HCR 11 - SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FOR OFFENDERS CHAIRMAN KOTT announced the next order of business is HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 11, Relating to substance abuse treatment for offenders in the criminal justice system. Number 2219 DONALD DAPCEVICH, Executive Director, Governor's Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Health and Social Services, came before the committee to present HCR 11. He noted that the responsibility of the advisory board is to plan and evaluate prevention and treatment services for alcohol and other drug dependencies. He explained that the board went to 1,000 key-informant Alaskans and asked whether they feel that those who have problems with addictions should be treated prior to being released from prison. That question elicited the most response from the survey. The consistent response was that nine out of ten key-informant Alaskans felt that those inmates with addictions should be treated prior to release. As a result, it became part of the board's planning activities. The board began to review an outcome-based plan for alcoholism treatment and prevention. Previously, the focus had been with regard to how well treatment is achieved. MR. DAPCEVICH explained that upon review of the board's mission, the board discovered that it also has to review the cost, to society, of not doing good prevention and treatment. The board looked to the corrections system because many of those in the corrections system are there for committing crimes under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, or they have problems with addiction that contributed to their offenses. Therefore, the board is focusing on making sure that there are treatment opportunities in prison. More importantly, the board is reviewing whether those who participate in treatment programs while in prison recidivate less, which is the true societal cost. Mr. Dapcevich announced that the board wants to partner with the legislature to make sure that this happens. He clarified that this is not a call for resources, but rather a call for consistent response and to not discontinue the good work that is being done. This is also a call to look at new ideas and better ways to do things. He cited an example of such re-engineering as the partnership between the Department of Corrections, the Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse [Department of Health and Social Services], and the Governor's Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse [Department of Health and Social Services] which formed a continuum of treatment for women in prison. That treatment was provided by using federal resources, mental health trust authority resources, and by tweaking the institution to make it work better. It also linked the treatment in the community for the women who were coming out of prison in order to address the FAS issue. Number 2416 REPRESENTATIVE FRED DYSON, Alaska State Legislature, came before the committee as the sponsor of HCR 11. He commented that this resolution is a small piece. He expressed the need for more flexible sentencing. Furthermore, he would like to see those who have alcohol involved in their crime to have their release contingent upon completing a program. He said he would also like to see successful probationary release. REPRESENTATIVE JAMES addressed Mr. Dapcevich's statement regarding this not being an issue of resources, however everything costs money. Representative James announced that she is supportive of prevention, but it seems that this is something that should be organized and operated outside... TAPE 99-57, SIDE B Number 0001 REPRESENTATIVE JAMES continued, "... and we add new programs in that costs more and we can't take people off the streets. It seems to me like this is a prime case where charitable organizations, given the access to the prison system, could do a better job than if it was orchestrated by the state with state funds." REPRESENTATIVE DYSON concurred with Representative James' comments. He noted that each of Alaska's prisons has a fairly successful Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) program as well as a Narcotics Anonymous (NA) program. Representative Dyson sensed, from Mr. Dapcevich, that it would be helpful if there was a bit of tracking in order to illustrate how successful we [these programs] are. He agreed that empowering the nonprofits in this area would be worthwhile. REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG noted that he, as is Representative Dyson, is a member of the corrections subcommittee. Representative Rokeberg inquired as to the objective of HCR 11. REPRESENTATIVE DYSON replied, "I think it's a policy statement that says, if we don't deal with the alcohol component of many people's offenses, we will not get at the heart of their problem and essence of what we need to do to reduce recidivism." REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG pointed out that passing HCR 11 could be used to illustrate that the legislature didn't allocate enough resources to do this policy call. He asked why this is being done by a resolution. Number 0100 CHAIRMAN KOTT said he didn't see where the resolution says the legislature hasn't appropriated the appropriate amount of resources. REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG referred to the second "Further Resolve" and asked, "Does that mean Mr. Dapcevich has got to give up then some of his money so we can put it in to corrections? I don't think he wants to do that. So, I'm not sure I'm following the drift here." REPRESENTATIVE JAMES noted that she was willing to pass HCR 11 out. However, she suggested that the "Further Resolve" at the top of page 2 should include language indicating that consideration would be given or access would be given to private nonprofit agencies to assist in this. REPRESENTATIVE DYSON reiterated that the nonprofits are already present, particularly NA and AA, and are doing a good job. The language in the resolution does not preclude the expansion of the use of nonprofits. CHAIRMAN KOTT pointed out that the resolution does not say the State of Alaska, it says Alaska. He agreed that private sector involvement is critical in dealing with alcohol abuse and trying to return Alaska's criminal population to be healthy and upstanding citizens. REPRESENTATIVE CROFT made a motion to move HCR 11 out of committee with individual recommendations. There being no objection, HCR 11 was moved out of the House Judiciary Standing Committee.