Alaska Launches Program to Reduce Recidivism Among Probationers

A new program implemented by the state Department of Corrections (DOC) in Anchorage is aimed at reducing recidivism among probationers, according to an article in the Anchorage Dispatch.

Plagued by a program that does not clearly spell out what violations constitute a revocation of probation, Alaska is set to enact one similar to Hawaii’s or Hawaii’s Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) that has had remarkable success in keeping nonviolent offenders out of jails and prisons.

The pilot program, called Probation Accountability with Certain Enforcement (PACE), operates on the theory that certain and immediate sanctions are better at deterring probation violations than the looming threat of a long prison sentence.

The new initiative officially started by holding warning hearings on July 12. Afterwards, six probationers—all of whom have demonstrated problems with probation in the past—attended a warning hearing held by Judge John Suddock, one of the two judges assigned to PACE cases. These warning hearings are the state’s opportunity to explain the program’s policy to participants.

“The business of slack is not good for us, and it’s not good for you,” Suddock told the probationers during the hearing. “Your probation officer is no longer going to cut you any slack.”

The DOC will assess the success of the program every six months, comparing revocation rates of the probationers on the program with those of offenders not participating. If the PACE program succeeds in reducing recidivism among the participants, the state may expand the policy.

According to officials, the current pilot program is small enough that it will not incur any extra expense. Eventually the program’s expansion will necessitate more funding.

Studies have found, however, that costs for such alternative sentencing policies are considerably less than those for re-incarceration.

To read the article, click here.

For more information on smart probation and parole policies, visit Justice Fellowship’s Probation and Parole resource page.