 Patty Ware Tapped to Become Acting Director May 14, 2002
Buhite will retire on June 24, 34 years to the day after his career with the State of Alaska began. Longtime program manager Patty Ware will take the helm as Acting Director of the Division upon Buhite's retirement. "George's career exemplifies the best in public service. His dedication, knowledge, and experience have enabled him to set and achieve high standards of accomplishment for himself and those he has led throughout his career," Livey said. "George and his staff built the Division of Juvenile Justice from day one and have instituted a model restorative justice approach in all parts of the program. As he moves on, George can take great pride in his legacy." Buhite's career has closely paralleled the development of Alaska's juvenile justice system. He was the first Youth Counselor hired at the state's first youth facility, when McLaughlin Youth Center opened its doors in Anchorage in 1968. He was also the first director appointed when the Division of Juvenile Justice was created in 1999. Between these milestones, he worked at every level in the organization, including 12 years as McLaughlin Superintendent. In that role, Buhite was named one of the "Best in the Business" by the American Correctional Association. Along with more than 80 other Alaskans appointed by Gov. Tony Knowles, Buhite developed recommendations to re-shape Alaska's response to juvenile crime as a member of the 1996 Governor's Conference on Youth and Justice. As division director, he played a key role in putting those recommendations into practice by implementing legislation establishing a restorative justice approach. This model balances juvenile offender accountability with public safety and restoration for those affected by juvenile crime. He also guided expansion of the state's juvenile detention and institutional bed capacity to remedy overcrowding in the state's youth facilities. "During these many years I have been blessed with opportunities, challenges and the privilege of working with wonderful and dedicated people, many of whom have become friends," said Buhite. "I am proud of our accomplishments, and I know these achievements are the result of each person's contribution to our shared vision. As I leave, I see the Division in a good position to continue its excellent work. With the support of the Governor and the Alaska Legislature, the state will have met its need for additional juvenile detention beds with expansions at McLaughlin and the Johnson Youth Center in Juneau and the opening of facilities in Mat-Su, Ketchikan and a facility in Kenai opening in 2004." The Juvenile Justice Division has 17 juvenile probation offices and 7 juvenile youth facilities operating throughout the state and receives approximately 7,000 delinquency referrals per year. The Division provides intake screening, community diversion programming, probation supervision of adjudicated youth, victim services, short-term detention and long-term institutional treatment for juvenile offenders, as well as aftercare services for youth transitioning back into the community following release from a juvenile institution.
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