Peter Ricketts on Crime

	Peter Ricketts on Crime Republican Senate Challenger

Fought for ballot initiative to restore death penalty

As governor, Ricketts used his status as a multi-millionaire to buck up his policies and punish those who crossed him. His most successful endeavor was pushing for the state to bring back the death penalty after the Nebraska legislature overrode Ricketts' veto to end the death penalty. BuzzFeed estimated that Ricketts and his family spent over $400,000 on a ballot initiative to restore the death penalty that was ultimately successful. Source: Business Insider on 2024 Nebraska Senate race , Jan 12, 2023

Fully fund replacement of Nebraska State Penitentiary

We must fully fund the replacement of the Nebraska State Penitentiary. The existing penitentiary was built over 150 years ago. Its walls are crumbling, and its infrastructure is aged beyond simple repair. For those wishing to pursue criminal justice reform, this should be a no-brainer. A modern facility will give our inmates a better quality of life. Modernizing our State Penitentiary will allow us to offer enhanced services and programming to prepare these men for life after time served. Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Nebraska legislature , Jan 13, 2022

Build a new, modern correctional facility

By 2025, Nebraska's corrections system is forecasted to house over 6,400 inmates. Today, we have an operational capacity of over 5,300 inmates, and the Nebraska State Penitentiary is decaying. To help protect public safety and to replace the State Penitentiary, I am proposing that we build a new, modern correctional facility. This facility will require an initial investment of $115 million in this budget for a total of $230 million by the time it is completed and operational in 2025. Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Nebraska legislature , Jan 14, 2021

First NE execution in 20 years, with new drug combination

Nebraska carried out its first execution in more than two decades with the lethal injection of four drugs in a combination never tried before, including the powerful opioid fentanyl.

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.

Source: KHGI nebraska.tv on 2018 Nebraska gubernatorial race , Aug 14, 2018

Vetoed setting aside of conviction after sentence served

LB350: Provide for setting aside certain misdemeanor and felony convictions.

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.

Source: Nebraska Legislature voting records LB350 , Mar 21, 2018

Automated sentence calculation for Department of Corrections

[Regarding] the Department of Corrections, we made significant progress in an agency that had been neglected for years. In addition to providing for the basic needs of more than 5,300 inmates, Corrections successfully launched an automated sentence calculation program, implemented the first-ever risks/needs assessment tool, reformed restrictive housing, completed a culture study and staffing analysis, expanded mental health and cognitive behavioral programming, created mission specific housing, and developed an inmate health plan while addressing pay and quality of life issues for Corrections officers.

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

Source: 2017 State of the State address to Nebraska Legislature , Jan 12, 2017

Supports the death penalty

Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.

Source: 2006 Congressional National Political Awareness Test , May 2, 2006

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