The Good Time issue is important and should be addressed immediately. We feel that any delay in this will jeopardize the public safety of the citizens of Nebraskans.”

“The blatant disregard for public safety is deeply troubling. When I take office in January, the buck will stop at my desk to ensure that sentencing statutes are fully and faithfully implemented. The failures of recent years will not be repeated under my watch,” said Hassebrook.

Hassebrook went on to detail his plan for prison reform, which includes reducing the prison population by thoroughly examining each nonviolent offender’s case, reestablishing job training and education programs and mental health services for prisoners, and the expansion of drug and mental health courts, which has been proven to drastically reduce recidivism. He is also focused on long term solutions that will prevent further burden on Nebraska’s budget and the criminal justice system, including investing in expanding quality early childhood education programs and job training programs in high school.

Hassebrook served on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents for 18 years, and spent 36 years working for Nebraska communities at the Center for Rural Affairs, a national rural advocacy and development organization based in Lyons, where he has assisted over 10,000 rural Nebraska small businesses.

Since announcing he will run for Governor over a year ago, Hassebrook has received the support of key leaders in Lincoln and Omaha, including Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler, former Omaha Mayors Mike Boyle, Mike Fahey, and Jim Suttle, fourteen state Senators, former Nebraska Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey, the Nebraska Farmers Union, Nebraska State Education Association, Nebraska AFL-CIO, and others.

Chuck Hassebrook with law enforcement officials. Photo Courtesy of Chuck Hassebrook’s office.