The proposed bill seeks to significantly restructure Nebraska's correctional services by eliminating the Division of Parole Supervision and transferring its responsibilities to the Department of Correctional Services. Key changes include replacing references to the "Division of Parole Supervision" with "Department of Correctional Services" throughout various sections of the Nebraska Revised Statutes. This shift centralizes the management of community supervision and parole services under the Department, which will now oversee the administration of parole services, including conducting risk assessments and developing individualized release plans for offenders. The bill also emphasizes the importance of collaboration among various entities within the criminal justice system to improve data access and the effectiveness of community correctional programs.

Additionally, the bill introduces a pilot program based on a therapeutic community model for parolees, requiring their participation in counseling and educational programs, while mandating the Department to evaluate the program's impact on recidivism. It also updates the definition of a correctional system overcrowding emergency to be based on operational capacity rather than design capacity, allowing the Board of Parole to consider offenders for parole during such emergencies. The bill repeals outdated provisions and establishes new operational standards for community work release and reentry centers, aiming to enhance the reentry process for offenders and reduce recidivism through comprehensive support and treatment programming.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 28-322, 29-2246, 29-2252, 29-2261, 29-2935, 29-4019, 47-624, 47-624.01, 47-627, 47-629, 47-903, 47-908, 47-919, 47-1102, 47-1103, 47-1104, 47-1105, 47-1106, 47-1107, 47-1108, 47-1109, 47-1110, 47-1111, 47-1113, 47-1114, 47-1115, 47-1116, 47-1117, 47-1119, 71-961, 71-3426, 71-3430, 81-1401, 83-170, 83-171, 83-171.01, 83-173, 83-174.03, 83-174.04, 83-174.05, 83-192, 83-962