Table of ContentsThe State of the Problem: Prison Overcrowding in NebraskaPlanning for Prison Overcrowding: Emergency and Rehabilitation ProgramsConcluding Works CitedPrison overcrowding is a serious problem that creates many economic, social and political risks. However, some overpopulation problems have been overlooked by local and government authorities who want to avoid a panic. The problem of prison overcrowding in Nebraska is analyzed as an example in this essay because Nebraska's correctional facilities have been overcrowded for over a decade now, and yet for some reason most residents are not aware of the problem that the State could face. Although local authorities may not have informed their residents about prison overcrowding to avoid a panic, the lack of information could be crucial to the potential outcome. Some possible solutions for Nebraska correctional facilities would be to expand prisons and hire more correctional officers, or to prepare and release inmates on parole. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The State of the Problem: Prison Overcrowding in Nebraska Correctional facilities in Lincoln, Nebraska, have faced a major overcrowding problem in recent years. Grant Shulte, BA in Journalism and Associated Press reporter, says: “The prisons housed 5,338 inmates in facilities designed to hold 3,375, placing the population at approximately 158 percent of design capacity. » Maximum capacity has been reached, and exceeded for years, causing a dilemma inside the prison. According to State Reporter Paul Hammel, "this is causing panic and discomfort among local residents because there are a large number of inmates eligible for release; some inmates are too dangerous to be released to the public." These inmates will be those who have committed widespread crimes, such as murder, assault, etc., who have had difficulty rehabilitating, and who have repeatedly gotten into trouble in prison.” If the overcrowding problem continues to worsen as it is currently, the types of inmates listed above are at high risk of ending up on the streets along with everyone else in Nebraska. Additionally, Sen. Steve Lathrop, chairman of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee, says "state officials will ultimately find themselves facing an emergency if they do not act now to release more of detainees in a safe and controlled manner. When prisoners are not released from Nebraska's overcrowded prisons, a wide range of problems will ensue, imposing both of these problems on staff and inmates and making the prison a more dangerous place. According to the documentary “Shocking Truth in US Prisons,” prison is a “world of fear and intimidation, a world where almost anything can happen.” In the prison world, you never know when a fight might break out. In some prisons, there are only two to three guards for a dozen inmates. Nebraska state prisons were severely understaffed, leaving 300 job opportunities across the prison system. This only exacerbates the overcrowding problem because inmates and staff are in unequal proportions. Although the problem of overcrowding is becoming increasingly significant in Nebraska state prisons, there are solutions to this difficult situation. One of these approaches is toexpand prisons and recruit more police officers. This approach sounds great, but there is a lot of conflicting information. Susan Campers, in her article “A Failing Correctional System: Overcrowding in America's State Prisons,” states that “prison expansion has been a solution that has been tried and failed. Expanding prisons will only free up more space to incarcerate more inmates, leading to even greater numbers of inmates and a once again overcrowded prison. The main problem with the solution is that it is only temporary and will buy Nebraska a limited amount of time. Prison expansion is also negatively impacting residents by wasting their tax dollars on a non-permanent solution. According to the documentary “The Shocking Truth in America's Prisons,” prisons are locking up too many inmates, leading to severe overcrowding and wasting taxpayer dollars. If prisons are expanded, the problem of overcrowding will only get worse. In cases like this, the number of prisoners far outnumbers the number of guards, leading guards to fear safety when a fight or riot breaks out. However, attacks on prisoners and officers as well as protests have led to prisoner deaths and serious injuries to staff. Social justice activist Amy Miller proclaims: “As overcrowding pushes more and more inmates into small spaces, prisoners tend to group together based on race and ethnicity . With so much free time, the inmates have nothing left to do and end up attacking groups of other races. This raises the question of segregation. According to writer Doreen McCallister, in her article "Two Inmates Killed in Nebraska Prison Unrest" In March 2017, a riot broke out at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution in Nebraska. Two inmates were murdered and several staff members were seriously injured. The Associated Press said: “This riot, which also left several staff injured, involved several hundred inmates in three living units, a gymnasium and a courtyard.” This proves not only how overpopulation leads to violence, but also how serious riots can become. Overcrowding Planning: Emergency and Rehabilitation Programs There are already many inmates eligible for parole but who have not been released by the National Parole Board; If Nebraska prisons are willing to better prepare their prisoners, they will be able to release more prisoners and make the process easier. Early release should also be considered for people with disabilities, the elderly and those with good behavior. If they do not harm public safety, Nebraska prisons can work to help them be released early. The most important details of this solution are prisoners who are ready for release and who must be properly prepared by completing different types of rehabilitation programs, depending on their crime, which are most likely necessary for release. As previously mentioned, if Nebraska prisons are still overcrowded as of July 1, 2020, an overcrowding situation will be declared and the Nebraska Correctional System Parole Board will be required to release prisoners immediately, so it is best to begin planning and free them now. That being said, the Nebraska prison system must strive »..