Updated: March 4, 2000

Correctional officers, like police officers, parole officers and fire fighters have the opportunity to retire after acquiring 20 years of service. This opportunity is offered primarily as an employment incentive. The state recognizes that these individuals are in a highly stressful and dangerous type of employment and offers this as an inducement to them to remain with their careers.

Correctional officers, however, are not the only employees at Alaska's facilities faced with stressful, dangerous situations. Nor are they the only ones who have consistent contact with inmates on a daily basis. Most other employees also have constant contact. It doesn't matter whether they are working in the kitchen, in the infirmary, in maintenance, in the library or in the administrative offices. These employees work alongside of inmates every day. If there is a problem requiring a "lock down" situation, these employees are included in that lock down. It is this type of stress that can and does lead to high employee turnover. Allowing them to retire after 20 years of service instead of the current 30-year requirement can provide the incentive needed to keep them on the job.

House Bill 159 provides non-correctional officer employees this opportunity and incentive. In essence, it allows an individual to retire after 20 years of credited service at a correctional facility provided they pay the full actuarial cost of converting their service to service as a peace officer or agree to take an actuarial reduction in their retirement benefits.

House Bill 159 recognizes that any type of employment at correctional facilities can be stressful and dangerous. It provides individuals who work there with an incentive to remain at their jobs. It can also result in benefits to the state. With less employee turnover, fewer funds are needed to train new employees. These savings can revert to the general fund, or they can be used to provide additional on-going training for existing personnel.