This week your chapter focuses on voluntary and involuntary commitments.
Directions:
Read Case History Below
Find 2 articles that support the view Nikko Jenkins should not have been released from prison/but rather committed to the Regional Center
Find 2 articles that support the view Nikko Jenkins should have been released from prison/and the prison was not at fault for anything.
Answer discussion question 1 listed all the way at the bottom:
Case History of Nikko Jenkins
Starting in 2003, Nikko Jenkins served 10 years in prison from the age of 15 for two armed carjackings, according to the Associated Press.
Within 10 days after serving 1/2 of a 21-year prison sentence in Nebraska, Nikko Jenkins shot and killed 4 people. The first two people he killed were Juan Uribe-Pena and Jorge Cajiga-Ruiz after luring them with the help of his cousin and sister who pretended they were going to do” sex acts” with the men as prostitutes. Both men were shot in the head with shotguns using deer slugs. stolen.
Eight days later, Jenkins and his sister, Erica Jenkins, killed an acquaintance named Curtis Bradford. According to the prosecution, “Once they got to a location where he was murdered … [Jenkins’ sister] shot him once in the head”. And then Jenkins said, “this is how you do it”, and — and proceeded to use a shotgun with a deer slug …” (Erica was also convicted).
Two days later, Jenkins killed Andrea Kruger on 168th and Fort. According to court documents, Kruger was driving home from work the night of August 21, 2013, when she was carjacked by Jenkins, his uncle, his sister, and a cousin. The prosecutor claimed Jenkins pulled Mrs. Kruger out of her SUV so they could have the vehicle to “rob or jack other people in Northwest Omaha because people out there don’t lock their cars or garages.” Jenkins shot Mrs. Kruger four times in the head, neck and back, then stole her car. Jenkins had just been released from the Nebraska State Prison. In May 2017, Jenkins was sentenced by a 3-judge panel to death plus 450 years in prison for 4 counts of murder.
There has been much discussion that the Nebraska Prison/Parole System should have NOT released Jenkins from prison. The prison officials knew that Jenkins suffered from mental illness and was a danger to himself and should not have been released, but rather committed to the Nebraska Regional Center.
Discussion Question 1
Discuss the information from your research with your instructor/classmates.
Do you feel the prison made a mistake in releasing Jenkins vs asking the court to get involved and consider an involuntary commitment?
