Corrections says no sex offenders housed at Point Mac prison farm

By
Suzanne Downing
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2

ALSO: WALK-AWAY BURGLAR IS IN CUSTODY

On social media in the Mat-Su Valley, several people have expressed worries that sex offenders are housed at the Point Mackenzie Correctional Farm.

Must Read Alaska asked the Department of Corrections if this is the case, and received assurances that no such prisoners are housed at the minimum-security prison farm.

“The Department of Corrections does not house convicted sex offenders at the Point MacKenzie Correctional Farm. Years ago, DOC made an agreement with the community that we would not house convicted sex offenders at this facility and we continue to keep our promise,” said Sarah Gallagher, public information officer for the department.

Pt. MacKenzie Correctional Farm is a minimum custody facility. To be placed there, prisoners must be classified as minimum custody inmates, the department said. Farm prisoners have less than 10 years remaining to serve, participate in programs, and meet institutional standards for the least restrictive housing and supervision based on current charges and criminal history.

The social media discussion stemmed from the case of Brian Church, who walked away from the Point Mackenzie Correctional Farm on April 12. He is back in custody after authorities found him holed up in an cabin near Willow.

Brian Church, back in custody

After being rounded up by Alaska State Troopers, who descended on the cabin by helicopter, the 59-year-old is in the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility. His original charges stemmed from numerous burglaries in Skwentna and other rural areas several years ago.

In the case of Church, he was scheduled to be released in 2021. He will now face escape in the second degree escape charges, and additional burglary charges relating to incidents during his escape.

For those living within a 10-mile radius of Goose Creek Correctional Center or Point Mackenzie Correctional Farm who wish to be contacted if an emergency has occurred at either facility, call 907-864-8309 for the shift commander at Goose Creek.  Your name, resident location and contact phone numbers will be placed on a confidential list and you will be contacted only if the emergency would have a direct, immediate impact on the neighborhood.

In 2018, the prison farm produced vegetables for numerous facilities around the state, including nearly a surplus of 23,000 pounds of potatoes used by other State and nonprofit facilities around the state:

  • Anchorage Correctional Complex: 4,500 pounds of potatoes, 500 pounds of tomatoes
  • Hiland Mountain Correctional Center: 1,900 pounds of potatoes, 600 pounds of tomatoes
  • Spring Creek Correctional Center: 3,500 pounds of potatoes, 500 pounds of tomatoes
  • Wildwood Correctional Complex: 4,000 pounds of potatoes, 600 pounds of tomatoes
  • Yukon-Kuskokwim Correctional Center: 1,600 pounds of potatoes, 400 pounds of tomatoes
  • Big Lake Food Bank: 2,000 pounds of potatoes, 100 pounds of tomatoes
  • Frontline Mission: 3,000 pounds of potatoes, 300 pounds of carrots
  • New Life Development: 2,000 pounds of potatoes, 80 pounds of tomatoes
  • Palmer Veterans and Pioneers Home: 500 pounds of potatoes, 100 pounds of tomatoes

2 COMMENTS

  1. The dude who escaped was in prison for….. drum roll…. ESCAPE!!!!! How the heck is that considered minimum risk??? And if the prison claims guys like him arent housed there, How the heck is ot that he was houses there???

  2. I have also heard on social media that they don’t house sex offenders there , but there may be sex offenders working there during the day. Is there any truth to that ??

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