Chief justice: Cooperation key to curbing crime in Alaska

Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Walter Carpeneti says cooperation among all branches of government is key to curbing crime, recidivism and inefficiencies in the criminal justice system.

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Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire

The comments came in Carpeneti's State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of Alaska Legislature Wednesday. The issues he highlighted are focal points of a Criminal Justice Working Group whose members include state department heads and court system representatives.

Carpeneti praised the group, and the Legislature's funding of it, for easing administrative bottlenecks and creating programs like those to smooth the transition of inmates from prison. A Department of Law spokesman says the working group receives $50,000 a year in state funding.