LINCOLN — Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeffrey Funke on Thursday celebrated the judicial branch’s work to deliver justice to Nebraskans, often at lower costs than incarceration.

In his second annual “State of the Judiciary” speech, made annually before the Legislature, Funke highlighted how the state’s court-overseen problem-solving courts, probation system and more help keep wayward Nebraskans out of prison.

Funke said it costs about $5,000 each year to supervise a participant in one of 35 problem-solving courts, a portion of which participants pay, and about $3,500 each year to supervise an adult on probation.

By comparison, Funke said, incarceration costs state taxpayers about $50,000 each year.

“The work of the Judicial Branch is challenging and regularly involves issues which plague our society,” Funke said. “Support from both the executive and legislative branches is necessary to ensure that we continue to achieve our shared goals.”

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