NEBRASKA OMBUDSMAN - INNOVATION IN STATE GOVERNMENT

• NCJ Number: 16499
• Author(s): A J WYNER
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 174 pages
• Grant Number(s): CG-9041
• Sponsoring Agency: US Executive Office of the President
• Corporate Author: University of California, Berkeley
• Sale Source: University of California, Berkeley
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A DESCRIPTION, ANALYSIS, AND EVALUATION OF THE ATTEMPTS TO INTRODUCE THE OMBUDSMAN CONCEPT IN NEBRASKA, FROM THE PRELIMINARIES PRIOR TO ADOPTION OF THE OMBUDSMAN LEGISLATION THROUGH ITS FIRST 26 MONTHS OF OPERATION.

Abstract

THE OMBUDSMAN IS DEFINED AS AN OFFICIAL SELECTED BY A LEGISLATURE TO INVESTIGATE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON COMPLAINTS AGAINST ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES, USUALLY BROUGHT TO HIM BY PRIVATE CITIZENS. THE MOTIVATION TO INTRODUCE AN OMBUDSMAN OFFICE IN NEBRASKA, OBSTACLES MET IN THIS ATTEMPT, AND RESOURCES USED TO OVERCOME THEM ARE DESCRIBED. ISSUES ENCOUNTERED IN APPOINTING THE FIRST OMBUDSMAN, SUCH AS SALARY, AND INTERPERSONAL CONFLICTS, ARE ALSO DETAILED. A DESCRIPTION OF EARLIER GRIEVANCE MECHANISMS IN NEBRASKA IS PROVIDED. AMONG THESE ARE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES, CASES HANDLED BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, COMPLAINTS TO LEGISLATORS, CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. OPERATING PROCEDURES OF THE NEBRASKA OMBUDSMAN ARE DESCRIBED, AND AN ANALYSIS OF THE OMBUDSMAN'S CASELOAD IS PROVIDED. ALSO EXPLORED IS THE POLITICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ENVIRONMENT OF THE OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE. AN EVALUATION OF THE NEBRASKA OMBUDSMAN'S FIRST TWO YEARS AND A COMMENTARY ON THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE OFFICE HAS SUCCESSFULLY INTRODUCED A NEW COMPLAINT-HANDLING PROCEDURE INTO STATE GOVERNMENT IN NEBRASKA ARE INCLUDED.