Bill would give inmates somewhere to turn for helpLINCOLN — Alexander Simoens might have survived his weekend stay in the Omaha City Jail if a bill before the Legislature already were law, State Sen. Ernie Chambers said Thursday.
Simoens, 47, died Sept. 11 after spending two days vomiting blood and writhing in pain while jail officials ignored his pleas for medical help.
His death led to four misdemeanor indictments and a highly critical report on jail operations.Legislative Bill 467, sponsored by Chambers, would give people like Simoens somewhere to turn for help when they are locked up in county and city jails.
The measure would authorize the
state ombudsman's office to investigate complaints about the care and treatment of inmates in local jails. It also would provide the office with two more staff members to handle complaints.
Lawmakers gave the bill first-round approval Thursday on a 32-0 vote.
Omaha
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
