Lincoln - Nebraska lawmakers passed a bill Thursday that would dip the state's toes into industrial hemp production. Legislative Bill 1001, passed 39-2, would allow the University of Nebraska and State Department of Agriculture to grow industrial hemp for research. The measure, introduced by Sen. Norm Wallman of Cortland, mirrors the new federal farm bill, which makes such research an exception to federal drug laws. Industrial hemp is a close plant cousin to marijuana but has very little of the high-inducing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Supporters say it could be a good alternative crop for Nebraska farmers and could be used to produce a multitude of products. Opponents worry that legalizing industrial hemp would be a step toward legalizing marijuana. [end]
McCOOK -- A Holbrook attorney is trying to launch a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in Nebraska. Frank Shoemaker submitted petition language to the Nebraska secretary of state earlier this month. Shoemaker is listed as the sole sponsor of the Nebraska Marijuana Legalization Initiative. The petition seeks to amend the state Constitution to remove all laws that regulate the private, non-commercial use of cannabis, and to regulate all commercial uses. It seeks to place the question on the November 2012 ballot. Shoemaker, an unsuccessful candidate for Legislature in 2006, would need to collect valid signatures from 10 percent of the state's registered voters. In 2008, that number was more than 112,000 signatures. [end]
Dude, you're not in Colorado anymore. So you can put your license for legal marijuana away. Because that stopped being legal, oh, about the time you passed Julesburg and crossed the Nebraska border. A gap in Colorado law is allowing growers to produce far more medical marijuana than patients can legally possess. And some of the surplus is finding its way into Nebraska. "We've seen it here in the city of Scottsbluff, and we've seen it in the southern Panhandle, and we've seen it around the Sidney area," said Scottsbluff Police Chief Alex Moreno, also a coordinator of an 11-county drug task force. [continues 485 words]
Nebraska Board of Pharmacy members heard more than an hour of testimony Monday from proponents of legalizing medical marijuana. Dr. Alan Worth, a Lincoln family practice physician, and others testified they would like to see the board recommend the Legislature make cannabis legal for medical purposes. "You can provide a professional and scientific starting point," Worth said. But the five board members weren't ready Monday to make a recommendation either way, they said. In February, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy recommended to state lawmakers marijuana be reclassified from a Schedule I to a Schedule II drug. Schedule II drugs have acceptable medical uses for treatment, whereas Schedule I drugs are determined to have no proven medical use and a high potential for abuse. [continues 438 words]
Colorado and California have loosened their drug laws in the name of "medical marijuana," and the issue is poised to come up in Nebraska as well. Few of us would advocate expanded availability of mind-altering drugs, but there's a good argument that too much law enforcement effort and court time is spent dealing, ineffectively, with drug violations. Drug violations need to be taken seriously, but a growing system of "Problem Solving Courts," specifically created to deal with drug issues is a better approach than simply relegating the cases to standard criminal courts. [continues 269 words]
LINCOLN - The seeds of a discussion about legalizing marijuana for medical purposes have been planted in Nebraska. Three members of the State Board of Pharmacy plan to quiz their colleagues about the controversial topic at the May 22-25 annual meeting of the National Boards of Pharmacy in Anaheim, Calif. Board Chairman Rick Zarek, a Gothenburg, Neb., pharmacist, said the Nebraskans hope to learn more about "the pros and cons" of legalization and any problems that have arisen in the 14 states that now allow pot to be used for pain relief, appetite enhancement and other medical purposes. [continues 848 words]
I find the Journal Star's fear-mongering regarding the string of pot busts in Lincoln unsurprising yet still disappointing. Officers in haz-mat suits, terrified neighbors watching from the "safety" of their homes? Not a single weapon was found in any of these grow houses. Marijuana is less harmful than alcohol and cigarettes. In addition, there is not one recorded death caused by overconsumption of marijuana . anywhere ... ever. Alcohol can't even make it through a month without killing someone. [continues 138 words]
Dear Editor, While Nebraska and many other states are trying to figure out how to close their massive budget shortfalls, the Dutch are trying to figure out what to do with their closed prisons. While the Netherlands has a total population of about 16.5 million, it has only about 12,000 prisoners. On the other hand, the United States has greater than 2,300,000 total prisoners. If my math is correct, we in the U. S. have 18.2 fold the Dutch general population and 191.6 fold their prison population. [continues 60 words]
A retired police officer visited Bellevue and Omaha last week to speak about drugs to the Kiwanis clubs. But he wasn't talking about the evils of drugs or encouraging them to support the war on drugs. In fact, he was speaking in favor of giving up the war altogether and legalizing all drugs. Tony Ryan, who was a police officer in Denver for 36 years, came on behalf of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, a nonprofit organization made up of retired officers, prosecutors and judges who travel the country and speak in favor of the legalization of drugs. [continues 744 words]
In 36 years of continuous service as a Denver police officer, I was shot at, stabbed - threatened in several ways. That came with the territory, and my comrades and I were well protected by our equipment and training. But, frightening as that was, nothing threatens the honor and prestige of our police more than our mandate to carry out the so-called war on drugs. When we jailed a rapist or a child molester, we made the streets safer - period. But when we arrested a drug dealer - at any level - we just created a job opening that was quickly filled. [continues 624 words]
LINCOLN -- Getting caught with a little pot may soon be as costly as getting caught drinking before your 21st birthday. The Nebraska Legislature Tuesday passed a bill increasing the penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana. Legislative Bill 844, introduced by State Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber, passed on a 40-2 vote. If the bill is signed into law by the governor, fines would increase to $300, up from $100, for possession of an ounce or less of marijuana. Fines for a second offense would be increased to $400, up from $200, and for third and subsequent offenses, to $500, up from $300. [continues 102 words]
LINCOLN - Smoking pot is just as serious a crime as teenage drinking, a state legislator says. So State Sen. Russ Karpisek has introduced a bill to overturn the 30-year-old law that lets Nebraskans off with a $100 fine if caught with less than one ounce of marijuana. Karpisek said marijuana users, no matter their age, should face the same potential penalties as a 20-year-old caught with a half-full can of beer - up to 90 days in jail and as much as a $500 fine. [continues 1229 words]
"Heads vs. Feds" will feature a debate between Steve Hager and Bob Stutman, both leading figures in the fight over drug legalization. The event will take place on Friday, March 30, at noon in the Nebraska Room of the Milo Bail Student Center. Hager is the editor in chief of High Times magazine and founder of the Cannabis Cup. Stutman is a retired Drug Enforcement Administration special agent and credited with bringing "crack" to national attention. [end]
CRETE, Neb. -- An assistant professor of chemistry is developing a tiny testing kit that women can carry in their purses and use to quickly detect date-rape drugs. Andrea Holmes, who teaches at Doane College in Crete, said "this seemed to be a really, really relevant topic." "So many women on college campuses are being affected by this," said Holmes. Date-rape drugs -- or "roofies" -- such as Rohypnol are secreted into a person's drink. The drug incapacitates the person and causes memory loss. Men and women who have been raped while under its influence can regain their senses with no memory of the assault. [continues 239 words]
HOLDREGE -- There's an alternative crop that could be the answer to some of Nebraska's water supply and rural economic development concerns. It adapts well to Nebraska's soils and climate, uses less water than corn or soybeans, and the right hybrids can produce more oil for biodiesel. Its fibers can be processed into cloth and plastics. There's only one hitch, according to Marvin Havlat of Milford. That crop is hemp. Federal laws don't make exceptions for hemp hybrids used for industrial purposes, he said, even though they don't contain THC, the chief intoxicant in marijuana. [continues 336 words]
COLUMBUS - Drug dogs will be utilized at Columbus High and Columbus Middle schools when school resumes Jan. 9. Superintendent Paul Hillyer said the move is in reaction to learning about the amount of drug use in the county. Hillyer said he learned during a local law enforcement presentation Platte County has the highest rate of drug use per capita of any county in the state. In an effort to create the safest, drug-free environment for students, Hillyer and the school board decided to use drug dogs at the high school and middle school. The animals will be brought into the schools by a K-9 force for random, unannounced visits after the holiday break. Lockers and the buildings will be searched. [continues 390 words]
The Nebraska Board of Pardons is looking for ways to streamline the pardon process as more people seek an official pardon for past convictions in the post 9/11 background-checking era. "We have been swamped with paperwork and agenda items," said Secretary of State John Gale. The meetings are getting very long, he said. In June, the board spent almost four hours on 56 cases and finished just 15 minutes before the governor's first evening appointment. The board members are the secretary of state, governor and attorney general. [continues 1452 words]
Dear Editor, Thought you would enjoy this as much as I did: "The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question, 'Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?' "I replied: I had a drug problem when I was young: "I was drug to church on Sunday morning. "I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. [continues 234 words]
Dear Editor, Thanks for publishing Elizabeth Wehrman's outstanding letter: "Need A Change" (7-05-05). Like Registered Nurse Wehrman, I have roots in the Midwest. I grew up in Freeport and Rockford, Ill. I'd like to add that I have never seen heroin, cocaine or methamphetamine. However, I was offered free samples of these dangerous drugs on several occasions, by my marijuana suppliers, when I was a user of marijuana, which is more than 15 years ago. (Yet, I've never been offered a free sample of whiskey or vodka when buying beer or wine). Like the vast majority of marijuana users, I was only interested in marijuana and no other illegal drugs. Fortunately, I turned down all offers of free samples of other drugs. Unfortunately, many others do not--thus the gateway effect. Best regards, Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. [end]
Dear Editor, Why anyone would be opposed to ending drug prohibition is beyond me. There are three entities that can control the manufacture and distribution of drugs: the government, the free market or a combination of these two, and third is Al Capone. These are the only options. So, given these choices, why do we elect the worst option? Why provide organized crime and international terrorists a commodity to fund their efforts? To those who believe we can somehow eliminate drugs from society, think again: drugs have been here since the beginning of time and they will always be with us. We cannot eliminate marijuana, coca and poppies from the earth. Period. [continues 55 words]
Dear Editor, I am one of the "legalization lobbyists" letter writer Owen McPhillips rails against. I am not paid. This is a labor of love for me because I am interested in liberty for all no matter where they live on the planet. I am a Canadian. With my cannabis criminal record I will never be able to cross the border and visit McCook. American support of drug prohibition has these types of profound ramifications all over the world. Americans with cannabis records are welcome tourists in Canada. [continues 236 words]
Dear Editor, The response of Owen McPhillips perfectly illustrates the real drug problem in the U.S. First, he starts with false assumptions. Let me assure Mr. McPhillips that I do not earn my living as an activist on any issue. In fact, I work a regular job like anyone else. Some of us just have an honest interest in a better approach to a major social problem, and we are willing to put some of our own time and money into the effort. [continues 208 words]
Dear Editor, Pretending to speak for "rural Nebraskans," Owen McPhillips wrote: "The drug legalization lobbyists can say whatever they want," and "They can cite statistics until the cows come home." Clearly, McPhillips has made up his mind and is not about to disturb it with any inconvenient facts. I would like to think that most "rural Nebraskans" are more fair-minded than that. Harry Fisher Woodland Hills, Calif. [end]
Dear Editor, In response to Mr. McPhillips' letter of July 1: I am neither a "doper" nor a person who makes a living as a drug legalization lobbyist. I am the mother of four, the Gamma of four. I am a nurse of 32 years who has invested the last 13 years working in the fields of HIV/AIDS, homelessness, and substance use as a street nurse -- much of it in small towns in middle America. My interest in drug policy reform lies completely in my desire to stop HIV and Hepatitis C infection and to support substance users in taking steps toward positive change. My roots, my life, and my work are firmly planted in the Midwest. [continues 52 words]
Dear Editor, The drug legalization lobbyists can say whatever they want. They can point to THEIR OWN WEB SITE as a definitive source if they choose. They can cite statistics until the cows come home. Their arguments may well take root in California and Washington, D.C., but they are unlikely to have much effect in Southwest Nebraska. We just don't have the choir of dopers they're used to preaching to. Just like Mr. Sharpe, these latest two make their living at this sort of thing. What amazes me is that they would even bother with writing to a newspaper as small as this one. Have any of them ever BEEN to McCook? Would they know where it is without consulting Mapquest? Stick to your urban paradises, gentlemen. Rural Nebraskans aren't buying your bill of goods, and even if we did, our votes wouldn't get you where you need to be. Or are you getting THAT desperate? Owen McPhillips McCook [end]
A couple of weeks ago I received an email from Bruce Crosby, the editor of this newspaper, informing me of a retired police detective's ride across America on a horse to protest this countr's war on drugs. At the time, it was believed he was coming through McCook and Bruce asked if I would be interested in sitting down and talking to this guy. Because I'm a former police officer as well and have long thought we were losing the war on drugs, I told him I would and used the contact information he provided me to introduce myself and to set up an interview. I received an immediate reply from Jack Cole, the Executive Director of LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition). [continues 1026 words]
While Milford, Utica, Staplehurst and Malcolm fifth and sixth graders are graduating from Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) programs this year, students at Seward Middle and St. John Lutheran schools won't. Why? Because neither the Seward Police Department or the Seward County Sheriff's Office is teaching the course in the Seward schools. Speaking as a citizen, Dan Nantkes told the Seward City Council April 19 that the Seward Police Department needed to step up. "It's their turn," Nantkes said. [continues 851 words]
Does Trish Hill (DN, Thursday) think that she should be commended for "standing up admitting her responsible drug use?" Perhaps she has smoked a bit too much. Let me say that personally, I am in no position to judge what people choose to do in their own time. However, when people like Hill wave their "responsible" banner in between lighting up, I begin to question their intelligence. There is nothing responsible about engaging in an illegal activity. Try telling the judge you were smoking responsibly, or explaining to a prospective employer that while yes, you use illegal drugs, it's perfectly OK because you managed to maintain a 3.9 GPA. Or, perhaps you'll have more success trying to secure a federal student loan with a drug possession charge on your record. [continues 57 words]
Democratic candidate for governor Stormy Dean is criticizing Gov. Mike Johanns for the failure to obtain $500,000 in federal funding to combat the spread of methamphetamine. "Johanns dropped the ball," Dean said. Johanns' spokesman Chris Peterson said the money was not a grant, as Dean claimed, but was part of a federal appropriations bill. Former U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey had earmarked the funding in past years, but no earmarking for Nebraska was made last year. "Stormy Dean continues to embarrass himself as a candidate for governor," Peterson said. "Today's attack by his campaign raises further questions about his credibility as a candidate." [continues 150 words]
Democratic candidate for governor Stormy Dean is criticizing Gov. Mike Johanns for the failure to obtain $500,000 in federal funding to combat the spread of methamphetamine. "Johanns dropped the ball," Dean said. Johanns' spokesman Chris Peterson said the money was not a grant, as Dean claimed, but was part of a federal appropriations bill. Former U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey had earmarked the funding in past years, but no earmarking for Nebraska was made last year. "Stormy Dean continues to embarrass himself as a candidate for governor," Peterson said. "Today's attack by his campaign raises further questions about his credibility as a candidate." [continues 151 words]
Men Stopped Near Lincoln Being Checked For Links To Drug Ring, Terror Group LINCOLN -- Authorities are investigating whether two Detroit men arrested over the weekend along Interstate 80 have ties to a drug ring that is believed to be linked to overseas terrorist organizations. The Nebraska State Patrol would not say whether it has determined if the two men of Middle Eastern descent have any ties to a methamphetamine ring that the Drug Enforcement Administration claims has sent money from Michigan to terror groups such as the Lebanon-based Hezbollah. [continues 224 words]
COLUMBUS - Kai loves to play. But when duty calls the 3-year-old is always ready. Armed with a keen sense of smell and a commitment to his responsibility, Kai, a member of the K-9 Division of the Nebraska State Patrol, works with his human handler, Trooper Jim Bills. Members of the Nebraska State Patrol including Kai were at Carneco Foods in Columbus this week, presenting a one-day drug awareness program. Kim Schumacher, director of human resources at Carneco, said 44 managers at the plant attended the presentation. [continues 411 words]
State Sen. Jon Bruning said Tuesday he'd target the methamphetamine drug market as attorney general. "Nebraska's meth problem has become a scourge on our society," the Republican nominee said at a Lincoln news conference. Efforts to combat methamphetamine would be one of his priority initiatives if he is elected this fall, he said. Bruning said he'd focus on elimination of meth labs, a plan to reduce costs associated with cleaning up busted labs, increased public awareness of the problem and coordination with law enforcement officers and retailers. [continues 127 words]
"At least they're only drinking beer, and not doing drugs." When it comes excusing teens using alcohol, Lt. Tom Schwarten of the Nebraska State Patrol said he's heard that one before. Tuesday, the drug recognition expert had something to say in return about teen-agers and drug abuse in America. Speaking before Fremont Public School administrators, counselors, psychologists and nurses, Schwarten said 2,315 youth died in this country in 1996 as a result of alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes. [continues 317 words]
If Money Makes The World Go Round, The World Of Law Enforcement Officers Is Spinning Slower Than They'd Like. Officers often catch methamphetamine dealers through undercover buys. When law enforcement officers run out of money -- usually toward the end of their fiscal year -- they can't make those buys anymore. "This year, we ran out with six months left in our year," Norfolk Police Division Capt. Steve Hecker said of his anti-drug task force's investigative budget. "Once those funds are gone, you don't have the ability to make a phone call, make a buy." [continues 1041 words]
GRAND ISLAND -- Jerry Watson knew things weren't working. So did Teresa Luther and Connie Hultine and even Wendy McCarty. It all started about four years ago in Grand Island, when more and more people like Watson, Luther, Hultine and McCarty started noticing a problem. "The thing that really made an impact on me was we were arresting the same people over and over," said Watson, the Hall County sheriff. Before becoming sheriff in 1999, he'd worked at the Grand Island Police Department for 11 years, incarcerating the same people only to see them serve their time and go back on the streets, committing the same crimes. [continues 933 words]
A lot of people get squeamish when federal agents come knocking on their door. Yet, for local law enforcement officials fighting the uphill battle against drugs, the phrase, "I'm with the federal government, I'm here to help you," really is a welcomed sound. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and even the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) are just three of the federal agencies that play a valuable role in finding, arresting and prosecuting drug dealers. [continues 668 words]
Things didn't go quite as Steve Hecker thought they would. Sitting in his second-floor office, the Norfolk police captain said he was sure the money would start flowing in when Madison County was designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) back in 1999. "I thought once we got that designation, 'This is going to be good for us,' " Hecker said. Three years later, Madison County has not received a cent. "We thought we'd be able to fund what we needed to do, and to the contrary, it's been very disappointing," he said. [continues 1369 words]
GRAND ISLAND -- "Jason, you're looking all smiles this morning. Why don't you come up first?" Judge Teresa Luther said, beckoning Jason Derr to approach. The 23-year-old stood up and walked past two tables of people to the bench in the Hall County Courtroom here in a maroon T-shirt and jeans, with his hands in his pockets and a big smile across his face. "Everything got glowing reports for you. We're all proud of you," Luther said. [continues 843 words]
Put a map of Nebraska on the table. Close your eyes and point to any spot. Go to the town nearest that spot and you'll find methamphetamine. Do it again and you'll get the same results -- if you know what to look for. The illegal drug that provides users a longer and stronger high than cocaine can be found in every community in the state and throughout the Midwest, law enforcement officials say. Unlike the cocaine epidemic of the 1980s and early '90s, methamphetamine knows no boundaries of age, class, occupation or education. It spans geography and is just as prevalent in the small farming communities as it is in metropolitan Omaha and Lincoln. [continues 579 words]
The Good Guys Are Supposed To Win. When it comes to battling illegal drugs, Northeast Nebraskans like to think their law enforcement agencies can win -- find the dealers and users, make the arrests and get the convictions -- at least most of the time. It helps everyone sleep easier at night. It helps make Nebraska's "good life" slogan still seem plausible. It helps families think the drug problem isn't nearly as bad here as elsewhere. But guess what? The good guys aren't winning. They aren't coming close. They won't even argue that point. [continues 603 words]
A Spanish philosopher once said, "There is no fear without some hope, and no hope without some fear." In Northeast Nebraska's battle against methamphetamine, there should be fear and hope. The fear is of the pervasiveness of the illegal drug, how it has reached virtually all corners of society. No longer can local and area residents think that the meth problem is someone else's concern. A fellow worker, the neighbor across the street, the teen-age girl -- they all could be experimenting with or addicted to meth. [continues 430 words]
Ting-a-ling. Dangerous Dave phoned me again. He is pissed because last month his drug pipeline clogged with Spaniards. (This is my man, Dangerous Dave, the Northern Irishman who has a penchant for pipe/drum bands and injections of illegal narcotics.) You see, my gentle reader, the trouble with Europe is that it has no Mexico. Not even a Colombia. All it's got is an Afghanistan and a Morocco. And the Afghani opium market is only now starting to recover since the Taliban have been chased away. [continues 642 words]
Drug, alcohol and cigarette use among 6-12 graders has fallen dramatically, according to a national study released last week. The 2001-02 annual Pride Survey reported that alcohol and cigarette use is at its lowest level in 15 years. Drug use is at its lowest level in eight years, according to the survey. The reason? The results may reflect a cultural reaction to the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, suggested survey officials. "Following 9/11 Americans seemed to refocus on family, community, spirituality and nation," said survey author Thomas J. Gleaton. "That renewed awareness shows up in the data." [continues 323 words]
In contrast to some Midwestern states, the idea of widespread testing of high school students for illegal drugs has never caught on in Nebraska. Things change. Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has placed a clear stamp of approval on such programs, community discussion should be encouraged on whether the programs are worthwhile. Advocacy groups are sure to form, especially since corporations now see a new field for profit. In fact, the Drug and Alcohol Industry Association, made up of private drug-testing companies, already has scheduled a workshop in Washington on July 18 for school board members and principals, according to the New York Times. [continues 358 words]
The Central Nebraska Drug Court is definitely a step in the right direction, but an arrest should not be a necessary prerequisite for drug treatment. Would alcoholics seek help for their illness if doing so were tantamount to confessing to criminal activity? Likewise, would putting every incorrigible alcoholic behind bars and saddling them with criminal records prove cost-effective? The United States recently earned the dubious distinction of having the highest incarceration rate in the world, with drug offenses accounting for the majority of federal incarcerations. This is big government at its worst. At an average cost of $25,071 per inmate annually, maintaining the world's largest prison system can hardly be considered fiscally conservative. [continues 149 words]
Even a quick perusal of the Day's Record readily reveals how frequent and common possession of methamphetamine is in the Heartland. And for each one named and charged, there stands an array of family, friends, employers, employees, co-workers and acquaintances whose lives have also been impacted to one degree or another. Eventually, either monetarily or emotionally, we all suffer the effects of meth and other treacherous drugs. Many of us despair of finding any resolutions beyond arrests and jail time. Yet for the professionals who help drug offenders battling for their very souls, jail is not always the best solution -- especially for non-violent drug offenders. [continues 251 words]
Lincoln police and federal authorities are concerned about a growing problem in Lincoln: a deadly drug called heroin. At a Monday news conference, federal and local authorities are expected to announce the indictment of Michael Siegrist and discuss other drug-related deaths in Lincoln. U.S. Attorney Mike Heavican said Siegrist has not been arrested and will turn himself in to authorities on Tuesday. His initial court appearance in U.S. District Court is scheduled for the same day. The indictment, filed earlier this month, alleges that Siegrist distributed heroin to Craig Hofer on May 9, 2001. Hofer was found dead the next day. [continues 298 words]
The White House drug control strategy portraying casual illicit drug users as unpatriotic and somehow responsible for Sept. 11, carries forward the same failed efforts at drug prevention as the "Reefer Madness" campaign of the 1930s. Marijuana is by far the most popular illegal substance. Smokers know it is primarily homegrown in the U.S. and imported from Canada or Mexico, so this approach is likely to have little effect on its consumption. Its prohibition, however does help promote organized crime here and abroad. Opium production clearly occurs in Afghanistan and one could assume is helping fund the terrorists. [continues 119 words]
Behind the astounding arrest statistics kept by the Lincoln Police Department is the sad story of a subculture caught in the revolving door of the criminal justice system. The plight of some of the repeat offenders demonstrates the need for the community to continue to support and improve services for those suffering from substance abuse and mental illness. More than 186 people in Lincoln have 100 or more arrests or citations since 1981, according to a Sunday Lincoln Journal Star story. Among those with multiple arrests are substance abusers and the mentally ill. They are the people who might be saved, unlike the career criminals who also make up the group of repeat offenders, criminal justice officials said. [continues 325 words]
Inside Nebraska
