AJSAC Fact Sheet released: Juvenile Justice Referrals and Charges in Alaska, FY 2006–2015

The most recent issue of the AJSAC Fact Sheet presents summary information on referrals made by Alaska law enforcement agencies to the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) for for state fiscal years 2006–2015. The report, "Juvenile Justice Referrals and Charges in Alaska, FY 2006–2015," presents data on the number of referrals and charges made, and unique individuals referred to DJJ.  Data is drawn from the DJJ Data Trends website.

The fact sheet is by Khristy Parker of the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC).

Alumni spotlight: Steve Phimmasone, BA Justice '05

Steve Phimmasone
Photo by Mike Dineen

This week's profile is the third in our series about Justice alums working for the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) at the McLaughlin Youth Center in Anchorage. This post highlights Steve Phimmasone.

Steve Phimmasone, BA Justice '05, is a Juvenile Probation Officer II with DJJ Anchorage Probation at McLaughlin Youth Center. He always wanted a career in law enforcement and while at UAA got an internship at McLaughlin. He started out as a counselor. Steve is keenly aware that decisions he makes while dealing with kids can impact their lives and help them. The age-crime curve peaks around the age of 18-19 years.  Steve notes that this is a critical period in a young person’s life — “That’s usually when an individual gets married or gets a career or becomes a career criminal.”  But Steve also knows the bottom line is “each individual will succeed or fail because of the decisions they make.”

One of the most challenging things he finds in his work is that there is something new – and often unexpected – every day. While thinking back on his justice education and what courses might help a student today considering a career in justice, Steve says, “The subject of justice falls into every academic department – any field. If someone wants to enter this career, social work, psychology, and sociology classes would help.”

Alumni spotlight: Britney Olsen, BA Justice '08

This week's profile is the second in our series about Justice alums working for the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) at the McLaughlin Youth Center in Anchorage. This post highlights Britney Olsen.

Britney Olsen
Photo by Mike Dineen

Britney Olsen, BA Justice '08, is a Juvenile Justice Officer III on the Transitional Services Unit at McLaughlin Youth Center (MYC). She got interested in criminology in high school, but developed a passion for working in the justice system when she settled on majoring in Justice at UAA. The best part of the job for her is “seeing youth making changes in their lives." And one of the biggest challenges is having enough time and resources with youth after their institutionalization to help support the changes they are trying to live when they return to their community.

Britney would recommend that today’s Justice majors learn Microsoft Excel, and take courses in counseling skills and  any sort of mental health and substance abuse topics. When she is away from work, spending time playing in the Alaska outdoors with her husband and two children is her favorite thing to do.

October is National Youth Justice Awareness Month

President Obama declared October as National Youth Justice Awareness Month. Read the full proclamation which calls for "rededicat[ing] ourselves to preventing youth from entering the juvenile and criminal justice systems and recommit to building a country where all our daughters and sons can grow, flourish, and take our Nation to new and greater heights."

 The U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) notes on its website: "This month-long observance is dedicated to preventing youth from entering the juvenile and criminal justice systems and encourages communities to participate in activities and programs that help youth fulfill their greatest potential. The proclamation supports OJJDP's Smart on Juvenile Justice initiative to promote juvenile justice reform and address racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system."

The  Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice  (DJJ) is a Restorative Justice agency. The mission of the Division of Juvenile Justice is to:

• Hold juvenile offenders accountable for their behavior.
• Promote the safety and restoration of victims and communities.
• Assist offenders and their families in developing skills to prevent crime.

Alumni spotlight: Michael Heyward, BA Justice '99

In 2010 we began a project to interview Justice alums who were working for the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) at McLaughlin Youth Center in Anchorage, with the goal of posting a mini-profile on each individual on our Justice Center website.

We posted one profile, then other projects and deadlines intervened. But we are taking another look at this project and will be posting mini-profiles of these Justice alums over the next several weeks. This week we highlight alum Michael Heyward.

Michael Heyward
Photo by Mike Dineen

Michael Heyward, BA Justice '99, is a Juvenile Probation Officer II with DJJ Anchorage Probation and works at McLaughlin Youth Center (MYC). For Michael, the best part of the job involves being part of the process of helping kids and interacting with families. He works with kids who are residents for extended time periods and there are different dynamics among these kids. His biggest challenge is developing individual education plans (IEPs) for each kid – partly because family dynamics vary so much. Beyond that, there is always the issue of limited resources and options.

While a student at UAA, Michael did a project at MYC for a juvenile justice class – the McLaughlin staff person really liked his work and encouraged him to apply at MYC – and Michael did. Michael enjoys anything out of doors, and back in 2010 he especially liked camping and fishing with his kids – both of whom are now grown. He still likes to get out with his kids when they are home.

AJSAC Fact Sheet: Juvenile Justice Referrals in Alaska, 2003–2013

The October 2013 issue of the AJSAC Fact Sheet presents summary information on referrals made by Alaska law enforcement agencies to the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) for state fiscal years 2003–2013. The report presents data on the number of juveniles referred to DJJ, number of referrals made, charges by class and offense type, and demographic information on referred juveniles.  The data show that the total unduplicated count of youth referred to DJJ in FY 2013 was 2,462 — a decline of 52.1% from FY 2003, with decreases seen across all administrative regions of DJJ. Overall, the number of referrals to DJJ declined both statewide — by 53.6%  from FY03 to FY13 — and regionally. The Fact Sheet is by Khristy Parker and Dr. Brad A. Myrstol of the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC).

Dr. Rivera talks to East High criminology class - she is an East High alum!

L to r: East High School instructor Charlotte Hansen and
Dr. Marny Rivera.

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty, recently spoke to the criminology class at East High School taught by instructor Charlotte Hansen.  Dr. Rivera is an alum of East High and was delighted at being invited to talk to the juniors and seniors about topics in criminology and the programs at the Justice Center.

Dr. Rivera discussed approaches to understanding criminal behavior, the juvenile justice system, types of juvenile offenders, and the need for research in these areas.

Drs. Rosay and Rivera interviewed by KTUU Channel 2 News about Alaska juvenile delinquency and school discipline statistics

Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center Director, and Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty, were interviewed by KTUU Channel 2 News regarding a recent Alaska Justice Forum article titled, "Trends in Juvenile Delinquency, School Suspensions, and Expulsions." Their comments aired on July 17 in a segment by Abby Hancock titled, "UAA Study Highlights Remarkable Decline in Juvenile Delinquency."

In discussing the decline in juvenile delinquency, Dr. Rosay noted "...at this point it's difficult to say exactly what caused the decline, other than simply saying agencies are working well together and providing good services to Alaska's youth."

While juvenile delinquency in Alaska has decreased, the number of school suspensions and expulsions has increased.  Dr. Rivera remarked that a change in school policy regarding the way offenses are reported is more likely the cause, rather than a change in student behavior.

Click here for a full copy of the article, "Trends in Juvenile Delinquency, School Suspensions, and Expulsions."

Dr. Rosay publishes chapter on evaluating a juvenile reentry program in new book, "Offender Reentry"

Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center Director of Research, has recently had a chapter, "Evaluating a Juvenile Reentry Program: An Elusive Target," published in the book, Offender Reentry: Rethinking Criminology and Criminal Justice, edited by Matthew S. Crow and John Ortiz Smykla. The chapter is co-authored with William H. Barton and G. Roger Jarjoura.

The chapter presents a summary of the evaluation of an attempt to implement the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's TARGETED RE-ENTRY approach, a version of the Intensive Aftercare Program (IAP) model.  Adapted from the final evaluation report, the chapter opens with a brief review of the challenges of juvenile reentry and a description of the IAP and TARGETED RE-ENTRY models. Following a description of the study's process and outcome evaluation methods, a recap of the main findings is presented. The chapter concludes with a summary of lessons learned from the evaluation.

Spring 2013 issue of the Alaska Justice Forum focuses on school discipline

The Spring 2013 issue of the Alaska Justice Forum is devoted primarily to issues related to school discipline and the juvenile justice system, and features three articles on "zero tolerance" policies by Dean Williams, who was the Superintendent of the McLaughlin Youth Center; Carol Comeau, who was the Superintendent of the Anchorage School District; and William Hitchcock, who was the Master of the Anchorage Children’s Court. Background is provided through an examination of recent data on juvenile delinquency and school suspensions and expulsions for Alaska. A fifth article describes StepUp, a diversion program for expelled or long-term suspended students which has operated for the past four years in the Anchorage School District. The issue also includes updates on Alaska Victimization Survey data releases, faculty and staff news, and a memorial to retired Justice Center faculty member Dr. Lawrence C. Trostle, who died in May.

The 12-page issue includes the following articles:

"Juvenile Justice, School Discipline, and Zero Tolerance"

This article introduces a special issue of the Alaska Justice Forum focusing on school discipline in relationship to juvenile justice, particularly on the impact of the "zero tolerance" policies that emerged from the Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994.

"Trends in Juvenile Delinquency, School Suspensions, and Expulsions" by André B. Rosay and Marny Rivera

This article provides a context for a discussion of school discipline issues by examining recent juvenile delinquency data for Alaska and looking at the rates for school suspensions and expulsions. The number of juveniles referred per 10,000 population, rate of referrals, and rate of offenses referred to the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice have all shown marked declines since 2003, while the rate of suspensions and expulsions reported in 2010–2011 increased strikingly from those reported for prior school years .

"School Discipline and the Zero Tolerance Approach" by Dean Williams

This article explores the expansive breadth of research on the issue of school discipline, especially with regard to the zero tolerance approach to firearms in schools or other student disciplinary infractions. School expulsion and suspension for many years has been endorsed as not only appropriate, but essential to maintain school safety and harmony. Extensive research, from a vast array of sources, has challenged some long-held notions about school discipline and school safety. An accompanying bibliography provides complete citation information and URLs for research cited.

"Does 'Zero Tolerance' Work? Alternatives to Out-of-School Suspension and Expulsion"by Carol Comeau

The policy of zero tolerance, which came out of the federal Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994, mandates out-of-school suspensions for firearms in schools, and has been applied to a number of additional student disciplinary infractions, resulting in increased out-of-school suspensions and expulsions. This article describes the effects of zero tolerance on the Anchorage School District, the efforts of the school district and a number of agencies to address the issue of juvenile crime and school discipline, and the programs that grew out of that collaboration.

"Zero Tolerance and Juvenile Justice: A View from the Bench" by William D. Hitchcock

One of the principal factors that may often precipitate a plunge into the juvenile justice system is the failure to maintain and succeed in school. Today there is growing concern that the policies of many school districts of zero tolerance for firearms in schools or other student disciplinary infractions place many youth out on the street and vulnerable to high risk behavior and delinquency. This article describes the link between educational failure and juvenile crime and the need for the appropriate response to wrongful behavior by youth.

"StepUp: Helping Kids with Discipline Problems Stay in School" by Barbara Armstrong

This article describes StepUp, a diversion program for expelled or long-term suspended high school students developed in 2009 by the Anchorage School District and the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice. StepUp provides a highly structured voluntary program that includes academics, anger management training, physical activities, and community work service for students who have had serious discipline problems. Over 80 percent of the 101 students in StepUp from 2009 to 2013 have continued their education. The program was expanded in 2011 to include middle school students.

"Juvenile Justice and School Discipline Resources"

A bibliography of publications and other resources on school discipline in relationship to juvenile justice, with an emphasis on the "zero tolerance" policies that emerged from the Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994.

"Update on Alaska Victimization Survey Data Releases"

Summaries of estimates of violence against women in Alaska are available on the Alaska Victimization Survey (AVS) web page. AVS, launched in 2010, is an ongoing effort to gather reliable and valid estimates of intimate partner violence and sexual violence against women in Alaska.

"In Memoriam"

Dr. Lawrence Trostle, a member of the Justice Center faculty from 1990 to 2009, died in May 2013 after an illness. Research publications and papers by Dr. Trostle can be viewed at the Justice Center website.

"Faculty News"

Dr. Brad Myrstol, Justice Center faculty and director of the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC), has been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor and awarded tenure.

"Retirement"

Alan McKelvie, Senior Research Associate for the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC), has retired.

"Recent Publications"

Recent publications of UAA Justice Center faculty and staff.

Dr. Rosay presents at Reclaiming Futures event on juvenile substance abuse treatment

Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center, presents at the panel discussion and reception sponsored by the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice and Volunteers of America - Alaska on November 20, 2012. Dr. Rosay will discuss his research on juvenile substance abuse, and the impact on treatment completion and recidivism that the Reclaiming Futures Anchorage program has had in Alaska .

The Reclaiming Futures model for juvenile substance abuse treatment has been used in 29 communities, large and small, rural and urban, in 17 states, including one Indian reservation.  It has been used in Anchorage for the past ten years and has brought together judges, juvenile justice professionals, treatment providers and community leaders to identify how juvenile courts can provide substance abuse treatment teens need to help them be successful.

Reclaiming Futures is an initiative created in 2001 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that offers a new approach to helping teenagers caught in the cycle of drugs, alcohol and crime.  The national office of Reclaiming Futures is housed in the Regional Research Institute of the School of Social Work at Portland State University. www.reclaimingfutures.org.

Dr. Rosay publishes article in Journal of Juvenile Justice

Dr. André B. Rosay, Justice Center Director, is a co-author of the article, “Applying a Developmental Lens to Juvenile Reentry and Reintegration,” recently published online in the Spring 2012 Journal of Juvenile Justice, 1(2), 95-107.

Reentry is a crucial, but underdeveloped component of the juvenile justice system, and the success of reentry is often judged exclusively in terms of recidivism and/or reincarceration. This paper makes the case that the use of a developmental lens can improve the effectiveness of juvenile reentry through: (1) minor amendments to the intensive Aftercare Program model currently in use, (2) systematic improvements in implementation, and (3) more comprehensive evaluation strategies.

The Journal of Juvenile Justice is a semi-annual, peer-reviewed journal sponsored by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).

McLaughlin Youth Center superintendent discusses school discipline and the connection to delinquency on March 7

The Justice Center and Justice Club present this week the second in a series of events for National Criminal Justice Month. 

All events are free and open to UAA students, faculty, staff, and the public. The series will be held in the UAA/APU Consortium Library, 3rd floor, LIB 307. Parking is free in the library surface lots.

Wednesday, March 7, 6:30–7:30 p.m. 
UAA/APU Consortium Library, LIB 307

Zero Tolerance at Schools - School Discipline and the Delinquency Connection

     Dean Williams, Superintendent, McLaughlin Youth Center

Superintendent Williams discusses the zero tolerance policy in schools which results in suspensions or expulsions of students and the relationship to juvenile delinquency.

Drs. Rosay & Myrstol present at Western Society of Criminology Conference

Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center Director, and Dr. Brad Myrstol, Justice faculty, will be presenting at the 2011 Western Society of Criminology Annual Conference, February 3-5 in Vancouver.

Dr. Rosay and co-presenter Dr. Adrienne Freng of the University of Wyoming and a former Justice Center Visiting Faculty, will discuss their paper, "Girls and Boys: Separate or Equal? An Examination of Delinquency Trajectories," as part of a panel on "Gender Specific Pathways in Adolescence."

Dr. Myrstol will present his paper, "Predicting Public Support for School Resource Officers," as part of a panel on "Force and Victimization: Agents, Partners, Suspects & Detainees."

Dr. Rosay chairs Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences conference committee

Dr. André Rosay of the Justice Center is chairing the "Juvenile Corrections (Institution or Community)" program committee for the March 2012 annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) in New York City.

The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences is an international association established in 1963 to foster professional and scholarly activities in the field of criminal justice. ACJS promotes criminal justice education, research, and policy analysis within the discipline of criminal justice for both educators and practitioners.

Justice Center gang research now on National Criminal Justice Reference Service database

The Justice Center report, "Fairbanks Gang Assessment," prepared for the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice and the Fairbanks Gang Reduction and Intervention Network (GRAIN), has recently been added to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) database.

Co-authors of the "Fairbanks Gang Assessment" report are Khristy Parker and Jennifer McMullen, Justice Center Research Professionals; Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center; and Shea Daniels, Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice.

NCJRS is a federally funded resource offering justice and substance abuse information to support research, policy, and program development worldwide.

Co-author Shea Daniels, Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice, has been invited to present on how to complete a community gang assessment at the "2011 National Gang Symposium" in June. Ms. Daniels will be presenting with Michelle Arciaga, Senior Research Associate, from the National Gang Center.

Tacoma, Washington is currently considering a gang assessment project. The Justice Center "Fairbanks Gang Assessment" report was reviewed by the Tacoma City Council Public Safety, Human Services, and Education Committee during the discussion about their proposed 2011 Gang Assessment.

Spring 2010 issue of Alaska Justice Forum

The most recent issue of the Alaska Justice Forum features articles on juvenile sex offenders, housing for chronic inebriates, justice projects in Alaska funded through Recovery Act funds, and the Alaska Prisoner Re-entry Task Force.

The 8-page issue includes the following articles:

"Sex Offenders in the Alaska Juvenile Justice System" by André B. Rosay and Ronald S. Everett

Though juvenile sex offenders are often viewed as an intractable problem, the sex offender treatment program at McLaughlin Youth Center (MYC) in Anchorage, coupled with supervision and maturation, offers evidence of successful treatment. This article describes the characteristics of 29 juvenile sex offenders awho participated in the MYC sex offender treatment program and were released during the period July 1, 2004 – June 20, 2007 and examines their delinquency history up to age 18.

"A Look at Chronic Inebriate Housing in Seattle" by Sharon Chamard

The issue of the chronically homeless, which includes hard-to-house subpopulations, is a common problem in cities across the U.S. A new way of addressing this problem, called Housing First, provides housing for chronically homeless people in their own permanent housing units at the very outset, rather than initially treating their underlying problems (e.g., substance abuse, mental illness, etc.) to make them “housing ready.” This article reports on observations during a facility tour in March 2010 of 1811 Eastlake, a property operated by Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) in Seattle which provides supportive housing for Seattle's chronic alcohol-addicted population. An accompanying sidebar article briefly describes Karluk Manor, a proposed Housing First facility for chronic inebriates in the Fairview neighborhood of Anchorage.

"Recovery Act Funds: Justice Projects in Alaska"

A projected $1.6 billion in stimulus funds under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has been allocated for over 1,000 projects in Alaska. Included in the stimulus package for Alaska are funds administered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) totaling $18,906,593 for 39 justice-related projects in 22 rural and urban communities statewide through grants to state agencies; Alaska Native tribes, villages, and councils; municipalities; and nonprofits.

"Alaska Prisoner Re-entry Task Force" by Teresa White Carns

The Alaska Prisoner Re-entry Task Force, a subcommittee of the Criminal Justice Working Group, met in April 2010 to establish a work plan, identify major areas of focus, and create strategic work groups to address each area. The Task Force goal is: “Individuals who are incarcerated do not return to custody.” To achieve this, the Task Force will look for community partners and identify evidence-based strategies to improve the re-entry process.

"Faculty Changes"

Deborah Periman, Justice Center faculty member, has been awarded tenure and been promoted to Associate Professor; Adrienne Freng, visiting faculty member during the Spring 2010 semester, is returning to University of Wyoming, where she is an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice.

Justice Center sponsors Anchorage Youth Court meetings on campus

The Justice Center is sponsoring monthly meetings on campus of Anchorage Youth Court (AYC) beginning in September 2010. These monthly meetings involve the Anchorage Youth Court student attorneys and student judges, and local Alaska Bar members who volunteer to provide continuing legal education training for this group.

In Anchorage Youth Court, student lawyers and judges, and members of the legal community, informally adjudicate lower level juvenile offenses committed by middle and high school students. Student offenders agree to participate in this diversionary program.

Holding AYC meetings on the UAA campus provides an opportunity for local students to experience being on campus and to become familiar with UAA facilities. UAA is providing a community service in granting facility use to an organization that is part of the juvenile justice system.

Justice Center issues Fairbanks Gang Assessment Report

The Justice Center has released the "Fairbanks Gang Assessment" report which includes a review of community demographic, law enforcement, student and school, and community perceptions data. Data for this report were collected in 2010. The report was prepared with the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice and the Fairbanks Gang Reduction and Intervention Network (GRAIN). Khristy Parker, Research Assistant; Jennifer McMullen, Research Assistant; Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center Director; and Shea Daniels, Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice are the report authors.

Winter 2010 issue of Alaska Justice Forum

The Winter 2010 issue of the Alaska Justice Forum is now available. The 12-page issue includes the following articles:

"Felon Disenfranchisement and the Voting Rights Act — Farrakhan V. Gregoire: 'A Crowd of One'" by Deborah Periman

Early this year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued its opinion in Farrakhan v. Gregoire, a challenge to Washington State’s felon disenfranchisement law. The court’s decision stands alone among the circuits in holding that state law denying felons the right to vote is a violation of section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, where discrimination in the state’s criminal justice system results in race-based denial of the vote. Despite speculation, suggestions that the Farrakhan decision signals the demise of Alaska’s disenfranchisement law are overstated. Nevertheless, the case is noteworthy for reopening the conversation about why we deny certain offenders the right to vote, and whether these laws reflect viable public policy or are simply relics of an era in which racial and class prejudices limited participation in the political process.

"Juvenile Probation Officer Workload and Caseload Study" by André B. Rosay and Thomas S. Begich

This article provides results of a recent Justice Center study of juvenile probation officer (JPO) workloads and caseloads in the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), which examined the resources required in both rural and urban Alaska to adequately meet minimum probation standards, to continue the development and enhancement of system improvements, and to fully implement DJJ's restorative justice field probation service delivery model.

"Alaska Offender Profile 2009"

At the end of 2009, a total of 5,285 institutionalized offenders under the supervision of the Alaska Department of Corrections (DOC), a 5 percent increase in incacerated offenders from 2008, according to the DOC's 2009 offender profile. About 26 of the offender population was Alaska Natives and just over 10 percent was Black — disproportionate to their percentages in the general population (16% and 4%, respectively). The web version of this article includes an additional table which could not be included in the print edition for reasons of space.

"Correctional Populations 2008"

Figures recently released by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics show that prisoners under federal and state jurisdiction at year-end 2008 numbered 1,610,446. Inmates under local jurisdiction represented an additional 785,556 individuals, for a combined total of 2,304,115 incarcerated individuals. The imprisonment rate for males was 15 times higher than for females, and 6.5 times higher for Black males than for White males. The United States continues to lead all other nations in the rate of reported incarceration of individuals per 100,000 of the general population. The U.S. rate of 754 inmates per 100,000 residents is 5 to 10 times higher than that of Canada and most of the industrialized democracies of Western Europe.

"The Language Interpreter Center and Interpretation in Alaska"

The Language Interpreter Center (LIC), an Alaska multi-agency collaboration, now has a pool of 115 trained interpreters speaking 36 languages. The LIC works in cooperation with its many partners to meet the need for qualified interpreters in legal, medical, social services, and educational settings statewide. The web version of this article includes an additional figure and table which could not be included in the print edition for reasons of space.

"Criminal Justice Working Group Update" by Teresa White Carns

Coordinated and staffed by the Alaska Judicial Council, the Criminal Justice Working Group (CJWG) is made up of representatives from the executive branch justice agencies and other justice system agencies and organizations in Alaska. The CWCG has focused on two main aspects of the criminal justice system: crime prevention and reduction of recidivism; and efficiencies in the system. This article outlines the CJWG's recent work and accomplishments: electronic exchange of discovery information among agencies; offender re-entry programs; Project HOPE, a successful probation monitoring program developed in Hawaii; and ongoing analysis of recidivism and program effectiveness.

"Project HOPE for Alaska" by Teresa White Carns

Every day, the Anchorage Superior court handles five petitions — over 100 per month — to revoke probation for technical reasons such as failed drug tests and missed appointments. Project HOPE in Hawaii is an evidence-based program that reduced revocation rates and re-arrests of participating offenders. The Alaska Department of Corrections, in collaboration with the Criminal Justice Working Group, is developing a pilot program in Alaska based on the Project HOPE model.