Legislature(1993 - 1994)
1994-07-15 House Journal
Full Journal pdf1994-07-15 House Journal Page 4522 HB 153 The following letter dated June 29, 1994, was received: "Dear Speaker Barnes: Under the authority of art. II, sec. 15, of the Alaska Constitution, I have vetoed the following bill: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 153 (JUD) am (efd fld S) "An Act related to the awarding of special good time deductions for prisoners participating in the Point MacKenzie Rehabilitation Project." 1994-07-15 House Journal Page 4523 HB 153 The Point MacKenzie Rehabilitation Project is a program established by the Department of Corrections in which assigned prisoners help restore farm buildings that the state owns and herd reindeer kept on those farms. This bill would have required the commissioner of corrections to award a prisoner who voluntarily participates in the Point MacKenzie Rehabilitation Project with three days of special good time for each 30 days successfully completed as a participant in the project. All persons who are convicted of a crime and are sentenced to jail are eligible to receive an award of good time, which reduces time in jail, as long as they follow the disciplinary rules for prisoners. However, this bill would give extra good time only to prisoners who participate in just one of the many rehabilitative programs offered by the Department of Corrections. It does not provide a fair opportunity for all prisoners to earn this extra good time (for example, women are currently not eligible to participate due to budget and staff constraints). Likewise, the bill does not make it more likely that the prisoners released early under this bill would present less of a danger to the public than would the general prison population. Because this bill does not treat everyone equally under the law, it is likely the state would be exposed to a legal challenge based on the equal protection clause of the State and United States Constitutions. In addition, I am concerned that further reducing sentences of those convicted of crimes will erode the principle of "truth in sentencing" and is not in the best interests of public safety. I think it is important that we maintain the public's confidence in the criminal justice system and I fear we would risk that confidence if criminals were further relieved of serving their sentence through enactment of this bill. Therefore, due to the lack of fairness and possible legal exposure to the state if the bill is enacted into law, I must veto it. Sincerely, /s/ Walter J. Hickel Governor"