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

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