Prisoners' rights discussed
By Jim Zalewski
The majority of those
testifying before the Judiciary
Committee of the Legislature
favored passage of three bills
that would give prison inmates
more rights in certain release
procedures.
LB567, providing sentence
reduction for "good time"
served by inmates, by far drew
the most controversy and
discussion. Committee
members and witnesses could
not agree on the implications
of the bill which would replace
a law passed in 1969.
Charles Cunningham,
administrative assistant for the
State Department of
Correctional Services (DCS),
said LB567 gives the prisoner a
discharge date if he keeps, on
"good behavior."
"This makes the inmate no
longer completely dependent
on the records office,"
Cunningham said.
"Good time" laws were
enacted essentially as
behavioral modification tools,,
according to Joe Vitek, DCS
director.
No release date
"A man never really has a
definite release date under the
current system," Vitek said. .
The "good time" allowance
provides the prisoner with an
incentive to get out earlier,
which helps prevent discipline
problems within the prison,
Vitek said.
Under the present law,
parolees are dealt with harshly
if brought back for even a
technical violation of their
parole terms, Vitek said.
Though the governor hasn't
openly stated approval of
LB567, Vitek said Gov. Exon
gave him the authority to
establish the best program in
the interest of public welfare.
Governor agrees
"1 believe the governor
would be in concert with what
I have said today," Vitek said.
The bill is constitutional,
Vitek said, but making it
retroactive may require
approval of the pardon board.
Eugene Neal, a member of
the State Parole Board, said the
bill contributes greatly to the
control of inmate discipline,
but he does not favor LB567.
"I'm not in favor of the
present law, but I'm not totally
ASUN Agenda
Today, 6 p.m. Nebraska Union
II.
III.
IV
V.
Senate action committee
Roll call and approval of minutes
Executive report
A. Minority affairs problems
B. Scheduling of ASUN election debate
C. Planning the anti-litter program
D. Discussion on library lending code
Old business-discussion on CSL members terms
New business
A. Resolution no. 57
control of beverage containers.
B. Resolution no. 58 -donation
of S500
C. Resolution no. 59 - support of national committee for
the tax deduction of tuition fees and donation of Si 75.
D. Resolution no. 60 - Clarification of when the proposed
ASUN constitutional amendment takes effect
E. Resolution no. 61 - Supporting abolishment of the
parking lots north of the union
VI. Announcements help is needed to arrange files in the office.
- support of LB 505 dealing with
support of UN Rowing Crew and a
in favor of 567 either," Neal
said. "Good time shouldn't be
awarded if a paroled man
commits a new crime, but it
would be under LB567."
An amendment is needed to
assist the' parole board in
getting the parolee to meet his
parole obligations, Neal said.
An inmate should be given
credit for all he has earned, but
if he ignores his parole terms,
Neal said, the inmate should be
made to serve his full term.
"Nobody understands"
"If a man disregards a
parole officer's efforts and has
to be returned to prison, it is
hard to understand how that
individual can be awarded good
time from the day he broke
parole," Neal said.
"We can't apply the law
today because it is evident
nobody understands it,"
Chairman Roland Luedtke
said.
Times and penalities should
be specified, said Robert
Parrett, Nebraska Penal
Complex warden, testifying in
favor of the bill.
In -other action; no
opposition was voiced against
LB567, a bill which would
permit inmates to retain their
driver's license if convicted for
a non-driving crime.
Higher premiums
The present law forces
higher insurance premiums and
other administrative problems
on the inmate when he is
released and re-applys for his
license, according to Sen. Gary
Anderson of Axtell, the bill's
introducer.
Vitek said the State
Department of Motor Vehicles
favors passage of LB569.
"It is a very cumbersome
procedure getting every one of
the former inmates a new
license," Vitek said.
LB570, which would permit
an inmate to retain his
professional license if confictcu
of a felony not dealing with his
profession, drew support from
Vitek and Don Bell, a former
inmate who was denied his
barber's license when released.
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page 13
Wednesday, march 12, 1975
daily nebraskan