OUT-OF-STATE TRANSFERS
Corrections Corporation of America
(CCA)
Central Arizona Detention Center, Florence, Arizona (CADC)
"There are many sound reasons to house Alaskan inmates
in the State of Alaska. Nevertheless, the record in this case
indicates that during the past several years out-of-state placements
have not been "short-term;" that in fact Alaska appears
to have accepted out-of-state imprisonment as its preferred option,
send millions of dollars of taxpayer funds and several hundred
inmates to the State of Arizona." - John Hagar, 03/20/98,
COURT APPOINTED COMPLIANCE MONITOR'S SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT RE:
DEPARTMENT'S SHORT-TERM PLAN TO REDUCE PRISON & JAIL OVERCROWDTNG,
at Page 3.
"Moreover, there is no reason to trust that this plan
would be limited to the "short-term." Three years ago
Commissioner Pugh subscribed and swore in an affidavit to this
Court:
"The transfer of Alaska prisoners to Arizona is only
intended to be a temporary stop-gap measure until more long term
solutions to crowding can be devised and implemented. The Knowles
Administration does not view this option as a permanent solution
to prison overcrowding, and plans to work hard to secure legislative
cooperation in devising more long term solutions which will enable
the department to return prisoners from Arizona, and keep its
prisoners in Alaska." - Affidavit of Margaret Pugh,
dated January 5, 1995, at paragraph 5." Quoted In [Cleary]
PLAINTIFF'S RESPONSE TO COURT APPOINTED COMPLIANCE MONITOR'S
REPORT FOR COMPLIANCE PERIOD AUGUST 1997 - FEBRUARY 1998 AND
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT RE: DEPARTMENT'S SHORT-TERM PLAN TO REDUCE
PRISON AND JAIL OVERCROWDING, at Page 4.
At present (9/3/98) there are approximately 650 Alaskan prisoners
housed in Corrections Corporation of America's Central Arizona
Detention Center, in Florence, Arizona, making it the largest
of Alaska's correctional facilities.
According to the DEPARTMENT'S SHORT-TERM PLAN TO REDUCE PRISON
AND JAIL OVERCROWDING, the population in the Arizona facility
is projected to be increased to 888 by March 1999, although this
estimate is considered conservative by some Corrections officials
who have stated that there may be as many as 1000 prisoners housed
in the CADC facility by the end of 1998.
The financial cost of sending Alaska prisoners to CADC is $57.50
per day per prisoner according to Amendment No. 6 of Agency Contract
No. 2054863, covering the period of July 1, 1997, through June
30, 1998. So, the cost is considerable:
650 prisoners equals $13,641,875.00 per year;
the possibly
underestimated projection 888 prisoners equals $18,636,900.00
per year;
and suggested 1000 prisoners equals $20,987,500.00 per year
What about other, less tangible, costs? Considering Alaska's
recidivism rate of more than 80%, what could further alienate
newly-released prisoners than having served their sentences thousands
of miles from their families and communities, further limiting
their already meager opportunities to heal familial relationships
or recognize and nurture their ties and obligations to their communities?
We at prisoners.org encourage you to peruse the below-listed
material concerning the exile of Alaska State prisoners to facilities
in the lower-48.
As in our opening page, we make AN OPEN INVITATION to
all prisoners and their families to submit letters, documents,
and stories concerning their experiences with Alaska's prison
system and, in this instance, the shipping of Alaskan prisoners
to out-of-state facilities.
