Alaska State Legislature

News Release

For Immediate Release: March 17, 1997

Contact: Senator Jerry Ward, Co-Chair (907) 465-4940 or Representative Eldon Mulder, Co-Chair (907) 465-2647

Finance Subcommittee on Corrections Will Review Native Prison Overcrowding In Alaska’s Prisons

Juneau -- To review recommendations suggested in the Alaska Native Commission Report for reducing Native overcrowding in Alaska's prisons, Senator Jerry Ward and Representative Eldon Mulder will hold a joint Corrections Subcommittee meeting. The meeting will be Friday, March 21, in the Senate Finance Chambers of the State Capitol from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

"Part of the Republican-led Majority’s Commitment to Alaska is to address Alaska’s growing crime problem -- not just in our cities, but also in our rural villages where the effects of drugs and alcohol on Native crime and repeat offenses are taking their toll."

"The percentage of Native inmates incarcerated in Alaska prisons is alarming," said Representative Mulder. "When fifteen percent of the general population accounts for nearly forty percent of Alaska's prison population, there is a serious problem deserving our immediate attention."

In 1990, at the urging of Alaska Native groups, Congress created a Joint State and Federal Commission called the Alaska Native Commission Report. The Commission was made up of prominent Native and non-Native Alaskans who studied important Native issues over an 18 month period. They developed a comprehensive final report, "Meeting Basic Law Enforcement and Judicial Needs", and presented it to Congress, the President, the Governor and the Legislature.

The Corrections Subcommittee will determine if recommendations made in the Native Commission Report have been implemented and examine those results.

"Programs that don't work should be changed or stopped", Ward said. "This subcommittee hearing will be a good start to finding a solution. We owe it to all Alaskans to do everything we can to help those who are willing to help themselves."

Those scheduled to testify include Native Elders from around the state, and former members of The Alaska Native Commission.

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