After Mass Dismissals in Anchorage, Alaska Officials Step in to Help Prosecute Crimes

Alaska officials have announced plans to help Anchorage city prosecutors take criminal cases to trial after the Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica reported that the municipality had dropped hundreds of cases due to low staffing. The state and city governments will work together for the next six months to address the issue. The state will provide seven to 10 attorneys to aid the city government, supplementing the 13 prosecutors the city has on staff. Deputy Attorney General John Skidmore stated that public safety is a primary goal of the government and the Department of Law is working to lend a hand to protect the public. The Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica reported that over 1,000 misdemeanor cases were dismissed due to the state's 120-day deadline to bring defendants to trial expiring or being about to expire. The cases included defendants charged with domestic violence, child abuse, and driving under the influence. City officials attributed the issue to employee turnover and resignations, which left the municipality without enough attorneys. The city had previously asked the state for help in April but was rebuffed, however, after a recent meeting, the state agreed to provide assistance. The state plans to loan attorneys from various offices, and the city is also exploring the option of hiring retired prosecutors to help with the cases. The city had already been working to recruit new prosecutors by offering additional pay, and those efforts are beginning to pay off.