Initial Report and Recommendations - Alaska Department of Law
Initial Report and Recommendations - Alaska Department of Law Initial Report and Recommendations - Alaska Department of Law
______________________________________________________________________________Recommendation 28 (JS-19): Alternatives to Housing Native Inmates in Out-of-statePrisonsStatement of Need:Alaska needs to find alternatives to housing Alaska inmates in out-of-state facilities. Particularlyfor Alaska Natives sent to such facilities, the separation from family and community enhancesalienation and is likely to retard rehabilitation and re-entry into the community. This also createshardships for inmates’ families.Option:Have State of Alaska explore other options, including working with Native RegionalCorporations and non-profits.Rationale for Option:Having Alaska inmates housed Outside is perceived by all as a weak point in the system.Impact Statement:If a method can be found to keep inmates within the State in a financially feasible way, inmatesand their families will benefit, along with local economies.______________________________________________________________________________Recommendation 29 (ALC-15): Alcohol Abuse PreventionStatement of Need:There is a need to reduce communities’ tolerance of alcohol abuse and the number of youngpeople who ‘learn’ this tolerance from their communities.Options:Support a variety of prevention programs that include:Programs geared to helping young people learn to make healthy choices.Healthy community and cultural activities that link youth and adults.Alcohol/Drug Information Schools for first time misdemeanor alcohol/drug related offenses.Programs that promote community responsibility for preventing and addressing alcohol relatedproblems.(All programs need to reflect and respect the culture of the local community.)Rationale for Options:Reducing the supply of alcohol to rural Alaska can only go so far to reduce alcohol abuse.Reduction in the demand for alcohol must also play a part. Demand reduction includes bothpreventing young people from becoming alcohol abusers and treating people who have becomeabusers. This recommendation addresses prevention.Impact Statement:Fewer young people will become alcohol abusers, with a corresponding reduction in alcoholrelated violence, crime and intentional and unintentional injuries.______________________________________________________________________________Recommendation 30 combines D-DS-1 through D-DS 7, which are presented below.D-DS 1Statement of problem:There is a general lack of understanding or agreement about prevention and nocoordinated/systematic approach.Current Status:Institutions/agencies do not integrate prevention into the way they structure their services, setpriorities or ‘do business.’Alaska Rural Justice and Law Enforcement Commission - Page 95
Ideal Status:a) There would be a shared understanding, integration, and agreement about the purpose, scope,impact, importance of and commitment to prevention.b) Agency structure, priorities, goals, policies, procedures and practices will be developed andguided by prevention principles (i.e., recreational facilities are a priority for communitydevelopment because it promotes healthy lifestyles, youth/family activities and preventsabuse/violence).Structural Barriers (e.g., statutes, regulations, etc.):a) Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of individuals and the agencies/entities they are part of.b) Primarily the natural resistance to change inherent in institutions and agencies.Option(s):a) Education, outreach, awareness from the grass roots up to galvanize a shared vision andcommunity action.b) Incorporate prevention into all strategic plans, community & agency development of goals, etc.______________________________________________________________________________D-DS 2Statement of problem:Little buy-in from community & individuals for prevention.Current Status:Prevention tends to be viewed as agency based and the responsibility of entities that are primarilyset up for interventions.Ideal Status:Prevention is an integral part of village life and is community & individual driven first.Structural Barriers (e.g., statutes, regulations, etc.):Attitudes, lack of empowerment, chronic dependency and expectation that ‘others’ will do it forus. Turf problems/opposition from state and other agencies to tribal/village community initiativeson prevention.Option(s):Community based education/communication led by elders/recognized traditional leaders withvillage and culturally specific knowledge.______________________________________________________________________________D-DS 3Statement of problem:Children and youth have adopted beliefs and attitudes that lead them to engage in violent acts andself-destructive behaviors.Current Status:Very limited and inconsistent approach to prevention initiatives for children and youth.Ideal Status:a) Education/learning prevention “programs” both in school and in life with a focus on changingaccepted ‘norms.’b) People who have been doing the work, educating youth and children, living a life ofcooperation, harmony and respect are the recognized/acknowledge leaders in preventionStructural Barriers (e.g., statutes, regulations, etc.):a) Racism, sexism, tribal/state politics, attitudes toward children, lack of funding for programs,activities and initiatives.b) Changing the dominant culture’s attitudes and beliefs about indigenous knowledge – justbecause we can’t see it, or write it down or figure out where it comes from doesn’t invalidate itsexistence or value.Alaska Rural Justice and Law Enforcement Commission - Page 96
- Page 52 and 53: staffing in Alaska is a significant
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- Page 56 and 57: “The State of Alaska is mandated
- Page 58 and 59: “The AFN Sobriety program provide
- Page 60 and 61: community enhances alienation and i
- Page 62 and 63: oth the state and the federal gover
- Page 64 and 65: enforcement programs. In this proce
- Page 66 and 67: skills necessary to communicate wit
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- Page 70 and 71: A Comparison of Alaska and the Lowe
- Page 72 and 73: Map Showing the Location of All Ala
- Page 74 and 75: Appendix BBiographical Sketchesof C
- Page 76 and 77: Revenue. Mayor Botelho became Deput
- Page 78 and 79: His wide range of experience includ
- Page 80 and 81: Alaska Rural Justice and Law Enforc
- Page 82 and 83: Workgroup MembersWorkgroup 1: Law E
- Page 84 and 85: Appendix EPhotograph of Commissione
- Page 86 and 87: Appendix FCommission Recommendation
- Page 88 and 89: ) Power differential between govern
- Page 90 and 91: 9. Adequate legal infrastructure to
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- Page 94 and 95: encouraged and permitted to partici
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- Page 100 and 101: Impact Statement:More culturally ap
- Page 104 and 105: Option(s):a) Incorporating attitude
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- Page 108 and 109: Ideal Status:a) Aftercare programs
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- Page 114 and 115: Ideal Status:Mandatory training yea
- Page 116 and 117: Current Status:In areas without an
- Page 118 and 119: Rationale for Option:To reduce the
- Page 120 and 121: All of the workgroups’ options ca
- Page 122 and 123: • All available vehicles should b
- Page 124 and 125: Appendix HAttachments for Recommend
- Page 126 and 127: (2) materials and equipment used in
- Page 128 and 129: under this section if the family me
- Page 130 and 131: AS 04.11.140(g) package store licen
______________________________________________________________________________Recommendation 28 (JS-19): Alternatives to Housing Native Inmates in Out-<strong>of</strong>-statePrisonsStatement <strong>of</strong> Need:<strong>Alaska</strong> needs to find alternatives to housing <strong>Alaska</strong> inmates in out-<strong>of</strong>-state facilities. Particularlyfor <strong>Alaska</strong> Natives sent to such facilities, the separation from family <strong>and</strong> community enhancesalienation <strong>and</strong> is likely to retard rehabilitation <strong>and</strong> re-entry into the community. This also createshardships for inmates’ families.Option:Have State <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alaska</strong> explore other options, including working with Native RegionalCorporations <strong>and</strong> non-pr<strong>of</strong>its.Rationale for Option:Having <strong>Alaska</strong> inmates housed Outside is perceived by all as a weak point in the system.Impact Statement:If a method can be found to keep inmates within the State in a financially feasible way, inmates<strong>and</strong> their families will benefit, along with local economies.______________________________________________________________________________Recommendation 29 (ALC-15): Alcohol Abuse PreventionStatement <strong>of</strong> Need:There is a need to reduce communities’ tolerance <strong>of</strong> alcohol abuse <strong>and</strong> the number <strong>of</strong> youngpeople who ‘learn’ this tolerance from their communities.Options:Support a variety <strong>of</strong> prevention programs that include:Programs geared to helping young people learn to make healthy choices.Healthy community <strong>and</strong> cultural activities that link youth <strong>and</strong> adults.Alcohol/Drug Information Schools for first time misdemeanor alcohol/drug related <strong>of</strong>fenses.Programs that promote community responsibility for preventing <strong>and</strong> addressing alcohol relatedproblems.(All programs need to reflect <strong>and</strong> respect the culture <strong>of</strong> the local community.)Rationale for Options:Reducing the supply <strong>of</strong> alcohol to rural <strong>Alaska</strong> can only go so far to reduce alcohol abuse.Reduction in the dem<strong>and</strong> for alcohol must also play a part. Dem<strong>and</strong> reduction includes bothpreventing young people from becoming alcohol abusers <strong>and</strong> treating people who have becomeabusers. This recommendation addresses prevention.Impact Statement:Fewer young people will become alcohol abusers, with a corresponding reduction in alcoholrelated violence, crime <strong>and</strong> intentional <strong>and</strong> unintentional injuries.______________________________________________________________________________Recommendation 30 combines D-DS-1 through D-DS 7, which are presented below.D-DS 1Statement <strong>of</strong> problem:There is a general lack <strong>of</strong> underst<strong>and</strong>ing or agreement about prevention <strong>and</strong> nocoordinated/systematic approach.Current Status:Institutions/agencies do not integrate prevention into the way they structure their services, setpriorities or ‘do business.’<strong>Alaska</strong> Rural Justice <strong>and</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Enforcement Commission - Page 95
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