Peter Ricketts on Crime Republican Senate Challenger

Fought for ballot initiative to restore death penalty

Fully fund replacement of Nebraska State Penitentiary

Build a new, modern correctional facility

First NE execution in 20 years, with new drug combination

The execution comes a little more than three years after Nebraska lawmakers abolished the death penalty, only to have it reinstated the following year through a citizen ballot drive partially financed by Gov. Pete Ricketts. The governor has said he was fulfilling the wishes of voters in the conservative state.

The Nebraska drug protocol called for an initial IV dose of diazepam, to render the inmate unconscious; the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl; cisatracurium besylate to induce paralysis and stop the inmate from breathing; and potassium chloride to stop the heart. After each injection, prison officials sent saline through the IV to flush out any residue and ensure all the drugs had entered the inmate's system. Diazepam, fentanyl and cisatracurium had never been used in executions before.

Vetoed setting aside of conviction after sentence served

Legislative Summary: LB 350 would have allowed individuals convicted of a misdemeanor or felony and sentenced to a punishment such as jail or prison, to petition the court to set aside their conviction once the sentence is completed. When a criminal conviction is set aside, the person is considered not to have been previously convicted.

Veto message: LB350 weakens confidence in the criminal justice system by dramatically liberalizing the ability of serious felonies like murder, arson, human trafficking, armed robbery, drug manufacturing, drug distribution, and assault on a police officer or emergency responder to be set aside. This bill sends the wrong message to victims of crime and to society. It represents poor public policy.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 30-11-8 on Mar/15/18; Vetoed by Governor Pete Ricketts on Mar/21/18.

Automated sentence calculation for Department of Corrections

With this budget proposal, we will reduce protective services vacancy rates, upgrade technology, and improve the Lincoln Correctional Center.

Supports the death penalty

Ricketts supports the following principles regarding crime.
• Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
• Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.