NCJ Number
48417
Date Published
1976
Length
50 pages
Annotation
GUIDELINES DEVELOPED BY FOUR ALASKAN TASK FORCES CONCERNED WITH JUVENILE JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION, THE POLICE, COURTS, AND CORRECTIONS ARE OFFERED TO IMPROVE ALASKA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCES WERE DRAWN FROM ALL BRANCHES OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AGENCIES OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, SPECIAL PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS, AND CITIZENS AT LARGE. IN THE COURSE OF GUIDELINE DEVELOPMENT, AGENCY PERSONNEL WERE INTERVIEWED, PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE HELD THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND A STATEWIDE PUBLIC OPINION POLL WAS CONDUCTED. ALASKA'S APPROACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS AND GOALS WAS DERIVED FROM STUDYING THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MODELS USED IN THE LOWER 48 STATES. GUIDELINES ARE SPECIFIED FOR 10 PROBLEM AREAS: (1) THE SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALCOHOL USE AND CRIME; (2) THE LACK OF PREVENTION, UNIFORM INTAKE, AND COMMUNITY-BASED DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN; (3) THE LACK OF STANDARD PLACEMENT POLICIES AND REGULATORY PROCEDURES FOR DETENTION CENTERS AND JAILS; (4) A LACK OF CULTURALLY RELEVANT JUSTICE SERVICES IN NATIVE ALASKAN VILLAGES; (5) LACK OF UNIFORMITY IN SENTENCING PRACTICES; (6) THE NEED FOR INCREASED CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND AGENCY EMPHASIS ON CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS; (7) LACK OF OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN AND EDUCATE JUSTICE SYSTEM PERSONNEL; (8) THE LACK OF REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR LONG-TERM OFFENDERS; (9) THE NEED FOR INCREASED COORDINATION AND COOPERATION AMONG CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES; AND (10) THE NEED TO IMPROVE JUDICIAL PROCEDURES IN TERMS OF JUDGE ACCOUNTABILITY, ARREST AND BAIL PROCEDURES, LEGAL SERVICES AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN, AND JUDICIAL REVIEW OF PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION. EACH PROBLEM AREA IS DESCRIBED, THE DESIRED GOAL STATED AND THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS DELINEATED. MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCES AND THE GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE ARE LISTED. A SUMMARY OF THE CONTENTS IS PROVIDED. (DP)