Legislature(2003 - 2004)
01/30/2003 08:00 AM House STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
January 30, 2003
8:00 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bruce Weyhrauch, Chair
Representative Jim Holm, Vice Chair
Representative Nancy Dahlstrom
Representative Bob Lynn
Representative Paul Seaton
Representative Ethan Berkowitz
Representative Max Gruenberg
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING
Commissioner, Department of Corrections
Marc Antrim - Juneau
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
PREVIOUS ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
MARC ANTRIM, Commissioner
Office of the Commissioner - Juneau
Department of Corrections
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointed commissioner of the
Department of Corrections.
REPRESENTATIVE MARY KAPSNER
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the confirmation hearing
for Commissioner Marc Antrim.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 03-02, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR BRUCE WEYHRAUCH called the House State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. Representatives Holm,
Seaton, Dahlstrom, Lynn, Berkowitz, Gruenberg, and Weyhrauch
were present at the call to order.
CONFIRMATION HEARING
Commissioner, Department of Corrections
Number 0017
CHAIR WEYHRAUCH announced that the committee would consider the
confirmation of Marc Antrim, Commissioner, Department of
Corrections, and he explained the process of a confirmation
hearing.
Number 0100
MARC ANTRIM, Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner - Juneau,
Department of Corrections, noted that the House State Affairs
Standing Committee had received his resume [included in the
committee packet]. He conveyed the honor he felt at being
appointed by Governor Murkowski, having begun [his career] "on
the floor as an officer."
Number 0210
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM noted that in [the Department of
Corrections] unique bonds are formed among employees; many of
the men and women who work in the correctional facilities work
week-on/week-off shifts - 12-hour days - and socialize as well
as work together. He said, "We're asked to do things for the
state in those capacities that most people just don't have to
do." For example, he listed wrestling intoxicated people,
[rehabilitating] people who are suicidal, and [controlling or
restraining] aggressive people who suddenly "go crazy" in the
booking areas, after appearing calm in the patrol car. He told
the committee that that type of work has been a character-
builder for those in it, including himself. He spoke of the
attention to safety for the public, the prisoners, and the
coworkers. He characterized the people who work in this field
as being selfless.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM commented that the men and women who work
for [the Department of Corrections] like to say that it's the
toughest beat in the state, and he agrees. He said that he
hopes he can meet the goals and expectations of those men and
women, as well as his own. He said that he thinks his
experience inside the department will allow him to offer [the
legislature] "and other committees" some insights regarding how
to [make] difficult decisions "without seriously impacting the
operations of the department."
Number 0529
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM mentioned a concern regarding insurance
billing and asked Commissioner Antrim to address the issue.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM responded that the issue is a concern, which
Jerry Burnett, the Director of Administrative Services, is
addressing. He stated that he thinks a new administration
offers a new perspective. Given that there are a number of
short-term prisoners who are gainfully employed and do [incur]
injuries, he said, "I think this is something that we can
certainly use to impact our budget positively."
Number 0667
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN asked Commissioner Antrim for his comments
regarding a possible prison site in Whittier, Alaska [proposed
in 2002 during the Twenty-Second Alaska State Legislature, in HB
498].
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM responded that [Governor Murkowski] has made
it clear that he does not support private prisons "in concept,"
which is basically the position of the [Department of
Corrections]. He mentioned a proposal that is "on the table,"
and he said that he has not had adequate time to consider it;
therefore, he would not make any in-depth comments regarding it.
Notwithstanding that, he said that he would be ready to give an
honest assessment of that project soon.
Number 0775
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ asked if the administration will
continue to oppose private prisons.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that he has not had any information
to the contrary. In response to a follow-up question from
Representative Berkowitz, he said that he thinks the
administration will be open to all proposals brought forward;
however, he reiterated that the governor's present position is
that he opposes [private prisons], as does the department.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ stated that he fully hopes that
[Governor Murkowski] fulfills all his campaign promises.
Number 0828
REPRESENTATIVE MARY KAPSNER, Alaska State Legislature, stated
her understanding that the [Department of Corrections] would be
reexamining social programs and asked Commissioner Antrim for
the definition of a social program.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM replied that [the department] offers a
variety of treatment programs to help [rehabilitate] prisoners,
specific to [the problem that the prisoners face]. The
department intends to examine the effectiveness of those
programs. He mentioned seeing people repeatedly return to the
programs, and he said that he would like to open discussion with
the various treatment providers to come up with more effective
[programs]. He mentioned sexual abuse and said that there are
some recidivism issues that need to be addressed.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM, in response to a follow-up question from
Representative Kapsner, said that [the department] would begin
with a cost analysis and then observe how many people go through
[the programs] versus how many of those people return. He
mentioned Mr. Topou [with the department], who would be
examining the programs from a "philosophical approach."
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked if the department intended to
conduct both a fiscal audit and program audit.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that the department would attempt
to "tie them in together" to get a cohesive picture. He said,
"I understand what your concern is ... and I would like to put
that at ease." He said that [the department] would not look at
a program that's not working and automatically cut it. He added
that [the department] obviously needs to provide a large amount
of treatment in substance abuse. He reiterated that this was
not a matter of eliminating a program, but rather of making it
better.
Number 1286
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked Commissioner Antrim to clarify that
he was talking about working for the most effective treatment
options, instead of [going back to] the "warehousing" model.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said that the warehousing approach has been
in the business as long as he has. He said he knows that 90
percent of [Alaska's] prisoners are "going to come back out."
He stated that "doing nothing in the interim" would be a total
disservice to the citizens of Alaska. Commissioner Antrim said
he is not going back to the warehousing model. He clarified
that [the department] has no intention of ending any existing
program, but instead will make those [programs] more effective.
Number 1360
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said he found that many corrections
officers were concerned that some of the actions initiated by
the legislature last year regarding [amenities] were "directed
at the wrong point." He stated his own concern that the system
should not withhold amenities from the long-term prisoners,
whose rehabilitation might be aided by having them, but should
instead deny amenities to those in the early stages [of
incarceration] to impress upon them that "this is some place
they don't want to be." He asked Commissioner Antrim for his
views on that issue.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM responded that a wide variety of amenities
are offered to prisoners, which he said is "all part of the
design." He described the booking area as very spartan and said
that the pre-trial area offers a little more property. The
long-term area, he said, is the place where prisoners are in
double-bunk cells and are able to purchase televisions.
Commissioner Antrim noted that it is the long-term amenities to
which Representative Seaton referred that "sometimes raise the
hackles on a number of legislators' necks." The reason that
[the department] allows [prisoners] to provide amenities for
themselves is because those amenities serve as a management
tool; it's a way to control negative behavior in a correctional
center.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM commented that long-term prisoners like
things to be predictable and despise being around short-term
prisoners, because "their focus is so far off" that of the
short-term prisoners.
Number 1687
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ asked Commissioner Antrim to share his
general philosophy regarding corrections.
Number 1695
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that his general philosophy is to
treat [prisoners] fairly and firmly, rehabilitate them to the
best of [the staff's] availability, and send them back out
better than they were when they came in.
Number 1823
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN asked how large a problem homosexual rape
between prisoners is and what measures "we'd be taking" to
protect prisoners from each other. He stated that he is in
strong favor of strong sentencing, but no prisoner should have
to suffer sexual abuse within the system.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM responded that the incidence of homosexual
rape in [the Alaska correctional] system is relatively low,
largely because of existing staffing patterns and the relatively
small size of the facilities. Those incidents which do occur
are prosecuted to the fullest extent. He indicated that there
is greater risk "to our personal population" in larger
facilities.
Number 1936
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM, in response to questions from
Representative Berkowitz, said that he is familiar with the
Chaney criteria and concurs that it is adequate guidance.
Number 1945
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ, at the request of Chair Weyhrauch,
noted that there are the five goals [of the Chaney criteria] and
listed the following: isolation, prisoners' deterrence of
others, rehabilitation of the prisoner, and an expression of the
community.
Number 1980
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER mentioned an article in the Anchorage
Chronicle prior to Deputy Commissioner Stalworthy's [current]
appointment. In that article, Mr. Stalworthy reported that
assaults were up 50 percent in Alaska's correctional system.
She said that she has been "keeping a sharp eye" on corrections.
Representative Kapsner said that [Commissioner Margaret Pugh, in
office at the time the article was released, approximately fall
2002] did not know the source of that report. Commissioner
[Pugh] had offered the following statistics to Representative
Kapsner, which she shared with the House State Affairs Standing
Committee as follows: Nationally, there are 29.2 [assaults] per
1,000 assaults, and in Alaska there are 1.3 [per 1,000]. She
asked Commissioner Antrim to comment.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM noted that "the deputy commissioner got that
statistic from information supplied by our department" in a
publication Commissioner Antrim said he believed is called the
"Corrections Yearbook." He stated that he thinks the point
[that was] made [by reporting that statistic] is that even
though the statistics are very good, offenses in the state's
system are "up."
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER stated that a 50 percent increase in [a
very low number of assaults] still equals [a low number]. She
stated her concern that the reports should show [Alaska's low
number of assaults].
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM noted that although there is a good record,
there have been a number of serious incidents. He said he is
charged to keep people safe while they serve their sentences.
Number 2148
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ asked Commissioner Antrim if he is
concerned that budget cuts could have the impact of increasing
danger to prisoners and guards.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that a certain amount of staff is
necessary at each facility to adequately observe prisoners.
Those staffing points or "posts" are depended upon to mutually
support each other in the advent of an emergency or some type of
disturbance in the facility. Any budget cut does translate into
staff reductions at those posts. Many changes have been made in
staffing to adjust to various budget cuts that have been made.
He opined, "I think we're teetering on the edge of some
potential additional incidents."
Number 2246
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said that he had noticed that the food
service at the Spring Creek [Correctional Center] was quite
different from that which is seen on national television, where
a hall with up to two hundred people is depicted. At Spring
Creek, prisoners pick up their food in twos and return to their
cell to eat, thereby seemingly cutting down much of the "tension
interaction." He asked if that model of food service delivery
is helpful and if it is [practiced] throughout the system.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that that system of delivering food
is not consistent throughout all the facilities. He named three
facilities where large dining halls are used: the Fairbanks,
Lemon Creek, and Wildwood Correctional Centers. In the newer
facilities, food service is actually brought to the living
units, he said. He mentioned choices of cost-effectiveness that
are made, but said that the [food service method used in the
newer facilities] is much safer for the prisoners and the staff.
Number 2382
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said, "During the state of the state
[address], the governor indicated he was going to have a large
anti-crime package." He stated that those crime packages
usually translate to large fiscal notes for corrections. He
asked Commissioner Antrim if he had had a chance to peruse any
of those "proposals in the package," and he asked what kind of
fiscal note would be anticipated.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that [the department] is currently
studying those fiscal notes. He said, "I can certainly
communicate to your office what those individual fiscal notes
are, and they will be attached, of course, to those aspects of
the bill."
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ reminded committee members that if
there is a fiscal note, it has to be paid for, one way or
another.
Number 2447
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked Commissioner Antrim if he was
aware of Administrative Order 207, which was published on the
23rd [of January, 2003], but was actually issued the day before.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said he had been aware of it, but until the
order was released he was not certain he could comment in depth
on it. He said that [the department] is currently working on it
in regard to personnel rules and to contracts with various
bargaining units.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM, in response to a question by Chair
Weyhrauch, concurred that he did not have control over the
release date.
Number 2526
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG noted a provision [in paragraph five of
Administrative Order 207, included in the committee packet],
which he read as follows: "The inmate health care unit is
transferred from the division of institutions to the division of
administrative services. The director of administrative
services is responsible for undertaking cost containment
measures for the delivery of inmate health care."
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG quoted a section of the accompanying
press release [included in the committee packet] as follows:
"The inmate care unit has been moved to the Division of
Administrative Services, where the director can work closely
with the medical director and other state agencies to maintain
quality health care for Alaska's inmate population, while
undertaking a variety of cost-containment measures."
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG also recollected having read an article
- in either an Anchorage or a Juneau newspaper - that reported
that 30 percent of hepatitis B cases and a large number of
tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases
have emanated from recently released prisoners. He stated that
there is some concern nationally as to the level of health care
that prisoners are receiving, and the effect that that lack of
health care is having on the spread of these very serious
communicable diseases.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked Commissioner Antrim what steps
the department would take under the current administration to
ensure that the desire to contain costs does not outweigh inmate
safety and the public safety in this area.
Number 2633
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM responded that all of [Alaska's] prisoners
undergo a cursory medical exam. He explained that this is a
means of controlling the aforementioned diseases.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked, "Are they all given tests for
tuberculosis?"
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said yes.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG also asked about hepatitis B and HIV.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM responded as follows: "All blood is drawn.
Everybody has to get a TB test. If they refuse the TB test, for
example, we put them in what's called administrative
segregation."
Number 2680
REPRESENTATIVE HOLM mentioned the guard-to-prisoner ratio. He
asked if his recollection was true that there are a significant
amount of guard and probation officer staff positions open.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that [the department] is diligently
working to "whittle that down as we can with our budget
constraints." He said that part of [the department's] goal is
to "free up some dollars" in middle management and [to use] that
money to fill [those positions].
REPRESENTATIVE HOLM asked Commissioner Antrim if he thought he
would be able to find efficiencies in administration to do that.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered yes.
Number 2729
CHAIR WEYHRAUCH referred to an earlier statement by Commissioner
Antrim regarding inmate deaths that were arguably avoidable. He
asked the commissioner to confirm for the record that "that
wasn't any position by the department, that's just a concern
that you raised."
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said yes. In response to a follow-up
question by Chair Weyhrauch, he confirmed that [his previous
statement] was in no way an admission of liability.
Number 2760
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG requested that Commissioner Antrim
continue with his previous response regarding [health screening
of prisoners].
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said that if any of the prisoners screened
are found to have any of the aforementioned diseases, treatment
is initiated immediately. He stated that he was not familiar
with the article Representative Gruenberg had previously
referred to, but said that the statistics were very alarming.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked if anyone else had seen that
article.
AN UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER said he had seen it.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said he would like the chance to read the
article before he comments on it.
Number 2805
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked, before the administrative order
came out, whether there was any discussion with the unions or
with the superintendent at the correctional facility about this
issue.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered no.
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked if Commissioner Antrim foresees any
layoffs of superintendents because of the administrative order.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM responded no. He said that the
administrative order affects a limited number of superintendent
positions; it doesn't affect the superintendents as a group. He
explained, "This is really round two of some economizing that
was done several years ago." He estimated that 10 or 12 years
ago, all of the facilities had assistant superintendent
positions when management determined to consolidate some of the
duties and eliminate some of those [positions] in the smaller
facilities.
Number 2878
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said [the department] is continuing that
process of consolidation. He noted that there have been some
changes in [the department's] job classes. He told the House
State Affairs Standing Committee that some of the current
assistant superintendent duties will be moved "in some of the
facilities that are affected" to an "SU" position that has been
introduced. He added, "In many cases, the affected assistant
superintendents will move into those positions that are vacant."
Number 2891
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if the vacancies in correctional
officer positions are a result of not being able to find staff
for those positions, or because of insufficient funding.
Number 2934
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that there were approximately 88
correctional officer positions and 16 probation officer
positions open "at the time of transition."
TAPE 03-02, SIDE B
Number 2972
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said that [the department] is experiencing
recruiting difficulties. He added, "It's just tough to find
decent people." A large number of people apply; however, the
background checks eliminate a lot of people. He stated that
[the department] is responsible for placing people in control of
people's lives in a way that could have some very serious
consequences; therefore, he rationalized that he believes that
[the department] is correct in making certain that only the best
and most trustworthy people are placed in those positions.
Number 2876
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said that he is filling the vacancies as the
budget allows. [The department] is examining its hiring
process, he said. He noted that there has been difficulty in
attracting Alaska Natives and females to fill the job vacancies.
Number 2849
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said that he and Representative Kapsner
have discussed a proposal that has existed for "quite some
time," which would expand the responsibilities of VPSOs [Village
Public Safety Officers] to include some probation or parole
activities. He said it would help with "the rehabilitation" and
the VPSOs' compensation packages. He asked Commissioner Antrim
if he would be willing to assist in that pursuit.
Number 2825
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM replied that he agreed that it is important
to "get people back to ... where they live, particularly in our
remote locations around the state." Currently, a staff person
is working with the VPSOs regarding monitoring and meeting
probation and parole conditions, he said. In response to a
comment by Representative Berkowitz, he agreed that it is cost-
effective to "monitor them in place."
Number 2778
REPRESENTATIVE HOLM mentioned an inmates-to-staff ratio found in
the Corrections Yearbook, dated January 1, 2001, which he said
is the second best ratio in the country. He suggested that
perhaps there shouldn't be a big hurry to change those ratios at
this point; therefore, he commended Commissioner Antrim for his
care in [choosing] officers.
Number 2720
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM commented that the officer safety statistics
are as impressive as the statistics showing low prisoner
violence. He stated that that is "another mechanism of adequate
staffing and just good training on the part of our employees."
Number 2700
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER stated her understanding that [the
department] is embarking on a chaplaincy program. She asked if
the chaplains will be on the state payroll and if [the
department] would be sensitive to recruiting chaplains of other
faiths besides Christianity.
Number 2666
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that [the department] has had a
chaplaincy program for a long time, and he said that certain
statistics indicate that faith-based programs are probably some
of the most effective. He explained that the chaplain serves as
a coordinator who makes certain that the space available for
chaplaincy services is shared equally among all the different
faiths. There are currently several paid chaplains; Chaplain
Mike Ensch, based in Anchorage, Alaska, is the statewide
coordinator. He noted that Chaplain Ensch has submitted a
proposal to the commissioner's office that would expand the
program and introduce a number of paid chaplains throughout the
system.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said that he supports the concept [of the
proposal], but pointed out that it is a matter of finding the
money to do it. He stated that the cost of placing moderately
paid chaplains in all [the correctional] facilities would be
approximately $500,000. He stated that the intent of the
department is to consider a variety of funding sources -
including the "faith-based initiatives that are very big right
now," as well as individual church groups - and to attempt to
match those funds somehow with state funds.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM, responding to Representative Kapsner's
question regarding individual faiths, stated that the Jewish and
Muslim faiths are well represented in the prison population. He
said that part of Chaplain Ensch's proposal is to provide
chapels in each of the facilities, many of which don't currently
have dedicated chapels.
Number 2489
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG referred to Commissioner Antrim's
statement during the [Department of Corrections] overview [House
State Affairs Standing Committee, January 23, 2003], regarding
employing "best correctional practices throughout the operations
of the department." He said that he believes three of the
[correctional] institutions have met the accreditation standards
set by the American Correctional Association (ACA). He asked
Commissioner Antrim if he was planning to continue working to
bring the other institutions towards accreditation, as well.
Number 2454
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM replied that that's a program that [the
department] must take a look at. He said that the
superintendents of the facilities [that underwent the
accreditation] will [attest] that that was a very intensive and
expensive process. The value of [the accreditation] is that it
establishes a set of standards and conditions for the prisoners,
and guarantees that the staff will review the policy procedures
and demonstrate "knowledge."
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said that [the department] must determine
whether the certification process is "worth it," or whether it
can come close to something like that on its own for less money.
He offered the example of the Ketchikan facility spending a
great amount of money to provide a cell with handicap access.
In response to a question from Representative Gruenberg,
Commissioner Antrim explained that there was no one who required
a handicap cell at the prison at that time; the remodeling was
part of the certification process. He noted that the Lemon
Creek facility has several massive dormitory areas, none of
which will meet ACA accreditation. He said he thinks the
approach that [the department] will end up taking is to try to
get as close to [ACA standards] as it can. Commissioner Antrim
characterized ACA standards as "widely available."
Number 2353
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked if most [correctional]
institutions in the United States meet [the ACA] standards.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered no.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked if there is any penalty for not
meeting the standards, for example, being ineligible [to
receive] federal funds.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM responded no. He said that he guesses the
bigger question is what the benefit is. Whether [being
accredited] would help avoid lawsuits is debatable, although it
is something to point to in the case of a lawsuit, he noted. He
concluded, "It basically is ... a set of best practices
conditions."
Number 2261
CHAIR WEYHRAUCH referred to Commissioner Antrim's aforementioned
statement that he had no intention of ending any existing
program. He stated his concern that Commissioner Antrim not box
himself into some position. If the facts don't warrant
continuing a program, he said, and there is no public policy
base for it and no benefit [from it], then perhaps that program
should be ended. He said that he did not want that statement to
come back and haunt Commissioner Antrim.
Number 2242
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM clarified that what he had meant to say is
that individual programs may be examined, but "broad areas, like
substance abuse, we are going to offer always, whether the
individual delivery method stays the same."
Number 2201
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ stated that he had a question regarding
"the program." He asked, "I was wondering if they were going to
go through the same auditing that all the other programs are
going through." He asked if those audits would be made
available.
Number 2190
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered yes. He said, "The governor, in
general concept, has ordered top-to-bottom audits of all the
departments." He asked Representative Berkowitz if his question
referred to faith-based programs.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said that he wants to ensure that if
one program is audited, they all will be audited.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said yes. He clarified, "At this point the
chaplaincy program is simply a proposal, so once it's in play,
you bet it will be."
Number 2154
CHAIR WEYHRAUCH asked Commissioner Antrim if his department had
any involvement in any homeland security issue affecting Alaska.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that although [the department] has
not yet been part of any discussion [concerning homeland
security], he believes that it has a "place at the table." In
response to a follow-up question by Chair Weyhrauch, he opined
that his department should be [involved] in any upcoming
homeland security overviews.
Number 2115
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG stated his understanding that, at one
time, the department was involved in seeking a federal grant for
sex offender treatment. He asked Commissioner Antrim to
describe that grant and explain why the new administration
decided not to continue it.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM clarified that that grant was part of a
larger federal grant called the "going home project." He said,
"We've not made a decision yet whether to end either one of
those two grants." He explained that [the department's] concern
is regarding the amount of work that would be required of the
staff to administer those grants. He said that initial
indications were that some of the senior probation staff would
be consumed in managing the program. He mentioned the new
administration and an initial [reaction] to "cut our losses" by
cutting the program. He told the committee that [the
department] had engaged in an in-depth conversation with "the
main administrator in the field for that grant, yesterday
afternoon," and it appears that [the department] may be able to
shift some of the workload to "some of his people" and make the
changes in the operation of the grants through addendums that
will meet "our very point of concerns." Commissioner Antrim
said that, if that proves possible, [the department] will
continue [with the grant].
Number 1920
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked Commissioner Antrim if he thinks
he may have the ability to change some of the conditions of the
grant.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said yes. In response to an offer of
assistance from Representative Gruenberg, he said, "I think
we're OK."
Number 1877
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ asked if the administration had any
thoughts regarding changing the missions and measures set out by
the legislature.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM replied that it was clear during
conversations with OMB [Office of Management & Budget] that some
of the missions and measures are "out of sync." He said, "So,
I've tasked the director of [the Division of] Institutions and
the director of what we're going to call the new Division of
Probation and Parole to examine those and tighten them up a
little bit, so they have more meaning for the legislature."
Number 1824
CHAIR WEYHRAUCH asked Commissioner Antrim why the legislature
should accept his confirmation.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM responded that he has given his "entire
adult life" to the department. He stated that he feels strongly
about leaving the department better than when he [began working
for it]. He said that he believes his approach thus far has
been a cautious and safe one. He has assembled a team that he
said he thinks offers "a very good, strong, balanced approach to
get the job done."
CHAIR WEYHRAUCH asked Commissioner Antrim to describe his
strengths and weaknesses.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that his strength is being
"extremely dogged," and his weakness is that he sometimes
doesn't know when to quit when he should. He stated his hope
that that would not be a detriment in committee hearings, for
example.
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM, in response to a question by Representative
Weyhrauch regarding favorite reading, noted that he had read Man
In Full: A Novel, by Tom Wolfe; however, he noted that most of
the prison literature that he has read over the years has
consisted of professional publications.
Number 1699
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked Commissioner Antrim to confirm that
he might be changing the focus of treatments from "treating all
the inmates who may have a problem in one area, whether they
admit it or not, to just treating the inmates that admit that
they have a problem, say, with alcohol addiction."
COMMISSIONER ANTRIM clarified that his focus is getting people
to understand that they have a problem that needs to be treated.
In response to a comment by Representative Kapsner, he agreed
that [many of those with alcohol abuse problems] won't freely
admit to their problem. He stated that once people realize that
they need help, there are a number of treatment models that are
effective, and he reemphasized his intent to help those people
with problems [in taking that first step].
Number 1502
CHAIR WEYHRAUCH reviewed the steps involved in a confirmation
and thanked Commissioner Antrim.
[Although there was no formal motion, the confirmation of
Commissioner Marc Antrim was treated as advanced from
committee.]
Number 1401
[Representative Gruenberg handed out the previously mentioned
article regarding the health issues of prison inmates.]
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN mentioned that he had read an article from
an Anchorage newspaper about someone in Anchorage who started
his/her car with a remote starter, left it unattended, and was
given a ticket. He noted that he has a remote starter, and he
guessed that between 5 to 15 percent of people [in Alaska] use
remote starters. He confessed that his vehicle was one of four
left unattended [in Juneau] on a recent night. He stated that
he thinks the issue needs to be addressed.
ADJOURNMENT
Number 1290
There being no further business before the committee, the House
State Affairs Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 9:21
a.m.
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