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Report: Nebraska can do more to ease prison crowding

jailLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new report says Nebraska isn’t yet taking all the steps it could to keep inmates from reoffending and contributing to the state’s prison crowding problem.

The Council of State Governments Justice Center report released Tuesday says the state corrections department doesn’t have enough staff to provide rehabilitation programming in a timely manner and lacks a system to determine which offenders need it the most.

Nebraska Corrections Director Scott Frakes says his department plans to implement the group’s recommendations and will start using a new tool to assess inmates next month. He says he also plans to seek additional state funding in his department’s next budget request.

Gov. Pete Ricketts says the report provides a roadmap for the department as it works to reduce recidivism.

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