Thanks to a state law, more in Douglas County are opting to work off fines rather than spend time in a jail cell.
At a Douglas County commissioner's meeting Tuesday, judge Marcela Keim spoke at length about the program. It stemmed from a law passed last year which lets low income offenders pay fines in installments or through community service.
"A lot of people are choosing now, and it seems somewhat counterintuitive, I would get more money toward my fine if i sat it out, but people see more value in working versus sitting," she said.
In the last session of the unicameral, senators included several measures to help lower state prison populations.
Nebraska prisons face a 2020 deadline to reduce inmate population.
