Editorials

"An Informed Voter Is The Best Defense Against Bad Government"

"A FORMAL RESOLUTION AGAINST PRIVATE PRISONS"

By The Alaska Voters Organization, Board of Directors, March 19, 2003

ALASKA VOTERS ORGANIZATION

RESOLUTION 2003-03

A Resolution to the 23^rd Alaska State Legislature in OPPOSITION to the construction of a correctional institution, financed with public funds, to be operated by a private corporation

WHEREAS, since the initial introduction of HB 428 on January 17, 1996 the time and money expended by the Legislature and various municipal jurisdictions promoting and pursuing a private prison financed with public funds has had no benefit for the state or for the taxpayers who have paid these costs; and

WHEREAS, this type of legislation was rejected by the voters in Anchorage, Delta Junction, Kenai, and Wrangell; and

WHEREAS, this legislation was introduced for the benefit of a Texas based for-profit corporation at great expense to Alaskan taxpayers, and to the detriment of our statewide correctional goals; and  

WHEREAS, the Second Class City of Whittier, with a population of less than 200 souls, located in the unorganized borough, will never be able to pay for a project of this size without guaranteed state revenue, resulting in the State of Alaska bearing the burden and ultimate responsibility for all costs; and

WHEREAS, Article IX, Section 8 of the Alaska Constitution states: “No state debt shall be contracted unless authorized by law for capital improvements... and ratified by a majority of the qualified voters of the State who vote on this question”; and  

WHEREAS, a private prison project built with public money represents an enormous transfer of state funds, more than one billion dollars over twenty five years, with all profits going to a private corporation with minimal investment relative to their large potential gain; and

WHEREAS, it is not in the best interest of Alaska to assume liability for negligent actions taken by a third-party contractor whose primary goals are profit-driven; and 

WHEREAS, the privatization of correctional institutions has not been effective to insure public safety or to rehabilitate incarcerated offenders; and

WHEREAS, it is the highest and best use of limited public resources to build a correctional institution with competitive bids; and

WHEREAS, the public safety interests of our state dictate that each correctional institution be closely monitored and run by trained professionals answerable directly and exclusively to public officials, without regard for profit; and

WHEREAS, the State of Alaska has a serious budget deficit, ALL possible options must be considered, including the current arrangement with the privately owned and operated facility in Arizona, to determine the most fiscally responsible plan;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska Voters Organization, Board of Directors, that the construction of any correctional institution should be by competitive bid only; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that all bonded construction cost for any correctional institution be approved by Alaska voters as directed in Article IX, Section 8 of the Alaska Constitution; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the operation of all publicly funded correctional institution in Alaska by private corporations be prohibited;

Adopted by the Alaska Voters Organization Board of Directors, this 19^th day of March 2003.

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