Session: State Capitol, Room 403 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-4931 Fax: (907) 465-4316 Interim: 716 W 4th, Suite 600 Anchorage, AK 99501-2133 Phone: (907) 269-0123 Fax: (907) 269-0124

Sponsor Statement for HCR 26
House Arrest/Electronic Monitoring

Supporting increased use of the house arrest program/electronic monitoring with sobriety monitoring as a means of preventing crime and reducing the high costs of imprisonment in Alaska.

In 1998, the Legislature established the house arrest program/electronic monitoring (HAP/EM) authorizing the commissioner of corrections to designate prisoners to serve their terms of imprisonment or temporary commitment by electronic monitoring at their residence.

The use of this program protects the public by restricting an offenders' freedom, yet allows the offender to function productively in society with regard to work, family and education commitments.

Offenders who are able are required to pay costs of the HAP/EM program at $14.00 per day, thus saving the state from paying the costs of imprisonment. The current average cost of incarceration statewide is $114.00 per day.

While the program defines stringent parameters by which an individual can be considered as a participant in HAP/EM, it is believed that the program can be better utilized in combination with sobriety monitoring. This resolution attempts to expand the use of HAP/EM as a means of serving terms of imprisonment or temporary commitment for offenders who are in or have completed a therapeutic designed court program. Developing a program specifically for alcohol or other drug dependent offenders utilizing a combination of sobriety monitoring, treatment and anti-craving medication as is used in district court wellness programs would make excellent use of HAP/EM.

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