Thursday, September 30, 2010

2010 Alaska Victimization Survey shows high rates of violence against women in Alaska

Stephanie McFadden, chair of the Alaska Council on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
Stephanie McFadden, Chair of the Council
on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault,
described the research partnership between
CDVSA and the UAA Justice Center.
Sandy Samaniego, executive director of the Alaska Council on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
CDVSA Executive Director Sandy Samaniego
Sexual Assault, delivered closing remarks.
The UAA Justice Center and the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA) held a joint press conference on September 30 to introduce the results of the 2010 Alaska Victimization Survey conducted by the Justice Center through a contract with CDVSA. Researchers surveyed 871 women throughout Alaska by telephone in May–June 2010.

Research was conducted by André B. Rosay, Marny Rivera, and Brad Myrstol of the UAA Justice Center; Sandy Samaniego and Lauree Morton of the CDVSA; and Darryl S. Wood of Washington State University Vancouver. The study provides the first definitive measures of the incidence and prevalence of intimate partner violence and sexual violence against women in Alaska.

Dr. André B. Rosay, Director of the UAA Justice Center
Dr. André Rosay of the UAA Justice
Center presented study findings.
Study findings were presented by Dr. André B. Rosay, Director of the Justice Center. Among the findings:
  • 58.6% of Alaska women experienced at least one incident of intimate partner violence or sexual violence over their lifetime.
  • 11.8% experienced at least one incident of intimate partner violence or sexual violence during the last year prior to the survey.
    The complete Powerpoint slideshow of study findings presented during the conference can be found on the UAA Justice Center website.

    Other presenters at the press conference included Stephanie McFadden, chair of the CDVSA, who provided an overview of the partnership between CDVSA and the Justice Center in conducting the survey; a panel question and answer session with Col. Audie Holloway of the Alaska State Troopers, Nancy Haag of Standing Together Against Rape (STAR), Suzi Pearson of Abused Women's Aid in Crisis (AWAIC), and Sandy Samaniego, executive director of CDVSA.

    Col. Audie Holloway of the Alaska State Troopers, Nancy Haag of STAR, Suzi Pearson of AWAIC, and Sandy Samaniego of CDVSA
    Col. Audie Holloway of the Alaska State Troopers, Nancy Haag of STAR, Suzi Pearson
    of AWAIC, and Sandy Samaniego of CDVSA addressed audience questions.
    Several stories on results of the study have already appeared in the Alaska press:
    Alaska State Senator Hollis French, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pledged in a press release dated October 1, 2010, that there would be a full hearing on the results of this first statewide victimization survey. The survey was part of the recommendations of the Senate Judiciary Committee's 2009 report, "Reducing Sexual Assault in Alaska."

    Additional photos from the UAA Justice Center of the press conference have been compiled into a slideshow: