Alaska Criminal Justice Commission Recommends Overhaul

In December 2015, the Alaska Criminal Justice Commission delivered a comprehensive set of data-driven policy recommendations for state lawmakers to consider during the 2016 legislative session. Among the proposed reforms:

• Implement evidence-based pretrial practices.
• Prioritize prison beds for serious and violent offenders.
• Strengthen supervision and programs to reduce recidivism.
• Ensure oversight and accountability.
• Expand crime victims’ rights.

If adopted, the recommendations would not only avoid a projected 27 percent increase in the state’s prison population but would also reduce it by 21 percent over the next 10 years, saving the state an estimated $424 million.

Created in June 2015, the commission received technical assistance from The Pew Charitable Trusts as part of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, a public-private partnership of Pew, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, and other organizations.

The Alaska Legislature is expected to act on the recommendations during the 2016 legislative session.

Read more about public safety in Alaska.