DOC Official: Alaska dropping out-of-state inmate housing idea

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – The commissioner of the Alaska Department of Corrections says the agency is not moving forward with a proposal to have inmates housed out of state. In a statement Thursday, Nancy Dahlstrom says the plan to seek bids was only one tool being considered to address growth in the prison population. She says in-state options have instead been found. Those include a pilot program to house inmates with a year or less left on their sentences at a dedicated community residential center. Some legislators had expressed concern with the department’s plan to seek bids for housing inmates out of state.