Date

9-25-2025

Department

Helms School of Government

Degree

Doctor of Criminal Justice (DCJ)

Chair

Flynt, Latreace

Keywords

Sex Offender Treatment, Perspective, Rural, Remote Communities

Disciplines

Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Rehabilitation and Therapy

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to improve the problem of reintegrating sex offenders who have not benefited from rehabilitative sex offender treatment programming into rural and remote communities in western Alaska and provide guidance to policymakers to address the problem. Sexual violence remains a social problem in modern society, marked by inconsistent definitions and under-reporting, and is often difficult to prosecute. A disproportionate number of sexual offenses occur in 128+ rural towns and remote villages with fewer than 1000 residents. In response to limitations on resources and logistics, the Department of Corrections' Division of Pretrial, Probation, and Parole has developed guidelines that establish different standards of supervision based on an offender's residence in an urban or rural area of the state. Supervision case plans for sex offenders focus on treatment status. However, treatment availability differs across geographical regions. Policymakers have little applicable data on which to base appropriate supervision standards to enhance community safety. Barriers to the successful application of sex offender treatment programming are identified and explored through interviews with probation officers who work directly with treatment providers and programming managers within the Division of Health and Rehabilitative Services. A larger group of probation officers assigned to sex offender caseloads provided feedback through participation in a focus group. Probation officers within the Division of Pretrial, Probation & Parole who regularly interact with sex offender caseloads provide their perspectives on public safety regarding conflict in supervision policy and practice with treatment needs through a survey. Policy recommendations are formed using the data collected to support the positive reintegration of sex offenders into rural and remote Alaskan communities while addressing public safety concerns.

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