STATE OF ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Rural Justice Commission Overview

2 DOC Mission Statement “The mission of the Department of Corrections is to protect the public by incarcerating and supervising offenders.”

3 Supporting Strategies To accomplish its mission the department will: Respect the rights of victims of crime; Hold offenders accountable; Provide offenders with opportunities for reform in an environment that is safe, fair and secure; Provide training to staff so they may serve as positive role models to offenders, while ensuring officer safety.

4 Division of Institutions Division of Probation and Parole Division Administrative Services The mission is completed by three divisions and two boards: Board of Parole Correctional Industries Commission

5 Division of Institutions 12 Major Institutions in Alaska: AnchorageFairbanks JuneauKetchikan PalmerBethel SuttonPt. MacKenzie NomeKenai SewardEagle River

6 Institutions also oversees: Arizona contract facility: 750 prisoners Community Residential Centers: 700 prisoners Electronic Monitoring: 120 prisoners Community Jails: 141 prisoners

7 The 12 institutions have a maximum capacity of Challenge: The Numbers Game System is always at 100% capacity 200 more prisoners in more prisoners in

8 Population Trend

9 INCARCERATION RATES Between 1991 and 1998 incarceration rate rose by 47%, while the overall crime rate dropped by 22%

10 Alaska Native Offenders Offender Origin by Court Case

11 Alaska Native Offenders Length of Time from Admission

12 Alaska Native Offenders Offenses by Class & Sex

13 Alaska Native Offenders Distribution in DOC System

14 Alaska Native Offenders Race vs. Sentence Length

15 Probation Officers Supervise 4907 offenders in our communities from 15 field offices: Division of Probation and Parole: AnchorageFairbanksJuneau KetchikanSitkaNome BethelKotzebueKodiak BarrowDillinghamKenai Palmer

16 Probation Officers work for three different entities: Three Hats: Corrections: Supervising Offenders in Communities Court System: Presentence Reports Parole Board: Supervising Offenders under authority of the Board

new offenders in 2004 – 3.09% Growth Equivalent to two P.O. caseloads 53 new sex offenders in 2004 – 7.46% Growth Growth in P.O. Caseloads 68 Probation Officers in Alaska – Currently 11 vacancies:

18 Institutional Treatment Program at Hiland Mtn. that treated only 1% of all sex offenders ended in FY04 Alaska has one of the highest ratios of sex offenders per capita Lack of approved sex offender treatment providers in the community Deceptive/Manipulative: Difficulty in identifying criminal patterns Large P.O. Caseloads Challenge: Managing Sex Offenders

19 Alaska Native Offenders Sex Offenders by Race

20 Reduce sex offender caseloads Implement Containment Management Model in FY05: New Risk Assessment Pilot Project using Polygraph Sex Offender Strategy: The Containment model is considered the ‘best practice’ and is used in 38 other jurisdictions.

21 Victim Services Oversight Operates VINE System Coordinates services with victim advocacy organizations, including: Office of Victims Rights Victims for Justice, STAR Mothers Against Drunk Driving Probation & Parole Services VPSO Coordination and Training VPSOs monitor offenders in villages. 4-7 training sessions annually for VPSOs

22 Lock ‘em up and through away the key? Offender Programs NO! When offenders choose to make positive changes in their lives, Corrections has a host of programs to assist them.

23 All of the programs in place prior to this administration are still offered: Offender Programs Cultural Programs Potlatches are held in all sentenced facilities Carving in all sentenced facilities Sweat lodges at sentenced facilities Talking Circles at facilities w/ volunteers In addition, we’ve added: MOU w/ South Central Foundation Pre-release screenings by Cook Inlet Tribal Council Potlatch at Arizona Facility

24 Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Programs: Long-term therapeutic community treatment for offenders with histories of severe addiction Offender Programs Substance Abuse 42-bed program in Kenai for men 32-bed program in Eagle River for women New 40-bed program in Arizona for men

25 Adult Basic Education (ABE) Provided at all institutions Offender Programs Education General Equivalency Degree (GED) Provided at all institutions Life Skills Programming – Health/safety, pre-release employment. Provided at all institutions Vocational Education – Provided at sentenced institutions only Post-Secondary Education – Available at prisoner’s own expense.

26 Corrections is the largest mental health provider in Alaska Offender Programs Mental Health 30-35% of offenders have been diagnosed with a disorder 15-18% of offenders are chronically mentally ill Mental health staff are seeing 120 NEW patients each month. Staff had 13,300 contacts in 2004 – a 20% increase over More than 50% of Corrections pharmacy costs are psychotropic.

27 Resources Offender Programs Mental Health Mental services are available at all institutions. Two hospital-level psychiatric acute care units at the Anchorage Complex and Eagle River Two sub acute care units at Palmer and Seward

28 Diversion Programs Corrections works with partners to divert persons with mental health issues out of institutions Offender Programs Mental Health Mental Health Courts (Misdemeanants) – Located in Anchorage since New MH court in Palmer, March 2005 Jail Alternative Services – In conjunction with OPA/Southcentral Counseling Institutional Discharge Program (IDP) for felons. Began in 1994

29 Full range of medical services at all institutions Offender Programs Medical Offender population is generally in poor health due to a variety of factors including substance abuse Medical costs are determined by needs of prisoners. One catastrophic case can significantly impact budget Medical Parole Bill has enabled cost control by shifting health care costs to other providers Limited health care to short-term offenders able to get care from other providers when released

30 Multi-faith services available at all facilities Offender Programs Chaplaincy Program Full-time paid Chaplaincy Coordinator. 3 paid chaplains in institutions Faith-based Transformation Living Community (TLC) at Palmer Correctional Center. Operation of 38-bed unit is privately funded by faith community and through a grant from the South Central Foundation. Waiting list to get in the program. Faith-based TLC at Arizona facility for long-term offenders

31 The most effective way to help offenders reenter society is to give them a chance to work and build solid employment skills Offender Programs Offender Work In institutions, offenders work in a variety of support jobs, including janitorial, food preparation, laundry, grounds work and maintenance Alaska Correctional Industries operates factories at several institutions making furniture, clothing and textiles, metal items, and providing commercial laundry services In the community, offenders are required to hold a job or be actively looking

32 Corrections has partnered with several agencies to assist offenders re-entering society and break the cycle of recidivism Offender Programs Partnering for the Future Federal Re-Entry Initiative Grant in Juneau and Bethel partners with local non-profit agencies South Central Foundation MOU Social Security Administration Veterans Administration Cook Inlet Tribal Council

33 Recruitment and Retention of Correctional Officers and Probation Officers #1 Priority: Stateside recruitment campaign this spring with print, radio and TV ads New hiring process for Correctional Officer began Jan. 3 New interview process for probation officers has increased number of candidates completing the screening process Targeted recruitment for local hire in Nome and Bethel

34 Questions?