Convicted killers employed in Lincoln through work-release program
Posted: Sunday, April 13, 2008
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- The convicted murderer who guides tours in the Governor's Mansion is among nine killers who work for the state or private companies in the Lincoln area.
There are about 400 Nebraska inmates employed in the community through the same work-release program, the Lincoln Journal Star reported in its Saturday editions.
The prisoner employment issue cropped up this month when the University of Nebraska-Lincoln student newspaper reported that murderer Timothy Haverkamp was hired to, among other things, guide tours of the mansion.
Corrections officials said three other killers work for the state, under the supervision of state employees, and five work for private companies.
At any given time, two to four inmates are cooking, cleaning and guiding tours at the Governor's Mansion. They were selected from hundreds of felons at the state's minimally secured Community Corrections Centers in Lincoln and Omaha.
Haverkamp was convicted in 1985 of second-degree murder in the cult killings of two people near Rulo. He's been housed in Lincoln's Community Corrections Center since 2001.
Inmates who have a history of good behavior can apply to live at one of the community corrections centers if they are within three years of release or a parole hearing.
Haverkamp is serving a 10-year to life sentence and has been eligible for parole since 1992.
Rex Richard, director of the Community Corrections Center, said those on work release get to their jobs by riding city buses, catching a ride or sometimes driving their own cars.
All inmates can earn up to four-hour passes to run personal errands or visit family.
Those on work release can also earn up to 72-hour furloughs to go home. Those on work detail, such as Haverkamp, can earn up to two 24-hour furloughs per month.
Starting pay is 38 cents an hour for mansion workers, but they can work their way up to $1.08 per hour.
The maximum pay is $3.78 a day for other jobs, which makes mansion duty quite appealing to inmates.
Prison officials said Haverkamp was thoroughly screened by prison staff, the State Patrol and mansion staff and is supervised by the State Patrol.
"The crime obviously is a consideration always, but the prison population is made up of felons," Richard said.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Dave Heineman, Jen Rae Hein, said Heineman was not aware of Haverkamp's criminal history until the Daily Nebraska ran its story.
Hein said the governor has faith in the screening of inmates, and as far as she knows, no changes to the program are being considered.
Richard said he understands why some people would be concerned about a convicted murderer escorting mansion tours -- including those of schoolchildren. Haverkamp was involved in the abuse and death of a 5-year-old boy.
But Richard and the director of the state prison system, Robert Houston, said they are unaware of problems caused by inmates who have worked at the mansion.
"They haven't stolen a towel from the mansion," Richard said. "They haven't come back with an ashtray."
There are about 400 Nebraska inmates employed in the community through the same work-release program, the Lincoln Journal Star reported in its Saturday editions.
The prisoner employment issue cropped up this month when the University of Nebraska-Lincoln student newspaper reported that murderer Timothy Haverkamp was hired to, among other things, guide tours of the mansion.
Corrections officials said three other killers work for the state, under the supervision of state employees, and five work for private companies.
At any given time, two to four inmates are cooking, cleaning and guiding tours at the Governor's Mansion. They were selected from hundreds of felons at the state's minimally secured Community Corrections Centers in Lincoln and Omaha.
Haverkamp was convicted in 1985 of second-degree murder in the cult killings of two people near Rulo. He's been housed in Lincoln's Community Corrections Center since 2001.
Inmates who have a history of good behavior can apply to live at one of the community corrections centers if they are within three years of release or a parole hearing.
Haverkamp is serving a 10-year to life sentence and has been eligible for parole since 1992.
Rex Richard, director of the Community Corrections Center, said those on work release get to their jobs by riding city buses, catching a ride or sometimes driving their own cars.
All inmates can earn up to four-hour passes to run personal errands or visit family.
Those on work release can also earn up to 72-hour furloughs to go home. Those on work detail, such as Haverkamp, can earn up to two 24-hour furloughs per month.
Starting pay is 38 cents an hour for mansion workers, but they can work their way up to $1.08 per hour.
The maximum pay is $3.78 a day for other jobs, which makes mansion duty quite appealing to inmates.
Prison officials said Haverkamp was thoroughly screened by prison staff, the State Patrol and mansion staff and is supervised by the State Patrol.
"The crime obviously is a consideration always, but the prison population is made up of felons," Richard said.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Dave Heineman, Jen Rae Hein, said Heineman was not aware of Haverkamp's criminal history until the Daily Nebraska ran its story.
Hein said the governor has faith in the screening of inmates, and as far as she knows, no changes to the program are being considered.
Richard said he understands why some people would be concerned about a convicted murderer escorting mansion tours -- including those of schoolchildren. Haverkamp was involved in the abuse and death of a 5-year-old boy.
But Richard and the director of the state prison system, Robert Houston, said they are unaware of problems caused by inmates who have worked at the mansion.
"They haven't stolen a towel from the mansion," Richard said. "They haven't come back with an ashtray."
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