Some Alaska inmates who committed crimes as juveniles, and were tried as adults, face long prison sentences without the possibility of getting out on parole for decades. One Alaska senator wants to change that.
"alaska criminal justice commission"
Alaska Senate sends budget to governor without PFDs
It’s not clear how deeply Gov. Mike Dunleavy will cut using the line-item veto. Medicaid, the university and school bond debt reimbursement are the areas with the biggest increases over what he proposed.
New pretrial system scales back cash bail, increases monitoring
The state has created an entirely new Pretrial Enforcement Division. Its 60 officers are responsible for monitoring defendants’ compliance with their conditions of release.
Committee votes against most amendments to crime bill
Rep. Chuck Kopp has proven to be a key vote, largely sticking to Alaska Criminal Justice Commission recommendations.
As anger over crime boils over, Alaska lawmakers weigh changes to law
Lawmakers are trying to balance a body of research that supports changes they made last year, with the outrage about the current rise in crime.
Alaska lawmakers seek balance between public outcry over crime and national evidence
Social science research that shaped the law points to evidence that sending many offenders to jail will actually increase the likelihood they’ll commit more violations in the future.
Juneau city prosecutors say criminal justice reform bill’s sentencing provisions must be fixed
City and Borough of Juneau Attorney Amy Mead highlights discrepancies in sentences for disorderly conduct, assault and larceny as examples.
Q&A: Legislative aide lobbied for amendment that could benefit son in sex crime case
KTUU is reporting that a local legislative aide tried to affect a state law in a way that would benefit his son, who state prosecutors said sexually abused a 12-year-old girl when he was 18. KTUU reporter Austin Baird discusses the story.
First-time offenders get second chance under new criminal justice reform law
Low-level, low-risk offenders have an opportunity for a fresh start with a clean slate after their case is dismissed as part of a suspended entry of judgment, a new form of deferred prosecution.
Senate sends crime bill to Gov. Walker’s desk
Senate Bill 91 would allow some low-risk nonviolent offenders to avoid jail time.