Fair Justice for Lancaster County

As Lancaster County Attorney, my mission will be to protect public safety, uphold the law, and lead from the front in advancing smart, evidence-based alternatives to incarceration that strengthen our justice system.

For more than three decades, I have served in Nebraska courtrooms as both a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney. Spending half my career on each side of the courtroom has shaped my belief that justice must be strong, fair, and grounded in evidence. I am running to deliver safe, smart, and accountable leadership for Lancaster County.

My Priorities

Public Safety First

Public safety and upholding the law comes first. Violent and serious offenders will be prosecuted aggressively and decisively. Accountability is not negotiable. We will work to ensure that victims, witnesses, and their families receive support, clear communication, and meaningful participation in the system that is designed to protect them. Smart prosecution means applying the right tool to the right case, fairly and consistently.

Smart, Evidence-Based Justice

Our jails are overcrowded with many individuals in custody struggling with untreated mental illness, substance abuse, and/or homelessness. Jail overcrowding strains county resources and does not always improve public safety. My office will work collaboratively with judges, law enforcement, pretrial services, and community partners to improve and expand evidence-based pretrial assessments, diversion programs, problem-solving courts, and alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders. Using the right tool for the right situation strengthens, rather than weakens, public safety.

Balanced Juvenile Justice Reform

Juvenile justice requires a different lens. Young people who make poor decisions should face consequences, but those consequences should not unnecessarily destroy their future. My office will seek comprehensive juvenile justice reform that addresses misconduct firmly while avoiding overreach. The goal is accountability paired with rehabilitation with interventions that correct behavior without permanently closing doors because of adolescent mistakes.

Read more about my priorities and my experience.

Public safety Through smart reform.

Randy Ritnour is a seasoned Nebraska attorney with over 33 years of experience in criminal prosecution and public service.

He previously served as County Attorney in Gage and Johnson Counties, where he led significant prosecutorial work while also advancing thoughtful, evidence-based reforms. Randy helped establish a four-county drug court designed to reduce recidivism and address substance abuse through accountability and treatment. He also worked to expand juvenile diversion programs that hold young offenders accountable while giving them a structured opportunity to correct course without permanently damaging their future.

During his tenure, Ritnour played a key role in supervising efforts that contributed to the exoneration of the “Beatrice Six,” shaping his commitment to fairness, accuracy, and integrity in criminal justice.

He brings decades of legal expertise and a deep commitment to the principles of fairness, accountability, and community service to his work.

Meet Randy

Professional Training and Affiliations

Training:

Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC)
Original Medicolegal Death Investigator Training, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Response to Bombing Incidents (RBI), New Mexico Tech Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center (EMRTC)
Multiple training courses through the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA)
Adult Treatment Court Training, Annapolis, Maryland

Professional Memberships: