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Alaska Legislature Supports VPSOs

(JUNEAU) - The Alaska Legislature took what rural legislative leader Reggie Joule (D-Kotzebue) referred to as a "big step" for the Village Public Safety Officers' Program with the passage of SB 145.

The VPSO legislation, which is sponsored by Senator Rick Halford (R-Chugiak) and cosponsored by fifteen members of the Senate and cross-sponsored by nine House members, will increase the responsibilities, advancement opportunities, as well as compensation and benefits.

SB 145 provides for the ability for VPSOs to perform specific parole and probation supervision. Currently parole supervision is not available in most small villages, requiring rural Alaskans to remain in urban areas and regional hubs instead of returning to their home villages where they will have a community support network and will be less likely to re-offend. "If they have to stay in a regional center during their probation then the availability of drugs and alcohol, as well as the lack of family support make successful completion less likely" said Halford.

Rep Mary Kapsner (D-Bethel), a cross sponsor of the legislation, cited the large number of people from rural Alaska who are incarcerated as a result of alcohol related crimes. The Bethel representative stated during floor debate that the ability for offenders to return to dry villages for their parole as an important provision of SB 145.

By assuming these extra probation and parole supervision duties, VPSOs can increase their pay.

In an effort to provide VPSOs with needed support, the legislation creates Regional Public Safety Officers within the Department of Public Safety. These officers will serve as a link between VPSOs and the troopers. In addition to providing a needed support role to VPSOs, the position will also serve as a career path for the VPSOs. Like the village officers, the Regional Public Safety Officers will be selected from applicants who reside in the area and will not be forced to move around the state, as Troopers are required to do. "It is our intent that the regional officers be selected from the ranks of the village public safety officers", added Halford.

"The incentives included in this legislation represents a meaningful step toward addressing systemic problems with the VPSO program, and provide new opportunities for VSPOs to better serve the people in their rural communities" said Halford.

Halford expressed his appreciation for the bipartisan support in the legislature and constructive participation by the Departments of Public Safety, Corrections, Administration and Law. "Thanks to the hard work of everyone involved, we have made a significant step towards providing improved law enforcement for rural Alaska."

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