The
Winter 2011 issue of the Alaska Justice Forum features articles on the Uniform Collateral Consequences of Conviction Act, designed to facilitate offender reentry throughout the United States, and the Fairbanks gang assessment. The 12-page issue includes the following articles:
The Uniform Collateral Consequences of Conviction Act, designed to
facilitate offender reentry throughout the United States, is model
legislation approved by he National Conference of Commissioners on
Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL). Model or uniform legislation does not
carry the force of law, but are important in shaping the development of
law across the country. The newly approved Uniform Collateral
Consequences Act is currently under consideration in Nevada, West
Virginia, and Wisconsin. This article describes its provisions and its
implications for Alaska. A
bibliography for further reading is also included.
The Fairbanks Gang Assessment, completed in 2010, is the first
structured study of gang activity in Alaska. This article examines gang
member demographics, gang membership motivation, problems caused by
gangs, and possible solutions to gang problems in Fairbanks North Star
Borough. Selected national gang data and trends are also examined.
Legal definitions of gang and gang crime vary among federal and state jurisdictions, which are described in this brief article.
This article summarizes a recent report from the Bureau of Justice
Statistics on 365 of the nation’s large (100 or more sworn officers)
police departments and sheriffs’ offices with a unit focusing on gang
crime. Currently there are no dedicated gang units in any Alaska law
enforcement agencies. A
brief bibliography on gangs is included.
