An article published in the Lincoln Journal Star, April 3, 2024
For more than a year the Lancaster County Jail has exceeded capacity. To deal with the crisis, the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners made the decision to allocate over $1 million of taxpayer money to house individuals in jails outside of our jurisdiction.
While this decision may seem pragmatic on the surface, it fails to address the underlying systemic issues and the moral imperative at hand. These individuals are not mere statistics or cases to be managed; they are our neighbors, friends and family members, deserving of compassion and a chance at redemption.
For the past year and a half, driven by our values of compassion and justice, the faith communities of Justice In Action have been passionately seeking solutions rooted in systemic change.
Through diligent research and collaboration, we’ve educated ourselves about the adult diversion and problem-solving programs administered by the county. These programs offer a beacon of hope, saving taxpayer money and diverting individuals away from incarceration and towards community-based support systems.
By fostering connections with essential pillars of stability such as family, work and faith communities, these programs not only promote rehabilitation but also significantly reduce recidivism rates — meaning people who complete these programs are far less likely to be re-arrested and return to the system compared to people who remain in jail for similar offenses.
The county’s recent approval of a proposal to evaluate and provide recommendations for addressing the jail overcrowding issue is a step in the right direction. Yet, from our perspective, true progress demands more than just bureaucratic evaluations — it demands a reckoning with the moral implications of our actions.
In January, the Lancaster County Attorney’s office issued revised criteria for entry into diversion and problem-solving programs. We were hopeful that after numerous conversations with the county attorney where we shared our support for these programs, that we would see changes that would expand eligibility for entry, especially for our Black and Indigenous neighbors of color, who are drastically overrepresented in our jail but underrepresented in diversion and problem-solving programs. Unfortunately, we found that the eligibility criteria were relatively the same, without consideration for increased access to these programs.
Fifteen Justice in Action clergy recently engaged in dialogue with Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon to advocate for changes to these guidelines. Our faith traditions teach us that justice is a moral imperative and that it demands the dismantling of barriers that perpetuate inequality.
We firmly believe in the power of grace and community to transform lives and build a stronger, more inclusive society. Lancaster County is fortunate to have nationally recognized diversion and problem-solving programs that offer individuals rehabilitation in a way that improves public safety. Therefore, we call upon our county attorney and other officials to reconsider the eligibility criteria for these programs in a way that is equitable and ensures that they will be accessible to larger numbers of people.
By investing in rehabilitation over incarceration, we not only uphold the dignity of our neighbors but also cultivate a more compassionate and just community for all.
Rev. Dr. Oscar Sinclair is at the Unitarian Church of Lincoln. Rev. Kirstie Jeanette Engel is at Lincoln First United Methodist Church. This piece was signed by 20 other member of Lincoln's faith community. They are:
Rev. David R. Stock, St. David’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Doyle Burbank-Williams, New Visions United Methodist Church
Rev. Steven R. Mitchell, Vine Congregational UCC
Pastor Trever Rook, Neighbors Church
Father Robert Magoola, St. Mark’s on the Campus Episcopal Church
Rev. Katherine Ebling-Frazier, ConnectioN Point
Rev. Thomas Dummermuth, Eastridge Presbyterian Church
Rev. Dr. Melodie Jones Pointon, Eastridge Presbyterian Church
Rev. Mandy Barkhaus, Horizons Community Church
Rev. Kristie Bohac, Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Davey
Rev. Tobi White, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
Rev. Susan Smith, Antelope Park Church of the Brethren
Rev. Amy Slater, South Gate United Methodist Church
Pastor Helen Paus, New Hope United Methodist Church, Prairie Home United Methodist Church
Rev. Liz Kocher, The Lutheran Center, Nebraska Lutheran Campus Ministries–University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Rev. Dr. Sue Coller, First Presbyterian Church
Rev. H. Eduardo Bousson, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church
Ed Ostlund, St. Paul United Methodist Church
Rev. Dr. Jeff Slater, Trinity United Methodist Church of Lincoln
Rev. Maddi Baugous, University Minister, Nebraska Wesleyan University