Alaska Natives spend more time in state jails than any other racial or ethnic group, and they represent a disproportionate number of felony defendants, according to a new study.

The Alaska Judicial Council concluded there is no systematic racial bias against Natives. The time they spent in jail amounted to days and weeks, largely because of the way their cases are handled.

Alaska Native adults are 14 percent of the population but 30 percent of felony defendants. This was the highest rate in the state.

Get the Story:
Jails hold Natives longest, study finds (The Anchorage Daily News 2/25)

Relevant Links:
Alaska Judicial Council - http://www.ajc.state.ak.us