City of Kotzebue v. State, Department of Corrections

OPINION

BRYNER, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

For a number of years, the City of Kotze-bue operated the Kotzebue Regional Jail under a contract with the state. After being rebuffed by the state in its efforts to increase funding under the contract, the city opted to let the contract expire and then sued the state to recover the cost of operating the jail and transporting prisoners to court for arraignment. The main issue here is whether the Alaska departments of corrections and public safety owed a continuing duty to house and transport prisoners held in the Kotzebue jail after the contract expired.…