Nebraska Chief Justice Mike Heavican tells state lawmakers efforts to keep minor offenders on probation and out of prison have been working.
Heavican, during his State of the Judiciary address, offers a caution, though, saying efforts to provide treatment rather than incarceration to the mentally ill have hit a wall. . .

Heavican says the courts would like to establish mental health courts throughout Nebraska, but not only lack the money, but the judges necessary to staff the courts in urban Nebraska.
Heavican also says the courts understand more effort needs to be devoted to keep juveniles from eventually taking to crime as adults. . .

Heavican says the courts have sped up family and kinship placement assessments, increased in-home services, and are working with the federal government and others to provide alternatives to address juvenile offenders.