Prisoner Reform and Public Safety in Alaska 

     As many Alaskans today know, over the past several years the legislature has struggled with a massive deficit along with an ever growing-and ever more costly-prison system. After more than 30 years of trying the 'tough on crime' method, we still have a worsening drug epidemic and unrelieved recidivism. While this problem remains unsolved victims are devastated and families torn apart.

     A brief history of the facts. In 1970 our state had a population of 302,173, a crime rate index of 11,488 and 482 prisoners. In 2015, we had a population of 738,432, a crime rate index of 26,641 and a prisoner population of 6010: over a 1000 per cent increase.Unfortunately our past methods of criminal incarceration and reentry were often based on personal ideas or beliefs, divorced from evidentiary fact.We forgot that everyone CAN change, along with the transformative power of forgiveness for those who take responsibility for their wrongdoing and change their life.

     Over the next several months we are going to work to put together a comprehensive, common sense, and effective plan that addresses the drug and recidivism problems facing our state, with the goal of lowering incarceration through positive prisoner transformation. By using a balanced approach we can be tough on the unrepentant criminal while offering a rewarding path to change to the prisoners seeking a new life without crime.

Our plan will discuss the following issues:

• Circumstances that promote crime and drug use
• The cost of crime
• The cost of incarceration
• Incarceration methods and results
• Incarceration with purpose, achieving positive change
• Prisoner right and privileges in ADOC
• Impact of family on prisoner rehabilitation
• Alaskan culture in ADOC
• Gainful employment while incarcerated
• The value of faith
• Inmate property
• Programming
• Reentry
• Prisoner population growth
• Private prisons
• Staff as role models
• Improving efficiency,programming, and security through technology
• Effective staff training
• Difficulties in and for ADOC
  

     The issues will be discussed from all angles: staff, family, victims, inmates, researchers, and so on. This will be followed by common sense solutions as evidenced by various reports and studies, as well as the personal experience of those involved. Ultimately our goal is to create a plan that will: