Corrections work release program nothing new
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BY DEENA WINTER / Lincoln Journal Star
Timothy Haverkamp is not the first convicted murderer to slip out of his state-issued khakis and into a tux to work for the governor.
At least four convicted killers have worked in the Governor’s Mansion since inmates began working there while it was being built in 1957, corrections officials say.
Inmates had been working on the grounds of the Capitol since the 1930s, and began working at the mansion to save the state money.
Earlier this month, Haverkamp’s job guiding tours at the Governor’s Mansion caused a stir after being publicized by the Daily Nebraskan.
Corrections officials don’t see what the big deal is since there are about 400 inmates working in the community through the same work release program. Some of them work in-house, but most work in Lincoln.
Those inmates include nine convicted murderers: Four work for the state, under the supervision of state employees, and five work for private companies.
Generally, two to four prisoners are cooking, cleaning and guiding tours at the mansion.
The three inmates who work there now vacuum, dust, mop, do laundry, prepare food, guide tours and help serve everything from formal dinners of 10 to receptions for 100 or more people.
They were selected from hundreds of felons in “community custody” at one of the state’s two minimally secured Community Corrections Centers, in Lincoln and Omaha.
Haverkamp is one of about 400 felons serving time in Lincoln’s Community Corrections Center — which is less restrictive than a minimum-security prison.
The building with an arched entryway across from Pioneers Park west of Lincoln could be mistaken for an office building, if not for the barbed wire in the back.
There are no clanging steel doors or watchtowers or jail cells — just eight inmates crowded on bunkbeds in small rooms that resemble those at the mission.
The backyard is fenced, but some doors are unlocked and those who want to escape can. The place averages about 80 walk-aways a year.
While some inmates are first-time offenders, there are also inmates with long sentences for violent crimes. Inmates can earn their way here when they’re within three years of release or a parole hearing and have a history of good behavior and cooperation in treatment.
The point of the work release program is to reintegrate prisoners back into society as their release dates approach.
Every inmate is either on work release — working for private employers throughout Lincoln — or work detail — working for state agencies in about 70 locations, under the supervision of state employees.
Far from just picking up trash along highways, these felons mix sand and salt during snowstorms, sort mail at the State Office Building, serve food in restaurants, hang drywall, clean carpets, roof houses.
“They’re all over the city,” said Rex Richard, the director of the Community Corrections Center. “We are putting them back into the community.“
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 go shopping, see a movie, get a haircut, go to a parent-teacher conference, attend their child’s basketball game, or sing in a choir with an approved volunteer sponsor.
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.
Mansion workers start out earning 38 cents an hour and can work their way up to $1.08 an hour.
Compared with the maximum $3.78 daily rate other inmates on work detail earn, the mansion job is a hot one. Especially since once inmates get to Community Corrections, they have to pay full price for everything but the bare necessities — such as haircuts.
An inmate with a long sentence, like Haverkamp, is more likely to get a skilled job such as the one at the Governor’s Mansion than short-term inmates, because it takes awhile to learn the ropes and they want someone who will be around more than 45 days.
And all those years behind bars give prison officials plenty of time to determine inmates’ fitness for positions.
Which is why prison officials felt comfortable recommending Haverkamp for the mansion job — which he got when he arrived at the Community Corrections Center in 2001.
After being convicted in 1985 of second-degree murder in connection with a cult murder of two people near Rulo, Haverkamp began serving a 10-year to life sentence, and has been eligible for parole since 1992.
Prison officials say 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.
Asked whether the governor was aware of Haverkamp’s criminal history, the governor’s spokeswoman, Jen Rae Hein, said, “He is, of course, aware of Tim’s history now. Who isn’t? But the governor was not aware of Tim’s history in detail” until the story ran.
But she said the governor has faith in the screening of inmates, and as far as she knows, no changes to the program are being contemplated.
The nine convicted murderers working in the community are under no obligation to tell anybody other than their supervisor they’re prisoners.
Although nobody can guarantee prisoners will not commit another crime, prison officials are comfortable the placement of Haverkamp and other violent offenders is appropriate.
“Public safety is what we do,” Richard said. “We never lose sight of protecting (the public).”
However, he says he can understand that some people would be concerned about a convicted murderer escorting tours — including those of schoolchildren — around the Governor’s Mansion. Particularly Haverkamp, who was involved in the abuse and death of a 5-year-old boy.
“I can understand the public being concerned,” Richard said. “I’m concerned too. I’m the public.”
Both 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, aside from occasional routine personnel issues.
“They haven’t stolen a towel from the mansion,” Richard said. “They haven’t come back with an ashtray.”
Houston said it’s better to gradually reintegrate felons into society rather than just show them the door once their sentences expire.
Better to get a job, start a bank account, begin seeing their families.
“When people are released from prison, they’re rebuilding a life,” Houston said.
Parole board hearings are held at the Community Corrections Center, and often when one of the inmates gets paroled, Richard said, he’ll find them in the lobby afterward, nervously checking the time rather than celebrating. Why? They’re late for work.
Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.
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