Arrests for drug crimes in Alaska appear to have fallen since the turn of the millennium, according to a new report from the University of Alaska Anchorage Justice Center.
The report, released Tuesday, found that overall, the number of annual arrests dropped between 2000 and 2012, from 31,227 adult arrests in 2000 to 28,992 in 2012. The total number of juvenile arrests also dropped significantly, from 5,939 in 2000 to 2,661 in 2012.
The report also found drug arrests comprised a relatively small portion of overall arrests -- 4.8 percent for adults and 11.8 percent for juveniles.
Most drug arrests involved marijuana. According to the report, 65.7 percent of juvenile drug arrests involved marijuana, along with 63 percent of adult arrests over the study period. Since 2000, juvenile marijuana arrests have increased while arrests for narcotics have fallen, and adults have seen a decline in both marijuana and narcotics arrests. The data separated arrests for narcotics and marijuana, distinct categories under the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting, since those arrests accounted for 82.5 percent of juvenile arrests and 84.4 percent of all Alaska arrests during the study period.
Khristy Parker, a UAA research professional who compiled the report, said it focused on narcotics and marijuana because they make up such a large percentage of drug-related charges. The other charging areas the FBI reported are synthetic narcotics (bath salts, spice) and "other.'' Both of those made up a small portion of the overall reporting.
For the 12-year period, narcotics were involved in juvenile drug arrests at a rate of 16.8 percent and marijuana 65.7 percent. For adults, narcotics were present at a slightly higher rate of 21.4 percent to 63 percent for marijuana during that same period. In 2012, just 2.8 percent of juvenile drug arrests involved narcotics and 79.4 percent included marijuana. That year, 21.1 percent of adult drug arrests were for narcotics and 54.3 percent were for marijuana.
Parker noted there has also been increased interest in marijuana due to Ballot Measure 2, an initiative that would legalize recreational marijuana use in Alaska. If passed, the initiative would make Alaska the third state in the nation to legalize marijuana.
Proponents of the initiative argue that marijuana is less dangerous than alcohol and that public safety officers would be able to focus policing efforts on more dangerous criminals.
Data for the report was drawn from the annual Uniform Crime Report statistics from the Alaska Department of Public Safety, Criminal Records & Identification Bureau and the FBI. These data were extracted from DPS' Crime in Alaska publication.
Here are other findings from the study, which is also available online:
• For the period studied (2000–2012), the number of juvenile (over 10 years of age) arrests decreased 55.2 percent. The number of adult arrests decreased 7.2 percent in the period.
• On average, juveniles were 1.3 times more likely to be arrested for drug offenses than adults. In 2012, juveniles were 1.7 times more likely to be arrested for drug offenses than adults.
• On average, 73.6 percent of adult drug arrests and 84.5 percent of juvenile drug arrests were for drug possession. In 2012, 75 percent of adult drug arrests and 80.7 percent of juvenile drug arrests were for drug possession.
• On average, 26.4 percent of adult drug arrests and 15.5 percent of juvenile drug arrests were for drug sales/manufacturing. In 2012, 25 percent of adult drug arrests and 19.3 percent of juvenile drug arrest were for sales/manufacturing offenses.