Alaska State Legislature

News From The House Majority

Ken Freeman, Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
phone: (907) 465-3804
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

Juvenile Offenders Brought Before Public Eye

For Immediate Release: May 2, 1997 Contact: Rep. Pete Kelly (907) 465-2327

JUNEAU - Legislation to remove the veil of secrecy surrounding juvenile criminals passed the Alaska State Senate Friday. HB 6 releases certain information to the public about repeat juvenile offenders, and felony level juvenile offenders.

"Currently, even violent offenders move unnoticed among our neighborhoods and schools because state law forbids their crimes to be made public. HB 6 changes that by making public the records of teen felons who commit bold dangerous crimes," said Rep. Pete Kelly, sponsor of HB 6.

HB 6 has built into it a number of second chances giving those whose behavior is an isolated incident a way to keep their names from being disclosed the first time. But for repeat offenders and those who pose a threat to our schools, neighborhoods and kids, they will be held accountable. Information about a minor is released when a minor has committed offenses such as: a crime against a person; use of a deadly weapon; arson; burglary; distribution of child pornography; promoting prostitution; and selling drugs.

Rep. Kelly said identities of young criminals are kept secret in an attempt to protect the futures of these young offenders. "Unfortunately, secrecy has had the unwanted effect of enabling these people in their life of crime. Young people caught committing serious crimes are able to walk about the next day without any reaction from their elders or teachers. Their crimes become invisible, and they develop the pathology of a serious criminal," said Kelly.

Kelly said the way the current system is set up, the rights of the juvenile offender are more important than the rights of the victim and potential victims.

"We don't know when our kids are playing with felons, serious predators or drug dealers," said Kelly. "Disclosure is needed to protect the public from these bold dangerous criminals."

"By saying only the professionals can have this information - we are saying as a community that only they can deal with the problem, that only they have a capacity for compassion, and as a result we have abdicated our responsibility and abandoned some of the kids who need us the most," said Kelly. "Secrecy also keeps us from coming to the aid of these troubled youth as a community."

Representative Kelly said to meet the concerns about labeling Juveniles as serious criminals the bill balances public safety by examining the seriousness of the offense vs. the benefits secrecy offers a minor.

HB 6 is part of a comprehensive package of legislation to provide Safe Neighborhoods in Alaska in line with the Majority's "Commitment to Alaska".

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