No more get out of jail free card

WASILLA — Newly minted Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Corrections Nancy Dahlstrom has issued a repeal of a number of state correctional programs including the controversial day pass Program.

The day passes allowed for inmates to take 12 hours away from prison with civilian supervision. The passes were given out with very few guidelines and the public was not made aware that prisoners were in the community. According to DOC Spokeswoman Megan Edge, that release without notification was unlawful and violated the constitutional rights of victims. Edge says that there is no record of further public safety events happening during the day pass program.

“We’re not going to wait for a tragedy or crime to occur to change a policy that can promise the safety and security of Alaskans,” Edge said.

Though Dahlstrom has just begun her work as DOC commissioner, she is already prioritizing repeal of programs such as the amnesty box, which allowed inmates to declare any substances and hand them over to authorities without consequence. The measure supposedly was designed to curtail smuggling, but the amnesty box program was also repealed, a specific priority of Dahlstrom. According to Edge, Dahlstrom is reviewing every policy and practice to try to improve the DOC.

Other programs that were repealed were the volunteer in-reach program which allowed citizens unrestricted access to correctional facilities. The prisoner authorized property list was also amended, dropping the amount of property boxes available for inmates from five down to two.

“The suspension of these policies and practices is only one of many steps we’ll take to create safer neighborhoods, safer prisons, and to empower victims,” Dahlstrom said in a press release issued by the DOC.

Contact Frontiersman reporter Tim Rockey at tim.rockey@frontiersman.com.