“This kind of thoughtful and restorative assistance is consistent with your support for historic and meaningful Smart Justice Reform efforts.”
By Aaron Sanderford, Nebraska Examiner
The Nebraska Pardons Board, reconstituted with a new governor and attorney-general in their first year of office, met for the first meeting on Thursday. This three-person board will return the secretary state.
The board will examine commutations for three criminal sentences and pardons for 51 people. It will also consider the restoration of driver’s licences to three people.
Three state senators worked with Gov. Jim Pillen (R), and Attorney General Mike Hilgers, both Republicans, have been working on criminal justice reforms.
Pardons made easier: A simplified process
The Pardons Board was asked to create a system that encourages and accelerates the commutations of sentences and pardons granted to Nebraskans who are convicted for simple marijuana possession. This would help some Nebraskans find work and housing.
In a email to the board this week State Sens. Danielle Conrad, Terrell McKinney and Justin Wayne of Omaha all urged the board to reconsider second chances.
Senators called on the Governor and the Board to create “an administrative procedure to encourage people who qualify to apply for pardons after simple marijuana possession convictions.”
It says: “This thoughtful and restorative approach is consistent with the support you have shown for historic and meaningful reforms in smart justice, like LB 50 this past session.”
Senators Say More Can Be Done
Conrad, the person who delivered the letter on Tuesday to the Governor’s Office, stated that the Pardons Board could do more to help the people than it did during the previous regimes.
She would like to know if the pardons procedure can be simplified enough so that those with possession convictions could avoid hiring an attorney.
She said that Nebraska is in need of workers. A state with a shortage of workers should help people find jobs after they have paid off their debts to society.
She said, “We have been able find a lot in common with Governor Pillen and Mike Hilgers about second chances for criminal justice reform.” “I believe we can do this again.”
Federal push
Conrad, McKinney, and Wayne in their letter point out that a federal executive order issued by the government on marijuana possession for 2022 is an example of how personal costs can be reduced when marijuana convictions are made.
The order signed by Joe Biden pardoned those with previous convictions for simple possession of marijuana. Its stated goal was to prevent these convictions from preventing them from accessing jobs, housing or opportunities for education and training.
Biden called for governors and state officials to follow suit. Then-Gov. Then-Gov.
Possession of more that an ounce marijuana is punishable in Nebraska by up to three months in prison and a maximum fine of $500.
There were no statistics available on the number of people with simple marijuana convictions in their criminal records.
State and local purposes
McKinney has been pushing for the legalization of marijuana and the expungement of criminal records relating to simple possession. He said that this push is nonpartisan and national.
He said, “Many people have begun to realize that the way we’ve been doing things in terms of criminal justice policies and reintegrating people back into society is not working and has had a negative impact on people.” It’s not your political ideology. It’s all about your humanity.
McKinney said that he is constantly hearing from constituents who are still haunted about something they did in their teens or early 20s.
He said that when a person who has a criminal record applies for a position, for housing, or to cut hair, they feel the weight from people finding out about their past.
Some employers will not even interview people who have minor criminal convictions. Some landlords will not rent to people with criminal convictions. Some occupational licensing processes also require that applicants have clean criminal records.
McKinney stated that “it can be discouraging.” It doesn’t really matter when it happened. It’s like “Dang, it was 20 years ago…and now I’m applying to buy a home and I have to answer that question.”
The road ahead
Conrad hopes to work closely with her colleagues in the legislature and the governor to determine the number of people that could be affected.
Pillen’s Office said that he is reviewing the letter. Hilgers’s office confirmed that the letter had been received by the Attorney General. Bob Evnen, Secretary of State (R), also serves on the panel.
Conrad and McKinney expressed their hope that they would look at the blue and red states and address drug possession with a rational, reasonable approach and act.
McKinney stated, “It is being smart and doing the right thing in order to make the system better for everyone.” It’s not your political ideology. “It’s all about your humanity.”
This article was originally published by Nebraska Examiner.
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The article Nebraska senators push governor to streamline marijuana pardons first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
