SB 195 will provide a funding mechanism to take care of four community jails that are in dire need of expansion or replacement.

We have 15 community jails located in rural communities that do not have state Department of Corrections correctional facilities. These community jails provide short-term detention and confinement for persons held under state law awaiting court services, serving short sentences, waiting for transport to state facilities, or held under non-criminal substance-abuse and mental health protective custody.

Of the 15 community jails located throughout the state, four are in critical need of expansion or replacement. The Dillingham and Kotzebue Community Jails are priorities due to the intensity of demand for their services. The North Slope Borough Community Jail needs more beds and has no room to expand at its current 2nd floor location, and the Kodiak Community Jail needs to be replaced due to its age and current condition.

This bill would provide for the issuance of Certificates of Participation (COP). Each of the four municipalities would receive $4,000,000 from the proceeds of the COP's upon the condition that they provide a matching share of at least $4,000,000.

Passage of this bill will address the most critical Community Jail facilities. I urge your support.

Last Updated: 05-01-03

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