Compact For Juveniles; Interstate Council

This bill would enact the new Interstate Compact for Juveniles into law. This would replace the old compact which was created in 1955. The purpose of the Compact is to ensure the supervision of juvenile offenders and the return of runaways, escapees and absconders. The Compact provides the procedural means to regulate the movement of juveniles who are under court supervision across state lines. The Association of Compact Administrators estimates that the Interstate Compact on Juveniles is used in 20,000 to 30,000 transfer and supervision cases annually.

The new Compact ensures that all states will have identical language in their statutes which would help with compliance issues. The new Compact provides procedures for enforcement which the old Compact lacked. The Interstate Compact for Juveniles also provides for the collection of standardized information and information sharing systems.

This is a chance for the states to have the means to deal with state problems and enforce state solutions without having any federal intervention. 35 states have already passed this compact. If Alaska chooses not to enact this Compact the state would have to deal with every other state on a case-by-case basis which would cost the state more money than it would cost to implement the Compact.

The compact provides for the safety of the juvenile offender and the state as a whole. The importance of this compact cannot be overstated. This legislation is necessary to ensure the public safety and security of Alaskans. It will help ensure that Alaska receives notification about juveniles who are relocated or traveling to Alaska before they arrive here, and will expedite Alaska's ability to send juveniles from here to other jurisdictions.