Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Development And Validation Of The Nebraska Department Of Correctional Services Prison Classification System, Zachary Hamilton, Alex Kigerl

Reports

Over the last 45 years, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) has made two substantial changes to its classification system. The first system was created and implemented in the 1970s. In 2005, Patricia Hardyman was contracted to update and modify the classification and reclassification system. Using statistical analyses of available data, a set of prediction models were created to score inmates on items that predicted future infraction behavior. However, the primary issues of the tools were that inmates’ scores were routinely over-classified and that substantial uses of overrides (approximately 40%) were indicated. After a review of the tools’ development …

Marijuana Enforcement In Nebraska (2009-2014), Ryan E. Spohn

Reports

With the passage of Amendment 64 in 2012, the people of Colorado legalized the sale of recreational marijuana. While early evidence suggests that the policy change was both a cost cutting measure for Colorado law enforcement as well as a significant source of state revenue (an estimated $80 million), such benefits have not been shared among states that border Colorado. In fact, marijuana remains prohibited in states such as Nebraska, where criminal justice officials have reported that marijuana arrests and jail admissions have increased significantly in the past half-decade, particularly in counties on the Colorado border, in the panhandle, and …

Adult Justice In Nebraska, Ryan E. Spohn

Reports

The Nebraska Center for Justice Research (NCJR) was established in 2014 with a mission to develop and sustain research capacity internal to the State of Nebraska. Our goal is to assist the Legislature in research, evaluation, and policymaking to reduce recidivism, promote the use of evidence-based practices, and improve public safety. Now it its third year of production, the primary purpose of the Adult Justice report is to provide an overview of recent data concerning Nebraska’s adult criminal justice system.

Most of the data in this report is presented statewide as well as separated into Nebraska’s twelve judicial districts. We …