Courts Could Impose Lifetime Alcohol Ban
“Jekyll and Hyde” Bill Moves Out of Senate Judiciary

Juneau - A bill giving courts the option to impose up to a lifetime ban on alcohol for perpetrators of certain crimes committed while under the influence moved from the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday.

“While I do not pretend that Senate Bill 36 is a magic bullet that will cure the alcohol problems in our state, it will give the state courts one more tool to deal with individuals who have proven they are unable to control themselves when they drink,” said bill sponsor Sen. Gene Therriault, R-North Pole. “Some people have labeled this the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde bill because it could apply to individuals whose behavior radically changes to destructive when they drink.”

Senate Bill 36 allows a court to order a defendant convicted of certain crimes while under the influence of alcohol to refrain from consuming alcohol up to the lifetime of the defendant, if the court finds that the defendant’s conduct constituting the offense was substantially influenced by the consumption of alcohol, and there is reason to believe that imposing the ban is necessary to protect the public.

SB 36 now goes to the Senate Finance Committee. A letter of intent accompanying the bill directs the courts to use the Therapeutic Court in lieu of a standard sentencing for first time violators if openings are available.

A sound actuality can be downloaded from the following link:
http://www.aksenateminority.com/media/25/therriault2007032001a.mp3