Val Van Brocklin

author

Val Van Brocklin is a former state and federal prosecutor in Alaska who now trains and writes on criminal justice topics nationwide. She lives in Anchorage.

OPINION: State Supreme Court’s ‘yada yada’ isn’t funny for Alaskans locked up without due process

Instead of exercising a check on this unfunded power exercise to unconstitutionally confine vulnerable Alaskans, Superior Court judges are issuing court orders that enable it.

Val Van Brocklin September 14, 2024

OPINION: State’s justification for withholding police body camera video is vague and overbroad

Millions of taxpayer dollars have been spent and will continue to be spent on police body cameras in Alaska. But there is more at stake than money.

Val Van Brocklin August 9, 2024

OPINION: The truths that police body cameras don’t reveal

The stronger our beliefs, the more they filter out evidence to the contrary and give more weight to evidence that supports them.

Val Van Brocklin June 28, 2024
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OPINION: A step toward addressing Alaska’s appalling prison statistics

The Parole Board should not be substituting its judgment for that of the judiciary.

Val Van Brocklin April 2, 2024

OPINION: State mistreatment of Alaskans with mental illness victimizes families

Because our Legislature has defunded and refuses to fund less intrusive programs, forced detention and drugging have become the “go-to.”

Val Van Brocklin November 8, 2023

OPINION: ‘Shoot the messenger’ is no way to fix Alaska’s mental health care struggles

I stand by my commentary that the white paper effectively revealed systemic failures resulting in Alaskans with mental illness being denied due process.

Val Van Brocklin October 11, 2023

Letter: Reamer brings history to life

Thank you to the author for bringing history to life and starting my day with a new appreciation of its limitless lessons.

Val Van Brocklin October 4, 2023

OPINION: Paper reveals shocking mistreatment of Alaskans with mental illness

Alaskans with mental illness are being subjected to inhumane “treatment” without due process under the guise of protecting them.

Val Van Brocklin September 21, 2023

OPINION: What one crime victim taught me about forgiveness — and our justice system’s roadblocks against it

It’s time to remove the roadblocks to those crime victims who want the reparation that forgiveness offers. It’s also time to tap this rehabilitative power for defendants, and its reduction in recidivism.

Val Van Brocklin August 28, 2023

Alaska Supreme Court shines light on trial courts’ ‘grave injustices’

While the opinion reads like a legal win for Alaskans with mental illness, it may not result in any real change.

Val Van Brocklin June 24, 2023
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