Sponsor Statement for House CS for CS for SB 1 (Jud)

"The Alaska No Frills Prison Act"

In 1994, voters overwhelmingly adopted the "Rights of Victims of Crime" state constitutional amendment. Before the adoption of that amendment, the state constitution required that prison administration be based on two factors; rehabilitation and protecting the public. The constitutional amendment added additional constitutional mandates to our state's prison system. Criminal administration is now based on five factors including: protecting the public, community condemnation of the offender, the rights of the victims of crimes, restitution from the offender, and the principal of reformation.

Last year a similar version of "The Alaska No-Frills Prison Act" passed the State Senate 14-4 and passed State House 26-11 on the last day of session. However the Senate did not take action to concur with changes made to the bill in the House and it did not become law.

Senate Bill 1 seeks to implement the requirements of the new state constitutional provisions in several ways.

Senate Bill 1 protects the public safety by prohibiting participation or instruction in martial arts or any other activity that would facilitate violent behavior. Such activities serve no rehabilitation purpose and can make a prisoner an even more serious danger.

Senate Bill 1 enhances rehabilitation opportunities for prisoners by increasing vocational training opportunities.

Senate Bill 1 helps fulfill the mandate of the new "community condemnation" constitutional language by removing or prohibiting certain luxuries from Alaskan prisons.

Some of the "luxuries" prohibited or removed under Senate Bill 1 include cassette tape players, VCRs and computers in inmate living quarters, premium cable television, and possession of pornographic material.

The legislation adds a new cost saving provision by directing the Department of Corrections to establish a fee for the use of electrical utilities. The bill also allows the department to recoup costs for certain health care services provided to prisoners.

Senate Bill 1 will reduce state costs for prisoner medical expenses by requiring inmates to reimburse the state for either the full or partial costs of treatment for any pre-existing medical condition. Also the term "severely medically disabled" is amended by Senate Bill 1 allowing the department greater flexibility in granting "special medical paroles". Parole would only be granted if the inmate's physical ability to commit an offense similar to the offense for which the inmate was convicted or an offense punishable by a felony is substantially eliminated. The parole of only one such prisoner could save the state as much as $500,000.

The legislation incorporates standards regarding the possession of televisions in inmate's cells which clearly define the circumstances for possessing a television. Inmates who pay for their own television and cable service and are incapable of obtaining or have attained a high school or general education development diploma would still be allowed to possess a television in their living quarters as an incentive for:

• actively engaging in an educational, vocational training, or employment program;
• satisfying restitution orders or complying with a regular and current payment schedule for all restitution orders entered by court as part of the prisoner's sentence and, if applicable, actively engaging in court or department ordered rehabilitation programs.

The legislation removes the prohibition against monitoring phone calls of prisoners in pre-trial facilities, except for calls to their legal counsel. An additional provision mandates that prisoners shall be productively employed for as many hours each day as feasible.

The Department of Corrections has stated that a new prison is needed in Alaska to ease the overcrowding and accommodate Alaska's ever increasing prison population. Unfortunately, past governors and legislatures neglected to address the prison capacity problem. Now, more than ever, Alaskans understand that prison overcrowding is a serious problem. Most Alaskans would support the state building more correctional facilities if they didn't feel that prisons were currently too soft.

Senate Bill 1 is a balanced cost saving proposal in compliance with the Alaska Constitution's requirements for public safety, community condemnation, and rehabilitation.

DD/jja

Sponsor Statement for SB 1 (FIN)

"The Alaska No Frills Prison Act"

In 1994, voters overwhelmingly adopted the "Rights of Victims of Crime" state constitutional amendment. Before the adoption of that amendment, the state constitution required that prison administration be based on two factors; rehabilitation and protecting the public. The constitutional amendment added additional constitutional mandates to our state's prison system. Criminal administration is now based on five factors including: protecting the public, community condemnation of the offender, the rights of the victims of crimes, restitution from the offender, and the principal of reformation.

Last year a similar version of "The Alaska No-Frills Prison Act" passed the State Senate 14-4 and passed State House 26-11 on the last day of session. However the Senate did not take action to concur with changes made to the bill in the House and it did not become law.

Senate Bill 1 seeks to implement the requirements of the new state constitutional provisions in several ways.

Senate Bill 1 protects the public safety by prohibiting participation or instruction in martial arts or any other activity that would facilitate violent behavior. Such activities serve no rehabilitation purpose and can make a prisoner an even more serious danger.

Senate Bill 1 enhances rehabilitation opportunities for prisoners by increasing vocational training opportunities.

Senate Bill 1 helps fulfill the mandate of the new "community condemnation" constitutional language by removing or prohibiting certain luxuries from Alaskan prisons.

Some of the "luxuries" prohibited or removed under Senate Bill 1 include cassette tape players, VCRs and computers in inmate living quarters, premium cable television, and possession of pornographic material.

The legislation adds a new cost saving provision by instituting a fee (not more than $2 a month) for use of electrical utilities. The bill also allows the department to recoup costs for certain health care services provided to prisoners.

Senate Bill 1 will reduce state costs for prisoner medical expenses by requiring inmates to reimburse the state for either the full or partial costs of treatment for any pre-existing medical condition. Also the term "severely medically disabled" is amended by Senate Bill 1 allowing the department greater flexibility in granting "special medical paroles". Parole would only be granted if the inmate's physical ability to commit an offense similar to the offense for which the inmate was convicted or an offense punishable by a felony is substantially eliminated. The parole of only one such prisoner could save the state as much as $500,000.

The legislation incorporates standards regarding the possession of televisions in inmate's cells which clearly define the circumstances for possessing a television. Inmates who pay for their own television and cable service and are incapable of obtaining or have attained a high school or general education development diploma would still be allowed to possess a television in their living quarters as an incentive for:

• actively engaging in an educational, vocational training, or employment program;

• satisfying restitution orders or complying with a regular and current payment schedule for all restitution orders entered by court as part of the prisoner's sentence and, if applicable, actively engaging in court or department ordered rehabilitation programs.

The legislation removes the prohibition against monitoring phone calls of prisoners in pre-trial facilities, except for calls to their legal counsel. An additional provision mandates that prisoners shall be productively employed for as many hours each day as feasible.

The Department of Corrections has stated that a new prison is needed in Alaska to ease the overcrowding and accommodate Alaska's ever increasing prison population. Unfortunately, past governors and legislatures neglected to address the prison capacity problem. Now, more than ever, Alaskans understand that prison overcrowding is a serious problem. Most Alaskans would support the state building more correctional facilities if they didn't feel that prisons were currently too soft.

Senate Bill 1 is a balanced cost saving proposal in compliance with the Alaska Constitution's requirements for public safety, community condemnation, and rehabilitation.

DD/jja

Sponsor Statement for SB 1 (JUD)

The Alaska No Frills Prison Act

In 1994, voters overwhelmingly adopted the "Rights of Victims of Crime" state constitutional amendment. Before the adoption of that amendment, the state constitution required that prison administration be based on two factors; rehabilitation and protecting the public. The constitutional amendment added additional constitutional mandates to our state's prison system. Criminal administration is now based on five factors including: protecting the public, community condemnation of the offender, the rights of the victims of crimes, restitution from the offender, and the principal of reformation.

Last year a similar version of "The Alaska No-Frills Prison Act" passed the State Senate 14-4 and passed State House 26-11 on the last day of session. However the Senate did not take action to concur with changes made to the bill in the House and it did not become law.

Senate Bill 1 seeks to implement the requirements of the new state constitutional provisions in several ways.

Senate Bill 1 protects the public safety by prohibiting participation or instruction in martial arts or any other activity that would facilitate violent behavior. Such activities serve no rehabilitation purpose and can make a prisoner an even more serious danger.

Senate Bill 1 enhances rehabilitation opportunities for prisoners by increasing vocational training opportunities.

Senate Bill 1 helps fulfill the mandate of the new "community condemnation" constitutional language by removing or prohibiting certain luxuries from Alaskan prisons.

Some of the "luxuries" prohibited or removed under Senate Bill 1 include cassette tape players, VCRs and computers in inmate living quarters, premium cable television, and possession of pornographic material.

The legislation adds a new cost saving provision by instituting a fee (not more than $2 a month) for use of electrical utilities. The bill also allows the department to recoup costs for certain health care services provided to prisoners.

Senate Bill 1 will reduce state costs for prisoner medical expenses by requiring inmates to reimburse the state for either the full or partial costs of treatment for any pre-existing medical condition. Also the term "severely medically disabled" is amended by Senate Bill 1 allowing the department greater flexibility in granting "special medical paroles". Parole would only be granted if the inmate's physical ability to commit an offense similar to the offense for which the inmate was convicted or an offense punishable by a felony is substantially eliminated. The parole of only one such prisoner could save the state as much as $500,000.

The legislation incorporates standards regarding the possession of televisions in inmate's cells which clearly define the circumstances for possessing a television. Inmates who pay for their own television and cable service and are incapable of obtaining or have attained a high school or general education development diploma would still be allowed to possess a television in their living quarters as an incentive for:

• actively engaging in an educational, vocational training, or employment program;

• satisfying restitution orders or complying with a regular and current payment schedule for all restitution orders entered by court as part of the prisoner's sentence and, if applicable, actively engaging in court or department ordered rehabilitation programs.

The legislation removes the prohibition against monitoring phone calls of prisoners in pre-trial facilities, except for calls to their legal counsel. An additional provision mandates that prisoners shall be productively employed for as many hours each day as feasible.

The Department of Corrections has stated that a new prison is needed in Alaska to ease the overcrowding and accommodate Alaska's ever increasing prison population. Unfortunately, past governors and legislatures neglected to address the prison capacity problem. Now, more than ever, Alaskans understand that prison overcrowding is a serious problem. Most Alaskans would support the state building more correctional facilities if they didn't feel that prisons were currently too soft.

Senate Bill 1 is a balanced cost saving proposal in compliance with the Alaska Constitution's requirements for public safety, community condemnation, and rehabilitation.

DD/jja