Nebraska's prison inmate population is growing faster than anywhere else in the nation, way out of sync with nearly every other state.
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Between 2010 and 2020, Nebraska saw a 16% rise in its prison population. This was due in part to a gun violence bill passed by the Nebraska Legislature in 2009.
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Guards and prisoners at the Tecumseh State Prison in 2015. The annual average cost of housing an inmate is more than $40,000 per year.
RYAN SODERLIN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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An epidemic of shootings, like this one being investigated by Omaha police in 2008, helped prompt the Nebraska Legislature to pass the new gun law a year later.
MATT MILLER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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An epidemic of shootings, like this one being investigated by Omaha police in 2008, helped prompt the Legislature to pass the new gun law in 2009.
REBECCA S. GRATZ, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning and State Sen. Brad Ashford in 2009 each came in with their own ideas for dealing with gangs and gun violence. Ashford's prevention-focused bill was eventually married with Bruning's, whose focus was raising penalties for gun crimes.
PHIL JOHNSON, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Debate on the Safe Haven law at a special session on the floor of the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature. Senator Brad Ashford of Omaha watches the debate.
JAMES R. BURNETT, THE WORLD-HERALD
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The Nebraska Legislature, shown here in 2009, and Gov. Pete Ricketts are debating whether a new $230 million prison is needed to deal with the state's chronically overcrowded and understaffed corrections system.
JEFF BEIERMANN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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cordes@owh.com , 402-444-1130, twitter.com/henrycordes
This story by The Omaha World-Herald is part of a collaboration with Flatwater Free Press examining Nebraska’s prison crisis.
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