House Finance panel adds $5.59 million for 14 community jails

The House Finance Committee on April 1 adopted Amendment 48, adding $5,590,600 to the Department of Corrections' population management component to restore funding for 14 community jails, passing the amendment by a 7–4 vote.

Representative Hannon, who moved the amendment, said the money would go to ‘‘the component that is called population management’’ and to “the funding request from the 14 community jails,” which are operated by municipal governments and used primarily as initial holding facilities rather than long-term sentenced institutions. He warned that without additional state support, some local governments ‘‘potentially would close their community jails’’ and force the state to absorb the housing costs.

Supporters said community jails provide critical local capacity for arrests and short-term holding in remote areas. Representative Jimmy said communities sometimes lack dedicated public-safety buildings and that holding cells have failed in the past because of poor infrastructure. Representative Galvin said the state needs to ensure facilities meet safety standards and the Alaska State Troopers coordinate with local departments.

Opponents objected to expanding corrections spending. Representative Ballard said local governments should ‘‘assume responsibility and budget accordingly,’’ and several members called for finding savings elsewhere in the corrections budget.

The committee clerk called the roll. The vote record read: Representative Tomaszewski — No; Representative Bynum — Yes; Representative Hannon — Yes; Representative Jimmy — Yes; Representative Galvin — Yes; Representative Stout — No; Representative Moore — No; Representative Allard — No; Representative Shrage — Yes; Representative Foster — Yes; Representative Josephson — Yes. The clerk announced ‘‘7 yay, 4 nay’’ and the chair said the committee adopted Amendment 48 to the budget.

The committee then proceeded to the next amendment.