OMAHA, Neb. -- Nebraska’s prison work release system allows felons chances for recreational outings in public during their prison sentences, including an Omaha man who was convicted in June of felony DUI who was involved in a head-on collision while under the influence of methamphetamine. The Douglas County attorney believes the work release rules should be toughened.
What looks like a college dormitory to many is a Nebraska prison. The people who live at the Community Corrections Center in east Omaha are criminals, not college students.
"Your residence is set up. You have a job,†described Edward Fabian, assistant warden of the center. "This isn't a walk in the park, because coming back to prison after getting off work is not the most enjoyable thing."
The Nebraska Department of Corrections minimum security facility is for felons on work release.
Mark Dahir is one of the felons who stays there. Dahir, arrested seven times for DUI, convicted of felony DUI and sentenced in June to a two to three year prison sentence.
Two months after being sent to prison, Dahir moved to the facility and was placed on work release without a job. He left the community corrections center to apply for jobs. Over Thanksgiving, Dahir earned a 72-hour furlough, during which he spent the night with his family, went to a movie and worked out at Lifetime Fitness.
"Passes and furloughs are based on them doing things that demonstrate the behaviors they we are looking for,†Fabian said.
The KETV NewsWatch 7 I-Team took the information about Dahir’s furlough to Steve Murray, the man Dahir almost killed last February. While high on meth, Dahir slammed into Murray's vehicle, who was on his way to work.
"When you hear when someone is at Lifetime Fitness, it really puts into question the penal part of our system and how it works,†Murray told Bandur. "You can't help but be a little bothered by that on some level, that you can do what he did and end up out. It's not safe, frankly. It's not safe."
For Douglas County’s lead prosecutor, it’s frustrating.
"To me he was a person who thumbed his nose at the system,†Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said. “He had numerous opportunities, and for him to get any kind of breaks in the system at all is troubling."
Kleine asked Judge Patrick Mullen for the maximum punishment, which is five years in prison. When Dahir did not receive that, Kleine appealed the sentence. The Nebraska Supreme Court agreed with the judge.
When it’s all said and done, Dahir, a former bank vice president, could end up serving a year. Only one-third of the way into his sentence, he does not spend much time at the corrections center with the other inmates.
Dahir turned down KETV's request for an interview.
"We don't make recommendations on what a judge should do or give,†said Fabian. “Based on what the judge has given Mr. Dahir, he is now in the system and working his way out."
"When you think of somebody getting a sentence of two to three years, you think, ‘do that time in jail, in the system,'†said Kleine. “When you hear things like that, you start to wonder."
If you ask Steve Murray, he believes the system sometimes fails.
"I don't think anyone would think justice has been done here,†said Murray.
Kleine told the I-Team he wants to discuss the issue with other attorneys, and that it is possible they will ask the legislature to pass some kind of reform.
What looks like a college dormitory to many is a Nebraska prison. The people who live at the Community Corrections Center in east Omaha are criminals, not college students.
"Your residence is set up. You have a job,†described Edward Fabian, assistant warden of the center. "This isn't a walk in the park, because coming back to prison after getting off work is not the most enjoyable thing."
The Nebraska Department of Corrections minimum security facility is for felons on work release.
Mark Dahir is one of the felons who stays there. Dahir, arrested seven times for DUI, convicted of felony DUI and sentenced in June to a two to three year prison sentence.
Two months after being sent to prison, Dahir moved to the facility and was placed on work release without a job. He left the community corrections center to apply for jobs. Over Thanksgiving, Dahir earned a 72-hour furlough, during which he spent the night with his family, went to a movie and worked out at Lifetime Fitness.
"Passes and furloughs are based on them doing things that demonstrate the behaviors they we are looking for,†Fabian said.
The KETV NewsWatch 7 I-Team took the information about Dahir’s furlough to Steve Murray, the man Dahir almost killed last February. While high on meth, Dahir slammed into Murray's vehicle, who was on his way to work.
"When you hear when someone is at Lifetime Fitness, it really puts into question the penal part of our system and how it works,†Murray told Bandur. "You can't help but be a little bothered by that on some level, that you can do what he did and end up out. It's not safe, frankly. It's not safe."
For Douglas County’s lead prosecutor, it’s frustrating.
"To me he was a person who thumbed his nose at the system,†Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said. “He had numerous opportunities, and for him to get any kind of breaks in the system at all is troubling."
Kleine asked Judge Patrick Mullen for the maximum punishment, which is five years in prison. When Dahir did not receive that, Kleine appealed the sentence. The Nebraska Supreme Court agreed with the judge.
When it’s all said and done, Dahir, a former bank vice president, could end up serving a year. Only one-third of the way into his sentence, he does not spend much time at the corrections center with the other inmates.
Dahir turned down KETV's request for an interview.
"We don't make recommendations on what a judge should do or give,†said Fabian. “Based on what the judge has given Mr. Dahir, he is now in the system and working his way out."
"When you think of somebody getting a sentence of two to three years, you think, ‘do that time in jail, in the system,'†said Kleine. “When you hear things like that, you start to wonder."
If you ask Steve Murray, he believes the system sometimes fails.
"I don't think anyone would think justice has been done here,†said Murray.
Kleine told the I-Team he wants to discuss the issue with other attorneys, and that it is possible they will ask the legislature to pass some kind of reform.