LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Those who have testified at a Nebraska Department of Correctional Services hearing on restrictive housing say there are changes needed in the proposed solitary confinement rules.
Former inmates, American Civil Liberties Union officials and state Ombudsman’s office representatives told a hearing officer there are concerns that the 19-page draft policy on segregation is too broad, continues the use of long-term segregation and doesn’t have a timeline or enough detail.
The department developed the rules and regulations after the state passed a law in 2015 requiring a long-term plan for use and reduction of restrictive housing.
Republican state Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus introduced the law. He says the proposed regulations have a lot of steps, no appeal process and no real mandate to change what’s going on now.