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Justice Reinvestment in Alaska: The Past, Present, and Future of SB 91

by Michael A. Rosengart

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Abstract

In the summer of 2016, Alaska Governor Bill Walker signed SB 91, a landmark criminal justice reform law that implements a “justice reinvestment” program. SB 91 aims to reduce Alaska’s prison population, cut corrections costs, and then reinvest savings back into the state to improve public safety and reduce recidivism. It is 193 sections long and is likely the most substantial change to Alaskan criminal law since statehood. It also comes at a time when similar legislation, spearheaded by the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, is proliferating through the country. This Note overviews Alaska’s corrections problems that prompted SB 91, discusses the law’s legislative history, highlights some of the most important changes the law makes, and introduces some of the issues that it may present going forward.

Justice Reinvestment in Alaska: The Past, Present, and Future of SB 91

by Michael A. Rosengart

Click here for a PDF file of this article

Abstract

In the summer of 2016, Alaska Governor Bill Walker signed SB 91, a landmark criminal justice reform law that implements a “justice reinvestment” program. SB 91 aims to reduce Alaska’s prison population, cut corrections costs, and then reinvest savings back into the state to improve public safety and reduce recidivism. It is 193 sections long and is likely the most substantial change to Alaskan criminal law since statehood. It also comes at a time when similar legislation, spearheaded by the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, is proliferating through the country. This Note overviews Alaska’s corrections problems that prompted SB 91, discusses the law’s legislative history, highlights some of the most important changes the law makes, and introduces some of the issues that it may present going forward.