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KNBA News - Gov. Bill Walker signs criminal reform bill into law

Governor Bill Walker has signed into law a bill to cut down on the number of people in prison and the number of repeated returns to prison. The legislation is based on recommendations made by the Alaska Criminal Justice Commission. In a prepared statement, the Governor's office said the new law will put $99 million over six years into crime-reduction programs such as substance abuse treatment, pretrial services, and support for inmates re-entering society. The law is expected to reduce the state's prison population by 13 percent by 2024, saving the state $380 million.