State statute provides for specific terms of imprisonment
for crimes committed against certain public employees,
such as peace officers, fire fighters, etc., in
the performance of their official duties. Our school
employees, who work each day with our most precious resource,
our children, deserve the same level of respect and protection
under the law. In addition, assault on a school employee
during performance of official duties
may place students at risk, and any assault because of
official duties can have a significant indirect impact
on
students and school communities.
The Anchorage School Board urges the Alaska
Legislature to revise Alaska criminal code or sentencing
guidelines so that a non-student adult convicted of
an assault on a school employee during or because of
the performance of official duties will receive a mandatory
minimum term of imprisonment similar to that
imposed upon an adult who assaults a uniformed or
otherwise clearly identified peace officer, fire fighter,
correctional employee, emergency medical technician,
paramedic, ambulance attendance or other emergency
responder engaged in the performance of official duties
at the time of the offense.
