Legislature(2017 - 2018)
2018-01-18 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2018-01-18 Senate Journal Page 1774 SB 150 SENATE BILL NO. 150 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: "An Act relating to pretrial release procedures; amending Rule 41, Alaska Rule of Criminal Procedure; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary Committee. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Corrections Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Department of Law 2018-01-18 Senate Journal Page 1775 Governor's transmittal letter dated January 17: Dear President Kelly, Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill that would allow a judicial officer to consider out-of-state criminal history when determining bail and release conditions. In January of 2018, the "Phase III" of criminal justice reform went into effect. This phase substantially changes the method for determining appropriate bail and release conditions. Under the new system, bail is largely dependent upon a person's charge and risk level, as determined by a pretrial services officer using a risk assessment tool. Persons charged with certain misdemeanors, and who are assessed as low to moderate risk, must be released on their own recognizance or on an unsecured bond. Further, persons charged with certain class C felonies and who are assessed as low risk must also be released on their own recognizance or on an unsecured bond. The judge has no discretion to impose monetary bail in these situations. Unfortunately, the risk assessment tool does not take into account a person's out-of-state criminal history. Therefore, judges are prohibited from imposing monetary bail for these individuals, regardless of what their out-of-state criminal history looks like. This is problematic given Alaska's transient population, especially in the summer months. This bill would remove the provisions of law requiring release on a person's own recognizance or an unsecured bond and return discretion if the person has an out-of-state criminal history that has not been used in determining the person's risk level by the risk assessment tool. This will allow a judge to consider a person's full criminal history before making an appropriate release decision both for the offender and the public at-large. For a Safer Alaska, I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure. Sincerely, /s/ Bill Walker Governor