00HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 11                                                                                    
01 Relating to substance abuse treatment for offenders in the criminal justice system.                                     
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                              
03  WHEREAS substance abuse, specifically the abuse of alcohol and illegal use of                                        
04 controlled substances, is a major contributing component in crimes in Alaska and the nation;                            
05 and                                                                                                                     
06  WHEREAS substance abuse is a significant factor that interferes with the successful                                  
07 rehabilitation of persons convicted of crimes; and                                                                      
08  WHEREAS lack of treatment of persons convicted of crimes results in an increased                                     
09 rate of recidivism with attending additional crimes and victims; and                                                    
10  WHEREAS repeat offenders place undue financial burden on the criminal justice                                        
11 system of the state;                                                                                                    
12  BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature recognizes the social and                                           
13 financial benefits that accrue to the state when persons convicted of crimes do not repeat those                        
14 offenses; and be it                                                                                                     

01  FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature recognizes that a consistent                                      
02 response to substance abuse by the criminal justice system will result in a decreased rate of                           
03 recidivism; and be it                                                                                                   
04  FURTHER RESOLVED that Alaska may redirect and restructure resources to provide                                       
05 standardized screening and culturally appropriate substance abuse treatment in the corrections                          
06 system; and be it                                                                                                       
07  FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Corrections and the Department of                                            
08 Law will provide sanctions for offenders who refuse to cooperate with and respond to court-                             
09 ordered substance abuse treatment while such offenders are under the jurisdiction of the                                
10 criminal justice system.                                                                                                
11  COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Tony Knowles, Governor;                                     
12 the Honorable Bruce Botelho, Attorney General; the Honorable Margaret Pugh, Commissioner,                               
13 Department of Corrections; and the Honorable Karen Perdue, Commissioner, Department of                                  
14 Health and Social Services.