Initial Report and Recommendations - Alaska Department of Law

By implementing this recommendation, more culturally appropriate, community-based,procedures can be used in addressing the problems of tribal youth, and remedies thatdraw on the traditions and strengths of the tribal communities can be developed.The Commission also recommends that the Department of Health and SocialServices increase funding for existing programs and help organizations implement newprograms to address prevention, intervention, and treatment of domestic violence andchild abuse throughout rural Alaska. Existing programs have not received any increase infunding over the last several years, while costs, including utilities, airfare, and medicalcare have increased dramatically. Because programs are no longer able to offercompetitive salaries, staff in high-stress positions experience a high rate of turnover.Increased funding will enable existing and new programs to provide much needededucational and therapeutic services for sexual assault and child sexual abuse victims. 90The Commission has concluded that the alcohol distribution site that was createdin Barrow has proven to be very effective in decreasing bootlegging and the ensuingarray of social problems related to the use of alcohol, and the Commission therebyencourages 91 damp hub communities that serve as points of entry for villages of which atleast 20 percent are either “dry” or “damp” to have community alcohol distribution sites.Permits to pick up liquor from a community’s alcohol distribution site must be held byresidents of that damp community only. 92There is a need for tribes 93 to have an opportunity for notice and to be heard atsentencing and disposition (or before) in state court juvenile proceedings and AS12.55.011 allows for community participation in restorative justice. The Commissionrecommends that Title 47 be amended to permit tribes to participate in sentencing orother appropriate juvenile proceedings (as do other victims), 94 and it further recommendsthat state law be adopted or amended to permit tribes to participate in juveniledelinquency treatment, especially after minors return to their communities. 95Implementing these recommendations would (a) improve communication between ruralAlaska communities and the court about sentencing of juveniles, (b) ensure moreeffective sentences, and (c) improve the effectiveness of juvenile delinquency treatmentat the community level. Similarly, the Commission recommends re-entry programs forAlaska inmates moving back into small rural communities, focusing on community-basedrestorative justice and the role of the village in assisting in the rehabilitative process. 96Alaska needs to find alternatives to housing Alaska’s inmates in out-of-statefacilities, which is moving to adult law enforcement issues, a weak point in the system.Particularly for Alaska Natives sent to such facilities, the separation from family and90Recommendation 23.91 If the State chooses to mandate hub distribution sites, the deadline for initial establishment of these sitesshould be set by the State at one year, and if a designated community does not set up the communityalcohol distribution site, the ABC Board should.92Recommendation 24.93Tribes as defined in ICWA.94Recommendation 25.95Recommendation 26.96Recommendation 27.Alaska Rural Justice and Law Enforcement Commission - Page 52