|
October
1 , 2004
Kotzebue jail closing justified, court rules
SIKU CIRCUMPOLAR NEWS
An Alaskan Superior Court judge has ruled that Kotzebue was justified when
it shut down the northwest Alaska's only regional jail last year rather than
continue to subsidize the facility, reports the Anchorage Daily News.
Until last year, Kotzebue was one of 15 communities that operated jails for
Alaska's department of corrections. The department paid for its operations,
but hadn't raised its subsidy rates in years. The community had to absorb the
difference.
Kotzebue used other money to subsidize its jail, but when this funding disappeared
due to Alaska's ongoing fiscal crisis, Kotzebue asked for an additional $331,000
to cover costs, for a total of $920,000. Alaska said $589,000 should be enough
to operate the 14-bed facility. Kotzebue disagreed and closed the jail on July
1, 2003.
Now lawyers say it's more difficult to talk with their clients. Prisoners can't
meet with Kotzebue-area family members or friends. Alaska State Troopers must
fly inmates to Kotzebue from Nome, about 300 kilometres away, for every court
date.
While in Kotzebue, prisoners are confined in small, chain-link cells. Measuring
six feet by seven feet, the chain-link pens have no toilets or sinks; prisoners
must be escorted to use the bathroom. At times, two or three people share a
cell. If weather keeps them in Kotzebue overnight, mattresses are placed on
the floor.
October
1 , 2004
Japan ready for Greenland
Tourists from Japan will come to Greenland, says the Japanese ambassador to
Denmark.
"If Japanese tourists can learn about Greenland, then they will visit
Greenland," said Gotaro Ogawa after a recent visit to Greenland.
Every year, millions of Japanese travel, but they usually decide to visit New
York, Paris or London.
"Now they are looking for different places. And I think that Greenland
can offer many attractive things to the Japanese tourist," Ogawa said.
Tourists who want to see the northern lights have already started to come to
Greenland.
TOP
| 
Nunavut 99
