Nebraska’s First Reentry Court Completion

Nebraska’s First Reentry Court Completion

On April 4, 2019, Michael Mostek was recognized for completing post-release supervision as a participant in the Hall County Reentry Court. Hall County Reentry Court Judge Paul Korslund (behind the bench) and retired District Court Judge Teresa K. Luther led the celebration. 

Mr. Mostek was Hall Country Reentry Court’s first participant. Though he entered the Court with 30 months of post-release supervision, Michael accomplished everything ordered by the Court in 15 months.  At the celebration, Mr. Mostek was praised for maintaining his sobriety, maintaining his employment, having a positive support system and being a good support to his family. Michael stated he was thankful for the program and he is looking forward to a life of sobriety and to being a good dad.

In April 2016, the Nebraska Legislature passed LB919, which authorized the expansion of the definition of Problem-Solving Courts to include Reentry Courts. At the direction of the Nebraska Supreme Court’s Problem-Solving Court Committee, a group of Nebraska stakeholders created the Nebraska Reentry Court Best Practice Standards. The Nebraska Supreme Court approved the standards on June 20, 2017, and authorized the establishment of the Hall County Reentry Court on August 23, 2017.

Nebraska Reentry Courts are designed for high-risk and high-need individuals who are reentering society from incarceration on a term Post-Release Supervision. Similar to other problem-solving courts, Reentry Courts operate under a team approach where a judge, prosecutor, defense counsel, coordinator, community supervision officer, law enforcement, treatment provider(s), and other key team members work together to design an individualized program for each participant. The court’s goal is to protect public safety and reduce recidivism. Intensive community supervision and interaction with a judge in non-adversarial court hearings verifies compliance with treatment and other court-ordered terms.