Governor approves distributing prisoners' cash awards to victims

AB22, signed Thursday, was authored by Assemblywoman Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, who said the idea is for prisoners to "meet their financial obligations" and to curtail lawsuits filed by inmates.

Under AB22, part of an inmate's award from a successful civil action against Nevada would cover the cost of public defenders and any old fines or fees from the initial trial that landed the convict in prison.

Victims of the inmate's crime also could get a cut. The convict wouldn't get a dime until all the old debts are cleared.

Some lawmakers had questioned whether families of prisoners killed as a result of state negligence or use of excessive force would lose out under the bill.

But they were told any money won in a wrongful death case against the state would go to prisoners' families.

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