Alaska Natives are grossly overrepresented in the state’s criminal justice system, and support systems and programs to buffer incarceration and recidivism are lacking in funding and accessibility.
Alaska Native people make up 14-19% of Alaska’s population, but make up 44% of its prison population. Sixty percent of those incarcerated return to jail or prison within three years of release.
That’s according to a report by the Alaska Federation of Natives, which contains findings from a study ordered by a provision passed in the state’s 2024 omnibus crime bill.
The legislation directed the Department of Corrections to contract with AFN to examine why Alaska Native people make up such a large share of the state’s prison population and to create practical recommendations to reduce incarceration.
“These numbers are not just statistics — they represent our relatives, our communities, and generations of unresolved trauma,” Kendra Kloster, AFN’s Director of Government Relations, said in a press release.
In collaboration with the Alaska Department of Corrections, the University of Alaska Anchorage, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks, AFN analyzed data from the state’s prisons and jails, conducted a comprehensive literature review, and interviewed people affected by incarceration and experts from tribal programs, tribal justice systems, and community advocacy.
Risk Factors
Native people have some of the highest risk factors for incarceration — such as trauma, substance abuse, mental illness, and economic hardship — wrought from the ongoing effects of the federal government’s campaign to eradicate Native peoples with policies that drove genocide, forced assimilation, and economic disenfranchisement.
Housing instability was identified as a driving cause of recidivism. Probation and parole conditions that force people to remain in urban areas away from their home villages are directly contributing to homelessness and re-arrest. Probation and parole violations made up half of all re-arrests.
It was noted that Native offenders in Tribal Courts have more positive outcomes, as those courts are more likely to address intergenerational trauma, keep people in their communities, and lead with culturally grounded solutions; but lack of funding, capacity, and state support and jurisdiction restrict the Tribal Courts from having a greater impact.
The report underscores that the means of reducing incarcerations are known: mental health interventions, early childhood support, and housing stability; however, programs in these areas for Alaska Native peoples severely lack funding.
Reccomendations
The 167-page report details recommendations for improving outcomes for Alaska Native people in the criminal justice system, including:
- Establishing restorative justice programs tailored to Alaska Native cultural needs
- Early intervention for at-risk Alaska Native youth and young adults
- Expanded mental health diagnosis and treatment
- Affordable housing solutions to reduce homelessness and law enforcement encounters
- Improved alcohol and drug misuse treatment options
- Job training and mentoring opportunities
- Digital access and training for tribal, state, and federal services
- Identification of federal funding opportunities across agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, Indian Health Service, SAMHSA, and the U.S. Department of Labor
The report calls for the state to form a permanent task force to guide the implementation of the recommendation.
