In the last five years, the rate of Alaskans granted parole dropped by 50%. The reasons are complicated. The pandemic put a hold on rehabilitation services, and changes to criminal justice through legislation also gave more discretion to the parole board over who would be released. With fewer people being granted parole and others leaving facilities after a year of pandemic lockdown, we’ll discuss the ripple effect on lives and the legal system.
Listen here:
HOST: Lori Townsend
GUESTS:
- Jonathan Pistotnik, coordinator, Anchorage Reentry Coalition
- Bobby Dorton, co-chair, Fairbanks Reentry Coalition
- Rich Curtner, former federal public defender, District of Alaska
LINKS & RESOURCES:
- The number of Alaskans released on discretionary parole fell sharply in 2020
- Anchorage Reentry Coalition
- Fairbanks Reentry Coalition
PARTICIPATE:
Call 907-550-8422 (Anchorage) or 1-800-478-8255 (statewide) during the live broadcast.
Send an email to talk@alaskapublic.org (Comments may be read on air).
Post your comment during or after the live broadcast on social media (Comments may be read on air).
LIVE Broadcast: Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at 10 a.m. on APRN stations statewide.
LIVE Web stream: Click here to stream.
Lori Townsend is the chief editor, senior vice president of journalism and senior host for Alaska Public Media. You can send her news tips and program ideas for Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or call 907-550-8452. Read more about Lori here.
