03/12/2010 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 257                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to funding for youth courts; and                                                                          
     relating to accounting for criminal fines."                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Dennis Egan, sponsor, read the sponsor statement.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
   · Senate Bill 257 provides a sustainable source of                                                                           
     funding for Alaska's youth courts.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
  · Every youth court in the state is a little different,                                                                       
     but they share the same basic idea:  Young people                                                                          
    picked up for misdemeanors, violations, and alcohol                                                                         
     offenses get a trial by their peers.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
   · Youth courts work. Only 10 percent of juveniles who go                                                                     
     through these programs reoffend.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
   · That saves the state money - roughly $10,000 per                                                                           
     offender.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
   · It also means the Juvenile Justice professionals at                                                                        
     the Department of Health & Social Services don't have                                                                      
     to dedicate resources to the little stuff.                                                                                 
        o That's a 2-way benefit - real attention and real                                                                      
          consequences for young people who otherwise don't                                                                     
          always get a hard look.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
        o And our well-trained youth corrections people are                                                                     
          available for the 'hard cases.'                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
   · There's another great benefit for Alaska - the kids                                                                        
     who volunteer in these programs get great training in                                                                      
    the basics of criminal law, research, writing, and                                                                          
     public speaking.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
   · The bill chooses a funding source for these courts - a                                                                     
     portion of criminal fines.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
        o Currently adults' criminal fines are unrestricted                                                                     
          general fund.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
        o SB 257 designates up to 25% of those fines for                                                                        
          youth courts.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
        o Making criminals pay for crime prevention makes                                                                       
          sense                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
        o I look forward to hearing from the public, and                                                                        
          answering committee members' questions.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:10:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman noted  three zero  fiscal notes,  one from                                                                    
the Department  of Law,  one from  the Department  of Health                                                                    
and Social Services, and one from the Court System.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
KERRI  FOX,   BETHEL  YOUTH  COURT,   (via  teleconference),                                                                    
testified in  support of  the bill.  She shared  that Bethel                                                                    
has been  trying to  get a youth  court started  for several                                                                    
years. Some  progress has  recently been  made. She  did not                                                                    
want to lose that momentum.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Ellis asked  how the court connects  the elders with                                                                    
youthful  offenders. Ms.  Fox replied  that  when youth  are                                                                    
charged with  minor consuming, they  come before a  panel of                                                                    
elders and youths. Guidance is offered.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:12:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LISA  ALBERT-KONECKY,  MAT-SU  YOUTH  COURT,  WASILLA,  (via                                                                    
teleconference),  testified  in  favor of  the  bill.  Youth                                                                    
courts show a strong  community-supported program. The youth                                                                    
court  in  Wasilla is  struggling  for  funding. Each  youth                                                                    
court reflects  their community's  needs. She  urged support                                                                    
of the bill.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:14:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MEGAN  STANNELAND, ADVOCATE,  JUNEAU YOUTH  COURT, testified                                                                    
in support of  the bill. She stressed that  youth courts are                                                                    
youth advocating  for youth, which  gives the  program power                                                                    
and  momentum. The  youth courts  attempts to  find creative                                                                    
sentencing   using   community   service   that   fits   the                                                                    
individual.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Thomas  pointed out that youth  courts are supported                                                                    
by pro  bono trial  lawyers. Youth courts  reduce recidivism                                                                    
dramatically.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Egan  agreed. The  recidivism  rate  is 10  percent                                                                    
compared to 30 percent in regular court cases.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SB  257  was  HEARD  and   HELD  in  Committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:18:55 PM