Testimony to lawmakers on a reform bill that would aim to prevent criminals from repeatedly returning to jail addressed where the savings to the state could be invested.
A state criminal justice commission report showed that Alaska’s prison population grew three times faster than the state’s population over the last ten years.
The state spent more than $327 million housing 5,200 inmates in 2014 according to the report.
A proposal to the legislature from Governor Bill Walker’s budget office suggests reinvesting savings into pretrial programs and grants for offender programs and victims services.
Gov. Bill Walker’s budget office provided a proposal that reinvests funds into pretrial programs and grants for offender programs and victims services. The office estimates the state would save $49.8 million through 2021.
