All of Alaska’s corrections system facilities are overcrowded. In addition to the overcrowding of the instate facilities, about 1,000 Alaska prisoners are presently incarcerated in contract facilities in Arizona.  These prisoners must be flown back and forth for court dates. Building a new correctional center in Alaska will result in lower transportation costs and more efficient corrections operations statewide.  In addition, a new correctional center in Alaska will keep more of the money spent on prisoner care inside Alaska. Many prisoners housed outside of Alaska would be returned. Existing correctional facilities in the state will be able to operate closer to normal capacities which would make them all safer and more effective. Also, keeping prisoners within the state would strengthen their family connections, which has been proven to enhance rehabilitation and decrease re-incarceration rates.