Alaska's status as rape, assault capital addressed

April is Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Awareness Month. In Alaska, that takes on much greater significance, given the state's status as the nation's per capita leader in instances of rape and sexual abuse.

The timing is likely coincidental, but last week, the Alaska Legislature took a giant step toward erasing this statistical stigma when it approved a bill that, among other things, toughens penalties for sex offenders. Senate Bill 218, originally sponsored by Anchorage Republican Con Bunde, is actually a combination of three related bills. Provisions from two others, one from Sen. Gretchen Guess, D-Anchorage, and the other from Rep. Mark Neuman, R-Big Lake, were rolled into Bunde's bill to create a dramatic overhaul in how sex offenders will be handled once the governor signs SB 218 into law.

According to sponsors, the bill significantly increases sentences for the most horrific sexual felonies to a minimum sentence of 25 years. It also restructures and increases sentences for other sex crimes. The bill also calls for periodic polygraph testing for sex offenders on probation and implements needed changes in sex-offender registering and reporting.

In short, the bill should keep sex offenders in prison longer and protect the public better once those offenders are released. These are changes that benefit everyone, and for that reason alone, Alaskans should be grateful for the bill.

While most of the Valley delegation signed on to this popular bill as cosponsors, local residents owe a particular debt of gratitude to Rep. Neuman, who said in January that implementing stiffer penalties for sex crimes was a personal priority of his for this session. This is a piece of legislation that constituents can take comfort in. Congratulations to Rep. Neuman for a job well done.

On a related note, Borough Mayor Tim Anderson will be joined Thursday by Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor John Williams and Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich at the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center as part of a &#8220summit” with the area Sexual Assault Response Team to address issues surrounding the ongoing problem of sex and abuse crimes in the state. Part of the summit will be a 10 a.m. public address by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who will discuss sexual assault in Alaska.

Murkowski's address will be followed by the actual SART summit at Mat-Su College, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents who would like to know more about the summit can call Mayor Anderson's office at 745-9682.