Nebraska Governor Wants to Change Rules on Prisoners Good Time
(AP) - Gov. Dave Heineman says he will pursue changes to Nebraska's system of awarding "good time" to prisoners in the wake of high-profile murders committed by an inmate who was released despite a history of disciplinary problems.
Heineman made the announcement Wednesday in an open letter to Sen. Heath Mello, of Omaha. Mello has criticized the Department of Correctional Services under Heineman's watch for not proposing any changes and failing to address prison overcrowding.
The "good time" law gives prisoners a day of credit for every day they spend behind bars. A Heineman spokeswoman says the governor believes good time should be earned, not given automatically.
The announcement came in the wake of four Omaha-area murders committed by Nikko Jenkins, after he was released from prison earlier this year.
© Associated Press
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