Justice in Action in the News
December 21, 2025
12-hour Justice in Action vigil in Lincoln puts spotlight on jail overcrowding, solutions
The holidays are a time of giving, and for Justice in Action, that means giving community members who are in prison a voice.
Members of Justice in Action gathered in front of the Lancaster County building Sunday to advocate for diversion programs to address jail overcrowding.
Members from the different faith communities were taking part in the event throughout the day to show their investment and commitment to expanding diversion programs within the county.
Representatives from each community come together to address big community problems, and, for the past three years, the big problem is the overcrowding of the Lancaster County Jail.
December 21, 2025
Justice in Action holds 12-hour vigil outside city-county building in Lincoln
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - Sunday is the Winter Solstice, the day where the Earth’s axis is the most tilted away from the sun, resulting in the longest night of the year.
Justice in Action is holding a 12-hour vigil to shine light on the Lancaster County Jail’s overcrowding issue and advocate for the expansion of diversion programs that focus on rehabilitation.
“This is where those decisions are made,” said Reverent Tobi White, Co-President of Justice in Action. “This is where Mr. Condon and his staff are, where the courts are, so this is where we decided to set up.”
December 9, 2025
Faith coalition, Mediation Center launch free pre-eviction program for tenants and landlords
In 2023, more than 1,300 children in Lancaster County faced eviction.
In Lincoln's poorest schools, students move an average of three times per school year, the Rev. Thomas Dummermuth said.
"This instability not only disrupts their home life, it disrupts their education and it places stress on the whole school community," Dummermuth, co-president of the Justice in Action coalition.
May 2, 2025
Justice in Action tackles Lincoln’s housing, mental health, diversion issues
Leaders of Justice in Action, the Lincoln-Lancaster County-based justice group, got affirmative responses on their plans on eviction mediation and mental health navigation at its Nehemiah Action Assembly on May 1, but a more cautious response on its goal of adult pre-trial diversion.
May 2, 2025
‘Justice in Action’ pushing for diversion programs in justice system
More than 1,000 people filed into St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in southeast Lincoln on Thursday to hear from Justice in Action.
The organization represents 26 faith communities in Lincoln, and has been advocating for the expansion of diversion programs in the justice system to reduce the amount of people stuck in the system and help repeat offenders from ending up back in jail.
May 2, 2025
Justice in Action group draws more than 1,000, gets commitments on their priorities
Leaders of “Justice in Action,” a coalition of 27 faith communities, asked three guests at its annual assembly Thursday to commit to specific goals on three of its priorities — increasing mental health access, reducing jail overcrowding and avoiding evictions.
May 8, 2024
Multi-faith effort elevates conversation on justice
Discussions of justice issues can often be relegated to sleepy board rooms and sparsely attended government meetings, where conversations about improving the justice system may not always take center stage. In Lincoln last Thursday a coalition of 24 local faith communities gave those issues the platform they deserve in the packed 2,000-seat sanctuary at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church as a part of the annual Justice in Action Assembly.
November 21, 2024
Faith group again pleads with Lancaster County attorney to expand jail diversion
A group of faith leaders and members of a grassroots group called Justice in Action continued their efforts Thursday to convince the Lancaster County attorney to expand existing diversion programs.
About 100 people gathered outside the Hall of Justice and, holding a banner that read “Divert, Don’t Detain." They also sang the spiritual “I Shall Not be Moved” and unrolled a scroll with about 300 signatures inviting County Attorney Pat Condon to their assembly in May that about 1,200 people attended last year.
November 21, 2024
Lincoln faith-based organization calls for more pretrial diversion programs
Justice in Action, a faith-based organization representing 26 Lincoln faith communities, held a rally at the steps of the Hall of Justice on Thursday demanding the expansion of diversion programs.
The organization has been urging the Lancaster County Attorney for action, with no success.
They say over 700 people in Lincoln will spend this Thanksgiving in jail, not because they’ve been convicted of a crime, but because they are awaiting trial.
May 3, 2024
Faith-Based Group Calls on More Pre-Trial Diversion Options for Non-Violent Offenders
LINCOLN–Members of a faith-based organization rallied in front of the Hall of Justice in downtown Lincoln Friday morning, calling on local officials to increase pre-trial diversion, specifically for those non-violent drug offenders that are in jail.
May 3, 2024
Grassroots, faith-based nonprofit encourages action on justice issues at Lincoln assembly
A coalition of 24 local faith communities expected 1,500 people at its annual assembly Thursday — a call to action on the issues of affordable housing, mental health and pretrial diversion — and the 2,000-seat sanctuary at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church was nearly full.
May 8, 2024
Justice in Action sees progress in Lincoln
LINCOLN -- A year after its first Nehemiah Action Assembly, Justice in Action continues to show progress and effort toward helping people in need in Lincoln and Lancaster County.
May 27, 2023
Lincoln faith congregations rally around organization pushing for community change
Earlier this month, more than 1,000 Nebraskans attended the first call-to-action event held by Justice in Action — a nonprofit organization formed in 2022 by leaders of Lincoln and Lancaster County faith congregations dedicated to creating community change.
July 18, 2023
Faith leaders: Lancaster County should invest in diversion, not moving inmates
Members of Justice in Action — a nonprofit created last year to address mental health and criminal justice reform — filled the Lancaster County board room Tuesday to oppose the more than $1 million budgeted to move jail inmates to other counties to deal with overcrowding.
April 3, 2024
Local View: Compassion and Community
For more than a year the Lancaster County Jail has exceeded capacity. To deal with the crisis, the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners made the decision to allocate over $1 million of taxpayer money to house individuals in jails outside of our jurisdiction.