Alaska’s Commissioner of Corrections, Dean Williams, joins co-hosts Senior Judge Elaine Andrews and Shelly Wozniak, to take a look at life “behind the walls” of Alaska’s prisons.
Williams spent more than 30 years working in the state’s justice system. He worked for 12 years as a juvenile justice officer, five years for the Department of Law and 14 years as Division of Juvenile Justice superintendent overseeing various facilities throughout the state. Governor Walker appointed Williams to the post in January 2016.
Corrections is often in the headlines. How will SB 91 and its revisions in SB 54 affect the work that gets done in corrections? How well is the state equipped to handle its prisoners? What programs or incentives would Williams like to see added? How has the opioid crisis surfaced within prisons?
Other questions: How many inmates does Alaska have? How many are waiting for trial, and how many are already convicted? How are women’s prisons different and the same as male facilities? What is happening with rural correctional centers around the state?
HOST: Senior Judge Elaine Andrews, Shelly Wozniak
GUEST:
- Dean Williams, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Corrections
LINKS
- A conversation with Commissioner Dean Williams (Lullaby Project) KTVA, 11.20.17
- Dean Williams’ bio, Governor’s Cabinet
- Corrections chief sees structural changes coming for Alaska’s community jails, KHNS, 11.3.16
- Alaska DOC commissioner wants to stop easy access of illegal drugs in prisons, APM, 11.11.17
- Q and A: Corrections boss Dean Williams says he’s moving forward and seeking feedback, KTOO, 5.13.16
- Under fire, new Alaska Corrections chief defends his appointment, ADN, 7.2.16
- Facebook page, Alaska Department of Corrections
PARTICIPATE:
- Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (2:00 – 3:00pm)
- Send e-mail to hometown@alaskapublic.org before, during or after the live broadcast (e-mails may be read on air)
- Post your comment or question below (comments may be read on air)
LIVE: Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
REPEAT: Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
