First-time offenders get second chance under new criminal justice reform law

The criminal justice reform bill recently signed into law is intended to save money and reduce the state’s prison population by eliminating the factors that contribute to recidivism, or the revolving door of offenders repeatedly returning to prison.
A defendant confers with his court-appointed defense attorney during an arraignment at the Dimond Courthouse in Juneau. (Photo by Matt Miller, KTOO – Juneau)The measure includes a small tweak to current law that allows non-violent and low