By LARRY BOLINGER
Alliance
I am writing to you concerning the article written by Henry Cordes on 22 March 2022 titled “Lack of Conservative buy-in time helped doom Nebraska prison reform efforts,” in the Omaha World-Herald. My specialty is in Criminology and I felt the article and the research done by Cordes were very accurate. The research that was done was exemplary. It is unfortunate that when facts are provided, politicians fail to act or even acknowledge facts.
When elected officials are provided with facts and fail to act shows that they do not meet the skills for an effective 21st-century government. We need to build human capital to improve government performance. Utilizing diversion programs will take a lot of work. Some people in government may be overwhelmed because of the necessary changes to make the program work. That is understandable that they may be overwhelmed.
But, that is when you rely on specialists, such as myself, to help with the necessary changes. The problem with our overcrowding in our correctional facilities is that the leadership lacks the skills for an effective 21st-century government. That, and an unwillingness to work have stagnated our progress to the point that we have the highest per capita prison population in the Nation. Law reform is a big undertaking and needs to be done by people willing to work and by people with the education to get the job done right.
Reference: Cordes, Henry. (22 March 2022). “lack of conservative buy-in time helped doom Nebraska prison reform efforts.” Omaha World-Herald.