02/06/1995 01:30 PM Senate JUD

 SJUD - 2/6/95                                                                 
                                                                               
 JOE MURDY, Anchorage Assemblyman, testified in support of SB 14.              
 The Anchorage Assembly has a growing concern about the increasing             
 number of vehicles that are stolen every year in Anchorage.  In               
 1994, 2,534 vehicles were stolen.   When apprehended, the offender            
 is given a ticket for joyriding which carries a fine of $100 to               
 $200 for the first offense.   Insurance rates are affected by these           
 thefts, and citizens are inconvenienced until their vehicles are              
 found.  The Anchorage Assembly passed a resolution in support of SB
.                                                                           
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR asked if 50 percent of the thefts are committed by             
 juveniles.  Mr. Murdy replied affirmatively.  SENATOR TAYLOR stated           
 changing the violation to a Class C felony will not affect how                
 juveniles are charged.  He suggested restructuring the concept of             
 SB 14 to remove the juvenile status so that the standards that                
 apply to adults involved in moving violations would apply to                  
 juveniles.  SENATOR TAYLOR discussed the possibility of amending              
 a bill pending in another committee that addresses similar                    
 concerns.                                                                     
                                                                               
 MR. MURDY informed committee members the Anchorage Assembly is in             
 the process of passing an ordinance that would allow the                      
 Municipality to impound an offender's car for 30 days.  This                  
 ordinance is in response to the problem of looting by juveniles.              
 He offered to send a copy of the resolution passed by the Assembly            
 to the committee.                                                             
                                                                               
 JOHN SALEMI, Director of the Alaska Public Defender Agency,                   
 testified on SB 14.  He noted the fiscal impact of SB 14 may have             
 escaped the notice of the Department of Law.  If SB 14 passes,                
 those cases will be referred to the State District Attorney's                 
 office, since the Anchorage Municipal prosecutor does not handle              
 felony cases.  The Department of Law currently handles about 99               
 cases statewide, they may need to rethink the fiscal impact now               
 that several hundred cases may be referred to the Anchorage                   
 District Attorney's office.  He explained that 1100 auto thefts               
 were reported in 1993, and approximately 200 people were caught and           
 arrested.  In 1994, the number of reported incidents was over                 
 2,000.  He questioned whether auto theft cases would be given a               
 lower priority since the number of violent crimes taken on by the             
 Department of Law has increased.  This may require an additional              
 half-time position to the Felony Intake Unit.                                 
                                                                               
 CHIEF O'LEARY, Anchorage Municipal Police Department, reported the            
 following statistics.  In 1993, 1,387 stolen vehicles were                    
 reported; in 1994, 2,534 were reported; and during the month of               
 January, 1995, 260 reports were filed.  The vast majority of                  
 vehicles are recovered.  In 1993, 275 individuals were arrested for           
 vehicle theft.  He felt additional arrests would be made if this              
 offense was treated more seriously.  There are groups of people who           
 steal vehicles for felonious purposes, therefore the Police                   
 Department is in favor of increasing the penalties for that reason.           
 He added the District Attorney's office uses discretion when                  
 determining charges against an offender.                                      
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR asked what percentage of the offenders are                     
 juveniles.  Chief O'Leary replied, in 1993, 123 adults and 152                
 juveniles were arrested for that offense.