Alaska State Legislature
News from the Senate Majority

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
716 West 4th Avenue, Suite 510
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Phone: 907/258-8184
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

Resolution Changes the Standard for Determining Prisoner's Rights in Alaska

For Immediate Release: November 18, 1997 Contact: James Armstrong at (907) 258-8181

Anchorage -- The House Judiciary committee recently held an interim meeting on Senate Joint Resolution 3 which limits the rights of prisoners in the State of Alaska to the requirements of the United States Constitution. SJR 3, authored by Senator Dave Donley (R-Anchorage), passed the State Senate by a vote of 15-4 last session and is currently under consideration by the State House.

SJR 3 adds a new section to the Alaska Constitution which adopts the United States Constitution as the standard for determining the rights of convicted prisoners in Alaska.

"The Alaska State Constitution provides Alaskans with individual rights and liberties that the United States Constitution does not. Unfortunately these additional constitutional rights protect not only law abiding Alaskans but also give special rights to convicted criminals currently incarcerated in Alaska. These special prisoner's rights make prison administration more costly and complicated in Alaska," explained Senator Donley.

"I believe a majority of Alaskans would agree that our special state constitutional rights are not appropriate for convicted imprisoned criminals," Senator Donley said.

"Further, we have seen the Alaska Supreme Court, in numerous decisions, expand upon the rights and protections afforded to prisoners based on our more protective state constitutional standards," said Donley. "I don't think that is what the crafters of our constitution had in mind when they incorporated these unique protections for our citizenry.”

"I would like to thank House Judiciary Chairman Joe Green for scheduling SJR 3, especially during the interim," Donley said. "An amendment to our constitution is a very serious matter. I am glad committee members had the opportunity to discuss this issue in length before session begins next January."

If SJR 3 passes the legislature its provisions would be placed before the voters of Alaska for approval on the 1998 General Election Ballot.

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