Like many other jurisdictions, Alaska policy makers have historically relied on incarceration as the sanction of choice for most crimes. More recently, however, there has been a national shift in attitude. As criminal justice system resources have been stretched thinner and thinner, a number of jurisdictions have begun to rethink their criminal justice system goals and concluded that incarceration does not, in and of itself, prevent or even reduce crime. Instead, these jurisdictions have determined that public safety is not just an issue of toughness but also of effectiveness. Another shift occurring nationwide is greater inclusion of the community and the victim in the criminal justice paradigm.
Inclusion can occur on many levels.
It is critical for long-range criminal justice planning purposes. But it also can be the key to implementing new and innovative programs. The community plays a role in making it possible to meet these needs by providing the environment and resources necessary for justice to occur. Use of volunteers also can help bridge gaps in existing services and invest community members with a stake in the criminal justice process. While the Commission examined these and other issues, it also considered several factors that make Alaska unique.