Sponsor Statement for SB 97

Lease-Purchase Spring Creek Correctional Facility

This bill authorizes a maximum of $25 million for the expansion of the existing correctional facility at Spring Creek, in Seward, Alaska. The expansion would be constructed by the City of Seward. The annual payments for the lease from the State of Alaska will retire the bond obtained by the City for the project's funding.

The proposed addition will provide 250 long term maximum and medium security beds. It will be a stand alone structure and conforms to the basic construction criteria for the existing core unit which was built in 1988. That facility was also constructed by the City of Seward and the funding process was similar to this proposal.

The need for additional in-state prison facilities is well documented. Alaska's jails and prisons are severely overcrowded and we face substantial fines for any violation of court ordered population limits at our correctional facilities.

Construction and operation of this correctional project will clearly show a commitment by the legislature to respond to the public's demand to deal with accelerating crime rates. Obviously, more arrests requires additional jail and prison facilities to house the criminals.

It is important to recognize that the State of Alaska has not significantly increased the number of prison beds since 1988 ... when the Spring Creek Correctional Center in Seward opened.

SS - SB 97: S(HES): 3/10/97: mj