MAYOR PROPOSES STRATEGIES TO FIGHT YOUTH VIOLENCE
Ankle bracelets for gang members, three strikes for traffic offenders among ideas

In the ongoing effort to curb youth violence and gang activity in Anchorage, Mayor Mark Begich today outlined a series of steps to fight the crimes, ranging from ankle bracelets for known gang members to improving data sharing between the Alaska Court System and the Anchorage Police Department.

Begich also announced the Municipality of Anchorage and the Anchorage Police Department, in cooperation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will take part in a high-profile gang summit scheduled for Nov. 15 at the Marriott Hotel. Co-sponsored by the Tri-Borough Commission (the mayors of Anchorage and the Mat-Su and Kenai Peninsula Boroughs) the summit will focus on designing a regional and statewide strategy for combating gangs.

Speaking to the Anchorage Downtown Rotary, Mayor Begich updated the group on some ongoing strategies and offered new ideas for ways to fight gang violence and youth crime.

Among Mayor Begich’s recommendations:

Better Use of Technology:
     •    Ankle bracelets for known gang members:
Begich is urging the state legislature to pass a law that says known gang members must wear ankle bracelets as a condition of their release or parole. Removal of the bracelet would automatically send them back to jail.

     •    Improved Electronic Data Sharing:
Currently the Anchorage Police Department and the Alaska Court System cannot electronically share some kinds of data about criminal defendants such as bail status and domestic violence writs. Officers on the street often don’t immediately know whether a person is out on bail or has committed other crimes. The city is looking at Arizona, Wisconsin, and Chicago for state-of-the-art systems for sharing data.

Unclog the Court Backlog:
According to the Anchorage District Attorney’s Office, there are more than 1,600 felony cases currently awaiting disposition by the State. The number of felony trials held in Anchorage has dropped from nearly 140 in 1986, to about 30 in 2004.

Begich said he will pressure the legislature, and the new administration to step up the resources needed to process cases in a timely manner. Begich said more judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys are needed to keep up with the demands of the criminal justice system.

Stricter Penalties for Multiple Traffic Violations:
Begich will urge the legislature to look at a “three strikes” type law for drivers with long histories of multiple traffic violations to face felonies. Citing the recent case of driver Mark Elkins who pulled in front of 47-year-old Gail Fejes in June of 2004, triggering an accident that killed the young mother of three.

Elkins, who was 24 at the time, had received more than a dozen tickets since age 16 including several for speeding and driving without a license. Elkins was originally charged with manslaughter, first-degree assault, and leaving the scene of an accident. He eventually cut a deal with the State and got 12 weeks to serve in prison.

Coordinating Zoning and Crime Trends:
The Anchorage Police Department and the city’s Zoning Enforcement Department are now coordinating a list of “trouble spots” where criminal activity may occur. Zoning is developing a list of the Top 10 dilapidated or rundown properties which are often the scene of criminal activity. The two departments will continue to update and share that information in an effort to head off and deter crime.

Better Coordination Between Law Enforcement, Prevention & Intervention programs:
Begich said the city is looking at programs in San Diego and Fresno which have well coordinated anti-gang and youth violence operations. The mayor said he will introduce an ordinance to formalize how to deal with these problems.

During his speech, Begich also said two new municipal prosecutors assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office to help with cases involving gangs, guns, and drugs have almost cleared their background checks and should be able to start work in the next few weeks.

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