By Elle Love

Nebraska State Senators Terrell McKinney (LD 11), Justin Wayne (LD 13), and Carol Blood (LD 3) held a community town hall at Clair Memorial United Methodist Church with its Pastor Portia Cavitt to discuss the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and how the funding could address issues in North Omaha such as criminal justice reform and affordable housing.

From left to right: Pastor Portia Cavitt, Sen. Justin Wayne (LD 13), Sen. Terrell McKinney (LD 11), and Carol Blood (LD 3).

Sen. McKinney told the crowd that he met with local and state officials including Gov. Pete Ricketts, County Attorney Don Klein, County Public Defender Tom Riley, and Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer, about addressing the statewide prison overcrowding crisis and other criminal justice concerns. McKinney said, “We’re looking at problem-solving: courts, mandatory minimums for low-level offenses,” and he emphasized the importance of “looking at ways to get more people released or find more diversion mechanisms within the system to try to keep as many out as possible.”

McKinney said the construction of the new $238 million prison that Gov. Ricketts is proposing does not address the overcrowding situation. Sen. Wayne elaborated, “It’s going to take five to six years to build a new prison. We are actually increasing our prison capacity by about 20% (each year).” He explained that five years multiplied by 20% is 110% meaning that the new prison will be at its maximum capacity by its first day of operation. “So you can’t build your way out,” he said.

Sen. McKinney added that addressing the root of criminal justice by investing in the community could decrease the need for the new prison.

“I don’t believe we can build our way out of this,” McKinney reiterated. “I think we have to look at ways to address sentencing, programming, and also what is needed in the community the most.”

Sen. Blood said that the issue with overcrowding stems from wrongful convictions, the “tough on crime” approach in Nebraska policies, and cash bonds. The United States as a whole subscribes to a punitive justice system which research centers like the Brennan Center for Justice say has in part led to the outsized incarceration rates of Black and Brown people -- African Americans being imprisoned at a rate up to 8 times higher than white people.

Blood also drew attention to the economic inequities at play when she spoke strongly against bonds. “I don’t think it’s right to sell freedom to people who can afford it, and I think it’s really a formula against fairness.”

Blood, who previously worked in a maximum security Nebraska prison, said the staffing crisis in Tecumseh stems from inadequate training, inexperienced staff, inadequate pay, and mental health. She also mentioned the antiquated “Kite” system, where incarcerated individuals make written internal jail requests to case managers in order to receive medical attention or rehabilitation services. “There is no way to document whether those ‘kites’ are delivered where they need to be,” she said, “We need to find a better way for inmates” to communicate.

Sen. Wayne addressed LB334, a bill to create halfway houses and work release programs throughout the state to return formerly incarcerated individuals to the community. “What we’re trying to do is turn to nonprofits and reentry programs to not only house some individuals but get them out of the system. We projected it will be about 1,200 people who can immediately return to their communities,” he said.

Sen. Wayne , Sen. Blood and Sen. McKinney held up the budget of $13 million to roll out LB334 and similar bills to start re-entry programs when LB334 was stalled in the Judiciary Committee.

“At the end of the day, if we can decrease recidivism by 10%, it’ll save about $4 million a year.”

— Sen. Justin Wayne

When discussing affordable housing plans, Sen. Blood said there are 60 organizations including nonprofits that have put forward a request for $175 million in housing development plans to provide housing assistance and homelessness prevention.

Sen. Wayne said formerly incarcerated individuals often face difficulties applying for housing because of their record which can contribute to increased recidivism (i.e. the likelihood of repeat offenses).

“We’re looking at using some of these ARPA dollars to specifically address some affordable housing around formerly incarcerated individuals and refugees/immigrants,” Sen. Wayne said. He announced a call to action for the community to educate themselves about local ARPA plans and to share information about potential plans on social media. “Our social media is the easiest way I’m going to be communicating with people and we’re going to get feedback.”