Advocates Blast Last-Minute Provisions on Lombardo’s Incarceration Bill

LAS VEGAS – Criminal Justice Advocates with the American Civil Liberties Union ofNevada, Fines and Fees Justice Center, NAACP of Las Vegas, and Public Defenders offices for Clark and Washoe counties are voicing extreme opposition to the provisions being considered for Gov. Joe Lombardo’s bill, Senate Bill 457, which passed the Senate on Monday afternoon. SB457 was immediately passed by the Nevada Senate moments after a sweeping amendment that was not made public until the vote was called. The amendment contains provisions advocates have long opposed, including provisions related to warrantless wiretapping and ceding even more power to powerful corporate Nevada resort entities at the expense of constitutional protections.

ACLU of Nevada executive director Athar Haseebullah said:

“The bill has been a disaster, with back door dealing, chaos, and a lack of transparency throughout. An amendment brought forward to undermine civil liberties, including allowing for expanded warrantless wiretapping while expanding the power of powerful strip resort properties isn’t what these electeds ran on, especially Democratic elected officials. Like many, I lack faith in Democrats generally to meet any moment or stick to their promises to our communities but hopefully they do the right thing here and remove provisions related to the nefarious and disbanded strip corridor court and order-out provisions from this bill.”

Clark County deputy public defender Paloma Guerrero said:

“The conceptual amendment adopted today flies in the face of a number of constitutional best practices and includes proposals that seek to keep people locked up for longer before they can access a bail hearing. The Constitution’s presumption of innocence does not take holidays off, and we have to make sure the policies we create are centered on true justice, not just easy convictions.”

NAACP Las Vegas president Quentin Savwoir said:

“Our members and communities want safe neighborhoods, and we want our businesses protected too. This doesn’t do that. It’s another mass incarceration bill that we know doesn’t work. We hope elected officials don’t sell out our communities, again.”

Washoe County deputy public defender Angela Knott said:

This bill has advanced without the benefit of a comprehensive vetting process or broad stakeholder collaboration. As a result, there are growing and well-founded concerns about the serious, long-term implications it could have for the integrity of our justice system and the protection of constitutional rights.”

Fines and Fees Justice Center Nevada state director Nick Shepack said:

“People who earn a dismissal by completing a specialty or treatment court program deserve a well-earned chance to repair their lives and our communities. Taking away the option entirely does not help with the process of repairing families or rehabilitating those trying to get their lives back together. SB457 prioritizes both financial and carceral punishment over treatment and evidence-based solutions that keep our communities safe.”