GENERAL SUBJECT(S): REVIEW OF DEPARTMENTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS ALASKA COURT SYSTEM DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS The following overview was taken in log note format. Tapes and handouts will be on file with the House Finance Committee through the 21st Legislative Session, contact 465-2156. After the 21st Legislative Session they will be available through the Legislative Library at 465- 3808. Time Meeting Convened: 1:45 .M. Tape(s): HFC 00 - 13, Side 1 HFC 00 - 13, Side 2 PRESENT: X Representative G. Davis Absent Co-Chair Therriault X Representative Foster X Co-Chair Mulder X Representative Grussendorf X Vice Chair Bunde Absent Representative Moses X Representative Austerman X Representative Phillips Absent Representative J. Davies X Representative Williams ALSO PRESENT: STEPHANIE COLE, ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COURT SYSTEM; CHRIS CHRISTENSEN, STAFF COUNSEL, ALASKA COURT SYSTEM; MARGARET PUGH, COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION; DWAYNE PEEPLES, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS; ALLAN COOPER, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF INSTITUTIONS, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. LOG SPEAKER DISCUSSION TAPE HFC 00 - 13 SIDE 1 000 CO-CHAIR MULDER Co-Chair Mulder convened the House Finance Committee meeting at 1:45 .M. ALASKA COURT SYSTEM 104 STEPHANIE COLE, ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COURT SYSTEM Spoke to the handout distributed to Committee members. [Copy on File]. The mission of the Alaska Court System is to provide an accessible and impartial forum for the just resolution of all cases that come before it, and to decide such cases in accordance with the law, expeditiously and with integrity. 258 MS. COLE Spoke to the number of cases filed in the Court system. The predictable results that have occurred have been delayed. She acknowledged that waiting for the result from a court case can be a difficult time. She reiterated that it is important that these cases are handled quickly. 352 MS. COLE Noted that the Court System is a separate branch of government. As such, the Court System has to focus on many systems. There are four levels of courts in the Alaska Court System, each with different powers, duties and responsibilities. Alaska has a unified, centrally administered, and totally state-funded judicial system. Municipal governments do not maintain a separate court system. The four levels of courts in this System are: *Supreme Court; *The Court of Appeals are appellate courts; and *The Superior and District Courts are Trial Courts. She referenced Page 2 of the handout pointing out the amount of revenue that the courts have collected. 443 CO-CHAIR MULDER Asked how many of the cases were settled out of court of the total number filed. 463 MS. COLE Advised that when the case is settled would affect that number. She offered to provide Committee members the number of actual number of cases that go to trial. 506 CO-CHAIR MULDER Requested that the true number be provided to the Committee. 548 REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN Asked if the 5.5% increase of cases was a normal amount during the last few years. 570 MS. COLE Explained that number did represent the trend during the past three or four years. 590 VICE CHAIR BUNDE Pointed out that only "some" crimes were down. 647 MS. COLE Stated that the caseload does not necessarily correlate with the crime rate but instead the number of law enforcement officers available to enforce the law. She suggested that with more officers, there would be less crime charged. 707 REPRESENTATIVE GRUSSENDORF Believed that the number of officers patrolling the street represents a pretty good law rate. 750 MS. COLE Referenced Page 3 of the handout, which outlines the total funds, collected by the courts in various locations throughout the State. 794 CO-CHAIR MULDER Inquired how the last year's collection compared to the previous year's collections. 812 MS. COLE Explained that the collections are up from pervious years. There is one program that went into effect in 1998 that has changed the standard procedure. The change has increased revenues to the State of Alaska. 916 MS. COLE In response to Vice Chair Bunde, Ms. Cole explained that this was all new revenue. 947 REPRESENTATIVE G. DAVIS Noted that the surcharge, which the Courts collected, had been expanded. He inquired if that was creating more problems for the court system. 980 MS. COLE Advised that the court charge is deposited back into the general fund. 1004 CHRIS CHRISTENSEN, STAFF COUNSEL, ALASKA COURT SYSTEM; Explained that the old system can not keep track of additional surcharges. He noted that last year, $362 thousand dollars was turned over to the State general fund budget. 1050 CO-CHAIR MULDER Asked the potential of the $5.8 million dollars. 1070 MR. CHRISTENSEN Explained that the Court is attempting to determine the outstanding dollar amount of that figure. He reiterated that the system used by the Court System is outdated. 1099 REPRESENTATIVE GRUSSENDORF Referenced Page 3 of the handout. He questioned the discrepancy between Fairbanks and Wasilla. 1129 MS. COLE Replied that the numbers were taken directly from the local courts. She addressed the offenses listed in Fairbanks and Wasilla. 1157 CO-CHAIR MULDER Asked where the money collected would go. 1170 MS. COLE Replied that the money would go directly to the communities. 1182 MS. COLE Spoke to the bench warrants. 1209 CO-CHAIR MULDER Clarified that this is money that court collects and gives back to the municipalities. He asked if these were misdemeanor cases. 1241 MS. COLE Acknowledged that they were. 1253 MS. COLE Noted that the Legislature has attempted to standardize the prosecuting procedure throughout the state. She noted that the Court situation in Bethel was a very difficult situation. She noted that the Court has supplemented Bethel from other sources. She added that this is not enough. Next year, the Court will be requesting additional resources for this concern. 1345 MS. COLE Referenced an additional pilot project occurring in Anchorage which has been supported by federal monies. 1400 MS. COLE This year, the Court is trying to organize cases without lawyers in Court. 1430 REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS Asked if there was a correlation with the people in prison or the general public. 1450 MS. COLE Replied that most of those cases were civil cases and are people who come to handle complex civil circumstances representing themselves. She commented that the courts have made a lot information available on the wed site to help with these projects. Ms. Cole continued, there exists three mediation pilot projects. She noted that these have been made available through federal grants to help address certain situations of self-representation. She commented that the Small Claims Mediation Program has provided valuable information for those persons self-representing. 1540 MS. COLE Spoke to the child court standards. She noted that different time standards have been established for various situations. Ms. Cole commented that it is hope that the Supreme Court will adopt time standards. 1582 MS. COLE Commented on the modifications to the administrative concerns especially in regard to children's cases. 1600 MS. COLE Addressed the appellate court settlement matters. 1620 MS. COLE Referenced drug court - at this time, Alaska is using federal grant money for the agreement. She added that the application to the federal government does looks hopeful. 1652 REPRESENTATIVE G. DAVIS Questioned if the federal monies allocated for the mediation project, would be for the current fiscal year. 1667 MS. COLE Explained that would be a continued federal grant. 1689 VICE CHAIR BUNDE Questioned the success of the drug courts. 1708 MS. COLE Spoke to the framework used for the court programs for the offenders. She added that strict and serious requirements are required for these offenders and that recidivism has been reduced. 1746 MS. COLE Added that there are more hearings and supervisions imposed. 1769 MS. COLE Noted that amount of funding used by the Court System to become Y2K compliant. That funding not used was lapsed back into the general fund account. 1792 MS. COLE She added that because the Court System's computer system was so out dated, the system was frugal in using funding. 1824 MS. COLE Commented that last year, there was a budget cut to the Court System. She noted that the Court System was able to creatively sustain that cut without too much damage and in truth, not all cuts were absorbed. She admitted that there have been changes to services. Most serious of these concerns is that protective orders can no longer be obtainable in Anchorage for sexual assault and violence 24 hours per day. 1895 MS. COLE Commented on the hopes of the Court System. She noted that there is an *800 number available for assault concerns; and *Pilot project for the drug court. 1945 REPRESENTATIVE G. DAVIS Inquired what the old CourtHouse in Anchorage was being used for. 1970 MS. COLE Both of the buildings are currently used for court functions. She related that most of the problems occurring in the courts are related to domestic cases. The old court has very good security. Many cases are multiple litigant proceedings. 2012 CO-CHAIR MULDER Advised that the Court System should working with the Subcommittee chair to work better determine their missions and measures. 2023 REPRESENTATIVE G. DAVIS Pointed out that the largest increment in that budget was in contractual services. 2036 MS. COLE Responded that increment had been included in the budget for the past three years and would cover the cost of security systems statewide. 2056 DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS 2063 MARGARET PUGH, COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Spoke to the handouts distributed to Finance Committee members. [Copy on File]. The handouts address the performance and measures and the strategy intended to move toward that goal. She noted that the Department's mission is clearly stated in CSSB 169(FIN). 2188 COMMISSIONER PUGH Noted that the management of offenders, which protects the public's safety and welfare, is the most important role of the Department. Additionally, the Department provides effective strategy using current technologies. 2219 COMMISSIONER PUGH Reiterated that the mission of the Department is to protect the public and encourage the offender to rehabilitate. Additionally, it is to implement long- range population management plan to prevent overcrowding in the in-state correctional facilities. She admitted that the Department has made considerable progress in meeting the short-range challenges. 2268 COMMISSIONER PUGH Commented that the customers of the Department are the people of Alaska who have a right that this Department is run correctly and smoothly. She pointed out that the staff consists of 1400 employees who perform hard and demanding work. The benefits listed are relative to the goals. The performance measures for the goals include: ? Maintaining inmate populations within the emergency capacity of each institution; ? Minimizing the number of major incidences; ? Increasing probation and parole supervision of offenders through increased monitoring and accountability programs. 2322 COMMISSIONER PUGH 3,500 offenders in FY99 handled. Alaska's institution can only hold 2,745 inmates, forcing the State to sent 1,100 inmates out-of-state. The Department addresses this by continuing to implement its long- term population management plan. 4,388 probation cases TAPE HFC 00 - 13 SIDE 2 000 COMMISSIONER PUGH Noted that the Department has addressed many crimes over the past year. She commented that having a loved in trouble impacts the entire family. She added that an entire community is victimized by crimes. The Department of Corrections touches great many lives each year. 119 COMMISSIONER PUGH Listed the goals and strategies for FY2001. ? manage offenders in a way that protects public safety; ? provide services and programs that effect positive change, structure offender time, and facilitate successful reintegration of offenders into society; and ? provide effective correctional administration through strategic planning, training, quality assurance and the use of automation and new technologies. Pointed out that the Department is implementing a long-range plan. She noted that the court determined mission is different from that of the legislature. 195 COMMISSIONER PUGH Advised that operating the prison facilities within the caps recommended by the Legislature does make for a safer facility. 243 COMMISSIONER PUGH Stated that the long-range plan developed for the Court includes expanding facilities and expanding the use of alternatives, which would include a furrow program. 315 COMMISSIONER PUGH Spoke the number of programs contained within the correctional facilities throughout the State. She pointed out that continuous adherence to the strategy has created a safe level and has minimized the number of incidents within the system. She noted that there have been no escapes from any facility this year. There was an attempted escape from Spring Creek but it was intercepted successfully. 485 COMMISSIONER PUGH Added that there were 12 attempted and 6 successful escapes from the Arizona prison. The Department is pleased to report a minimum of disturbances within the system here in Alaska. 586 COMMISSIONER PUGH Pointed out that the other part of managing offenders has to do with the surveillance. If tension in an area is minimized, the conditions will flow more smoothly. She noted that this past year, the caseloads did increase. The DOC officers did increase court work. One of the performance measures was to expand the management information system to include medical, clinical and programmatic data. 725 COMMISSIONER PUGH Stated that one of the biggest obstacles was impeding the release of some offenders into rural and bush communities where there is a lack of available treatment and supervision programs. The circumstances have made it necessary for some rural and bush offenders to reside in hub communities during their terms of probation and parole, which lessens the chance of their successful reintegration into their home community. The Department is working to develop partnerships between criminal justice system agencies, health and social service agencies, and regional and village or tribal organizations to help meet offenders' needs for supervision and treatment in rural and bush communities. 785 COMMISSIONER PUGH Outside of the major cities, the Department is providing the "blow-tech" video link to allow probation officers more contact with their parolees. Such an action will increase the role that the probation officers are responsible from being in. 870 VICE CHAIR BUNDE Commented on the grade of the video. 898 DWAYNE PEEPLES, DIRECTOR, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Responded that this video was a low grain and not high quality. He added that the cost of that equipment was $600 dollars. 940 COMMISSIONER PUGH Agreed that there is nothing that can take the place of personal contact, but the video does provide an "extra tool" to the probation officers. 980 REPRESENTATIVE GRUSSENDORF Noted that the Governor had recommended that the DOC budget be increased by $100 million dollars. 1005 COMMISSIONER PUGH Explained that the intent for that money would be associated with projected growth within the system. Any remainder would be used for mental health services, pervious commitments with the Division of Mental Health and matching funds for a men's alcohol treatment program and substance abuse program. 1110 CO-CHAIR MULDER Commented that last year's trends will continue. He pointed out that a few years ago, the Department provided a projected scenario. He added that the good news is that there will not be a lot of growth in the Arizona prison from Alaska prisoners. 1172 CO-CHAIR MULDER Recommended that the Committee ask questions from the Department. 1190 CO-CHAIR MULDER Asked if there was a filing made to get beneath the Clearly settlement. 1218 COMMISSIONER PUGH Replied that effective date was June, 2000; anything prior to that, the Department will have to file. She noted that the Department is near compliance across the board. 1256 CO-CHAIR MULDER Misunderstood when the effective date was. 1274 COMMISSIONER PUGH Offered to provide that info to the Committee members. 1286 CO-CHAIR MULDER Questioned the measurement established in SB 169 for the Division of Correctional Industries. 1310 COMMISSIONER PUGH Corrected that within SB 169, only measures established for that Division. 1333 COMMISSIONER PUGH Noted that the Division of Correctional Industries has a specific mission. She pointed out that the Board was appointed, and that Board establishes the missions and measures. That Board votes on their missions and that the purpose of that industry is to provide meaningful activities and life skills and work experiences for the inmates. 1396 CO-CHAIR MULDER Referenced the work on the outside. 1402 COMMISSIONER PUGH Agreed that was important, however, not just job skills of folding laundry. She emphasized that these people are being taught life skills. 1478 CO-CHAIR MULDER Asked if these tasks could be simultaneously addressed. He questioned if the inmate could get a job in their field today. 1488 COMMISSIONER PUGH Listed the various work training industries: * Furniture * Laundry systems * Metal plant * Auto body plant * Meat packing plant * Garment shop 1563 CO-CHAIR MULDER Inquired how many of those jobs, could an inmate be able to transfer out to. 1576 REPRESENTATIVE GRUSSENDORF Warned that it was important that the State institution was not competing with the private industry. He acknowledged that skills are limited and hopefully the inmates will not be confined to only what they have learned in prison. 1615 CO-CHAIR MULDER Suggested that this was a policy question - do we want these people to succeed on the outside? He agreed that the best thing for them is to have a meaningful job. They must learn how to compete. He recommended that the present policy be reevaluated. 1656 REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS Suggested that the mission statement was in statute. She asked if the board had determined a different mission statement. 1689 COMMISSIONER PUGH Explained that through SB169, the Board supports that mission. 1713 REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS Asked about the functions and work being done in the correctional institute. She believed that the job skills could be transferred except with the coffin building. 1737 COMMISSIONER PUGH Acknowledged that coffin building was a private venture that is not being offered any more. 1752 REPRESENTATIVE G. DAVIS The mission of correctional industries, is a definition of rehabilitation to learn how to deal with other people. He believed that continuation of that aspect was of vital importance to any mission statement. 1803 REPRESENTATIVE G. DAVIS Stated that he was impressed with the Tele-a-Medicine counsel, and thought that counsel would be interested in hearing about these interagency interactions. He acknowledged that this idea is complicated and exciting. 1855 VICE CHAIR BUNDE Recommended providing that service between Alaska and Arizona. 1871 COMMISSIONER PUGH Stated that the Department has considered various applications of communication for the offenders in Arizona. She reiterated that it has been addressed with difficulty because of video capability for various reasons in Arizona. She added that none of these considerations have yet been implemented. DOC does have a toll free number to contact the Arizona unit. 1945 ALLAN COOPER, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF INSTITUTIONS, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Commented that the Department has tried to implement some of these criteria considerations. He stressed that if the teleconferencing can be done, it will be implemented. The problem stems from being able to have the necessary staff on site for using that service level. 1996 VICE CHAIR BUNDE Stated that he was referencing the prisoner population. 2009 REPRESENTATIVE GRUSSENDORF Noted that in the last 1.5 years, he has not received any calls regarding negative circumstances occurring in the State prisons. He appalled that. 2072 REPRESENTATIVE G. DAVIS Observed that the Department had realized a savings through food grown at the Point McKenzie. 2145 COMMISSIONER PUGH In response to a question from the Committee members, Commissioner Pugh noted that the State can not file for one year. 2152 REPRESENTATIVE G. DAVIS Referred to an attempted escape from a facility in his district. He asked the Department's comfort level with the Fort Greely negotiations. 2188 COMMISSIONER PUGH HB 53 enacted last year authorized some new facilities. She warned that the Fort Greely project was moving slower than the Anchorage project. It is anticipated that the Anchorage facility will be open in FY02. She noted that it is premature to discuss moving the Greely project. The hope it that it will be opened by FY03. 2258 VICE CHAIR BUNDE ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m. HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE LOG NOTES January 20, 2000 H.F.C. 12 1/20/00