Public safety is an issue that is important to all Alaskans. Rising crime, dwindling resources and inadequate responses to the issues, have left many Alaskans with questions and concerns regarding our current administration’s approach and priority when it comes to public safety.
Only with the increase in criminal activity within our communities and outcry from the public has any action been taken. The Public Safety Action Plan was not released until Oct. 30, 2017, three years into the governor’s term. We are not keeping Alaskans safe; we are failing to hold offenders accountable, and our efforts to provide for restoration and support of victims is insufficient. We need to do more — it needs to be one of our top priorities.
The current administration has shown that public safety is not their top priority. We have seen public safety dollars cut to the point that state agencies responsible for public safety are unable to do their jobs. We have fewer state troopers, fewer prosecutors, an overburdened court system and a corrections department that is in complete disarray.
The Department of Corrections is not failing due to a lack of funds, but rather from a lack of leadership and adherence to its mission statement: to provide “Secure Confinement, Reformative Programs, and a process of Supervised Community Reintegration that enhances the safety of our Communities.”
A quick review of the past three years makes it abundantly clear that corrections is not fiscally responsible, poorly managed, and not meeting its mission.
Corrections spends an average of $158 a day, or $58,000 a year, to house each offender. This should give everyone pause, as this is far too much. The cost is projected to increase, given the supplemental projected in the governor’s budget for Fiscal Year 2018. This is the highest daily cost of care in the history of DOC. Is this what we want our money spent on? Alaskans should have and deserve answers.
DOC’s budget in FY15 was $333 million and in FY19 it is projected to be $331 million, yet a facility was closed that had an annual operating budget of $13 million. There are 800 less offenders than in FY15, yet 111 positions that were at Palmer Correctional Center were retained and redistributed to other institutions within the department. Even with an additional 111 positions, institutional overtime is at the highest it has been since 2006, and mandatory holdovers at Anchorage Correctional Complex and Spring Creek Correctional Complex have been instituted to cover shifts that are not filled.
Drug use inside the facilities is rampant, with several reported drug smuggling cases the past couple of years, including an individual from the defense bar and a correctional officer, four recent overdoses, three escapes, (one from Anchorage Correctional Complex and 2 from Yukon-Kuskokwim Corrections Center), and a major inmate disturbance at Fairbanks Correctional Center that required the assistance of the troopers to quell. Staff assaults have more than doubled since FY15, yet there are 800 less incarcerated offenders, one less operating facility, and 111 more staff. None of this adds up. In addition, two of the top administrators, the director and deputy director of institutions, had to be terminated due to moral turpitude issues adding to the lack of direction and guidance for this department.
What standard is the DOC being held to? Is it meeting the mandate of its mission? Is it performing to the level of effectiveness that enhances public safety? The evidence would suggest it is not. It is time for change. We need someone in the Governor’s mansion who is a proven leader, has integrity and vision, someone who puts Alaskans first and protects our communities. That someone is Mike Dunleavy.
Dunleavy has made public safety one of his top priorities and will fix what is broken, not only in corrections but in the rest of the criminal justice system. His efforts and conviction toward this endeavor were evident during this past legislative session when he submitted an amendment to move $50 million from the LNG project to public safety, roads and education. Unfortunately, that did not happen. This effort demonstrated his commitment for change and it clearly showed his integrity and character to do what he believes in and what is right for Alaska.
• Bryan Brandenburg, MS, LPC, is former director of institutions for the Alaska Department of Corrections. He now works as administrator for Northern Oregon Regional Corrections.
