Women in Law Enforcement Fair a great success

The October 22, 2009 Women in Law Enforcement Recruitment Fair sponsored by the Women Police of Alaska attracted numerous UAA students and non-students interested in law enforcement career opportunities. Women, and also a number of men, attended the fair to talk to federal and state law enforcement agency representatives from the U.S. Marshals Service, DEA, FBI, Anchorage Airport Police, Department of Corrections, Seward Police Department, North Slope Borough Police Department, Sand Point Police Department, Fairbanks Police Department, Alaska State Troopers, and members of the Women Police of Alaska.

The event was presented with the support of the Alaska State Troopers, the Alaska Association of Chiefs of Police, and the UAA Justice Center.

Pictured:

• Top - Patrol cars from the Anchorage Airport Police, Anchorage Police Department, and the Alaska State Troopers were staged in front of the Student Union during the event.
• Trooper Sgt. Maurice Hughes talks with UAA Justice student Sarah Herrin.
• Officer Julie Hellrung of the Anchorage Airport Police and her explosives detection canine, "Dasty," take a break.
• Students discuss careers with Sgt. Bob Thompson, Fairbanks Police Dept. (far left) and with DEA Diversion Investigator Candy Kopf (far right).
• Students gather to talk to Deputy U.S. Marshal Jimmy Johnson (left in cap) and his explosives detection canine "MacDuff," and to Deputy U.S. Marshal Rochelle Liedeke (facing front) of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Dr. Chamard invited to participate in Anchorage Fire Fighters Fire Ops 101 event

Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice Center faculty, in her capacity as a member of the Municipality of Anchorage Public Safety Advisory Commission, was invited to participate in the October 23, 2009 "Fire Ops 101" program presented by the International Association of Fire Fighters Anchorage Local 1264. Other invitees included state and local elected officials and members of the media. This day-long program was designed to educate participants about fire and emergency medical operations. The group was divided into teams and outfitted in protective clothing. Each participant was also matched with a firefighter shadow; teams participated in activities including entering a burning room, climbing an aerial ladder, performing CPR and operating an automatic external defibrillator (AED), extricating a victim from a vehicle crash, and rescuing a victim from a simulated fire.

Prof. Periman speaks on researching specific legal issues

Prof. Deborah Periman, Justice Center faculty, will be a presenter for a day-long Alaska Associaton of Paralegals (AAP) seminar, "From Intake to Resolution: Strategies for the Prepared Paralegal" on November 6, 2009. She will speak on "Researching the Specific Legal Issue of Your Case."

Anchorage Community Survey 2007: Three new reports

Announcing the release of three reports from the Anchorage Community Survey 2007:

• The Anchorage Community Survey, 2007: Executive Summary, revised ed.
• The Anchorage Community Survey, 2007: Sourcebook
• Community Indicators Project at UAA: Anchorage Police Department Related Results

All reports are authored by Shel Llee Flexman-Evans, who was principal investigator for the project.

The biannual Anchorage Community Survey (ACS), part of the Justice Center's Community Indicators Project, provides one of the most detailed pictures available of community attitudes within the network of communities forming the Anchorage municipality. The survey reports contain information on the demographics of residents, their perceptions of life in their neighborhoods, social activities and organizations, and satisfaction with various municipal and government functions, including policing. The first Anchorage Community Survey was conducted in 2005. The 2009 survey is currently in progress.

Women in Law Enforcement Recruitment Fair on October 22

Representatives from the following state and federal agencies will be at the Thursday, October 22 "Women in Law Enforcement Recruitment Fair" on the upper level of the UAA Student Union. The Recruitment Fair runs from 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

• FBI
• U.S. Marshals Service
• Anchorage Airport Police & Fire
• Alaska State Troopers
• Alaska Department of Corrections
• Fairbank Police Department
• Kodiak Police Department
• North Slope Borough Police Department
• Sand Point Police Department
• Seward Police Department
• Sitka Police Department
• Valdez Police Department

This event is sponsored by the Women Police of Alaska with the support of the Alaska State Troopers, the Alaska Association of Police Chiefs, and the UAA Justice Center. For more information, contact the Justice Center at 786-1810.

Justice Center research cited in Senate Judiciary Committee report on sexual assault

Justice Center research on sexual assault is cited extensively in the recently released Senate Judiciary Committee "Report and Recommendations: Reducing Sexual Assault in Alaska." The report looks at Alaska's high rate of sexual assault -- forcible rape is 12% of all reported violent crime in the state versus 6% of all reported violent crime nationally - and makes a number of recommendations. The Judiciary Committee also "particularly acknowledges the work done by the UAA Justice Center, which has provided vital leadership in its research regarding violence against women in Alaska."

KTUU Channel 2 News covered the release of the report and related stories.

Dr. Rosay quoted in ADN article on "safety hour" for bars

Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center Director, was quoted in the October 17, 2009 Anchorage Daily News article about the Anchorage Assembly's consideration of a "safety hour" for bars. The proposed ordinance would allow bars to keep their doors open one hour after official closing time to allow more time for people to get cabs and get home safely. Dr. Rosay noted that the Justice Center has not specifically researched whether its data supports the proposed ordinance, but statistics indicate a safety hour could help.

Summer 2009 issue of Alaska Justice Forum

The Summer 2009 issue of the Alaska Justice Forum focuses on patterns of drug use among male arrestees in Anchorage; homelessness in Alaska; and results of a needs survey being used to develop a state victim assistance academy.

The 12-page issue includes the following articles:

"Drug Use Trajectories of Anchorage Male Arrestees: 2000–2003" by Brad A. Myrstol

Using data collected in Anchorage as part of the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) program, this article reports the preliminary findings of a developmental study of the connection between the use of illicit drugs and criminal offending. Results show that for each of five illicit drugs (marijuana, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin), there were dramatic increases in (1) arrestees’ drug use levels, and (2) the number of arrestees who intensified their drug use, approximately 90 to 120 days prior to arrest. These findings suggest that analysis of drug use trajectories preceding crime events may be important for furthering our understanding of the drug use-crime connection.

"A Look at Homelessness in Alaska"

Homelessness, and its impact on individuals, families, and society, is an issue of growing concern both nationally and in Alaska. This article provides information on homelessness in Alaska and nationally. On a single night in January 2008, the U.S. homeless population was estimated at 664,000. In 2008, Alaska at 0.24 per cent ranked number 10 among states for estimates of homeless persons as a percent of a state’s total population; a single-night count in January 2009 placed Alaska's homeless count at 4,583.

"Victim Service Training Needs: State Victim Assistance Academy" by André B. Rosay

Victims for Justice, a community-based crime victim service organization located in Anchorage, began in 2008 to develop a plan for a State Victim Assistance Academy for Alaska. As a first step in developing the academy, Victims for Justice in partnership with the UAA Justice Center conducted a needs assessment survey, with results reported in this brief article.

Bryan Brandenburg, Dept. of Corrections, visits with Justice Center faculty

Bryan Brandenburg, Deputy Director for the Division of Institutions with the Alaska Department of Corrections, participated in the October 2009 Justice Center Research Meeting. Mr. Brandenburg discussed new initiatives with integrated case management and supervision models for successful re-entry of prisoners.

Dr. Chamard appointed to Anchorage Homeless Leadership Team

Sharon Chamard, Justice Center faculty, was appointed by Mayor Dan Sullivan to Anchorage Homeless Leadership Team. As part of the Mayor’s strategic action plan to address the problems of chronic public inebriates and related issues of homelessness in Anchorage, the leadership team is tasked with helping to identify and implement strategies.

KTUU Channel 2 News had coverage of the Homeless Leadership Team's first meeting on Thursday, October 16, 2009.

Dr. Rosay appointed to Responsible Conduct of Research Committee

Dr. André Rosay was appointed to the Responsible Conduct of Research Committee, a federally mandated misconduct committee for institutions as set forth in 42 CRF Part 93. The committee reviews instances of misconduct, including fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or other practices that deviate from ethical standards and practices commonly accepted within the academic and scientific community for proposing, conducting, or reporting research, scholarly work, or creative activity.

Prof. Periman to speak Oct. 23 on legal ethics to paralegals

Prof. Deborah Periman, Justice Center faculty, will speak on legal ethics for paralegals at a day-long litigation case management seminar on October 23, 2009. Her presentation entitled, "Ethical Questions - The Practical Do's and Don'ts," will include such issues as evaluating conflicts of interest and avoiding the unauthorized practice of law. This seminar has been approved by the National Association of Legal Assistants and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations for continuing legal education credit.

Justice Center faculty to present at American Society of Criminology in November

Several Justice Center faculty will be making presentations at the American Society of Criminology Annual Meeting in Philadelpha, November 4-7, 2009:

Dr. Sharon Chamard will present on "Chronic Public Inebriate Movement Patterns: Response to Disruptions in Preferred Environments" on Thursday, November 5, 2009.

Dr. Brad Myrstol will present on "The Drug Use Trajectories of Arrestees" on Friday, November 6, 2009.

Dr. Marny Rivera and Jennifer McMullen, Research Assistant, will make a presentation on "Effects of an Anti-Methamphetamine Program" on Saturday, November 7, 2009. Dr. Rivera is the principal investigator for the evaluation project of the Alaska Meth Education Project.