A number of constituents have contacted my office concerned with increases in crime rates, mainly in relation to the passage of
Senate Bill 91. With four grandchildren and their families in the Anchorage area, I share their public safety concerns. The
Alaska Criminal Justice Commission and the
Alaska Justice Information Center continue to evaluate data and seek feedback throughout the implementation of criminal justice reform policy. State agencies, including the Department of Public Safety, Health & Social Services, and Corrections are assisting their analysis by providing data and expertise.
The crime rate issues in Alaska are complex and have been exacerbated by the opioid epidemic. While I was not in office when this bill passed into law, I will be working to ensure the intended outcome of cost-effective, evidence-
based reforms is accomplished without compromising the accountability of offenders and the safety of our community.
The Department of Public Safety's 2016 Unified Crime Report will be available soon. Past reports can be viewed online. Please keep in mind that portions of SB 91 did not go into effect until 2016 and that other portions of the law have yet to be implemented. Policy to fix many of the unintended and unforeseen outcomes of SB 91 are drafted and are moving through the committee process. I will continue to advocate for honest, hardworking and law abiding Alaskans.
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