I would like to say something first and foremost. This is my opinion and mine alone.
Alaska the last frontier, sounds like the start of a Star Trek episode. I love my state and how it was. We have a booming tourist industry, best hunting and used to be fishing in the world.
Let’s start there. The mismanagement of our fish has almost totally wiped out the king salmon and hurt all other salmon runs. The state has allowed commercial fishermen to over harvest but then limit the subsistence fishermen. Directly violating our state constitution. King salmon fishing has been totally shut down this year, others might be restricted also.
Now let’s get to why I say it is turning into the Wild West. Just 2 days ago there was an exchange of gunfire between 2 cars in our biggest city of Anchorage, no doubt drug related. Every day this week there has been a shooting in Anchorage alon. Our state is the second most dangerous in the United States. Alaska is also the most dangerous place to live in America if you are a woman. There is zero fear for the criminals now. Prison is not punishment here.
Prison should be somewhere no one wants to go. Not here. They have festivals and special events 4-6 times a summer. They have church groups sponcer special speakers. I don’t openly advertise this much but I work for corrections. I see the replete offender come through 2,3,4 times and think nothing is wrong with what they are doing.
We can’t keep employees due to the fact our administration does not want to offend the prison population 6 have turned in their 2 weeks this mounth alone. Under staffing and the beliefs of our administration makes no one want to work where I do. I have been in the law enforcement field for 17+ years. This is the worst I have seen.
Our administration believes if we give the prisoners what ever they want they will be good. Not true there have been 3 staff assaults in the last 3 months. There is no accountability. Worst case for the prisoner they get 1 year added for loss of “good time” and possibly new assault charges.
It is not only Alaska that has seen a change. It is the world over. You hear the same stories being repeated that the jail has become a resort with the inmates running the place. It must be terrible for the staff. In Canada, the Federal prisons are known as Club Fed. Ever hear of prisoners turning down parole because it is better in prison?
We call ours daddy day camp.
WOW I had no idea! Thought it was just homesteading up there, and cold. This kind of crap I would expect of Chicago!
All our prisons are getting to where they are no longer a deterrent! We need to go back to chain gangs, to clean public roadways etc. Working dawn to dusk (this could be rough up your way) would make prison a lot less attractive for sure! Moving snow from public walkway could be good too! It needs to be punishment again!
Some how some way things need to change. Hoping the election in November brings in some change.
Yes, we are suffering from too much moral relativism! There needs to be a right, and a wrong; or we drown in the resulting soup!
This is not just there, but over the entire country!
:(I think the number one problem is family’s not shunning law breakers. Here they come to prison for family reunions
There does need to be serious negative peer pressure on law breakers! That is the best first defense; to begin to turn this problem around! It needs to be punishment again!
:(http://www.ktva.com/story/37361490/alaska-deemed-most-dangerous-state-in-us-in-new-report
2018 report from a local news station