ALASKA CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM - A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION

• NCJ Number: 18021
• Author(s): T O MURTON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 36 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Alaska State Legislature
• Corporate Author: Murton Foundation for Criminal Justice, Inc
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE AUTHOR TRACES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ALASKAN CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, AND CRITICIZES CURRENT CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE BUILDING OF A NEW CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AND THE CONTINUED USE OF OUT-OF-STATE PRISONS.

Abstract

THIS EVALUATION WAS BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH PRESENT AND PAST CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS, A REVIEW OF ALL CONSULTANT REPORTS ON ALASKA, A REVIEW OF BUDGETARY AND PLANNING INFORMATION, AND A REVIEW OF AN ALASKA CORRECTIONS MANUAL AND THE CORRECTIONS BUDGET FOR THE 1974-75 YEAR. THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT DURING THE PERIOD OF 1965-1973, THERE HAS BEEN A ZERO PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INMATES AND ONLY A 2.3 PERCENT INCREASE IN PROBATIONERS AND PAROLEES. HOWEVER, DURING THE SAME PERIOD, THERE WAS A 169 PERCENT INCREASE IN STAFF, AND A BUDGET INCREASE OF 214 PERCENT. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT NO APPRECIABLE INCREASE IN SERVICE HAS RESULTED. HE FURTHER ARGUES THAT CONSTRUCTION OF THE 5.2 MILLION DOLLAR EAGLE RIVER CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AND CONTINUED USE OF OUT-OF-STATE PRISONS ARE NOT COSTEFFECTIVE, SINCE EVEN IF ALL OUTSIDE PRISONERS WERE RETURNED TO ALASKA THERE WOULD STILL BE AT LEAST A 25 PERCENT EXCESS BED CAPACITY FOR ALASKA PRISONERS. AMONG OTHER THINGS, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT OUTSIDE CONTRACTS BE ENDED, THAT INCREASES IN PERSONNEL BE ELIMINATED, AND THAT NEW FACILITIES SHOULD NOT YET BE BUILT.