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

Stephanie McFadden, Chair of the Council
on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault,
described the research partnership between
CDVSA and the UAA Justice Center.

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 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 addressed audience questions.

Several stories on results of the study have already appeared in the Alaska press:

• “One in four Alaska women victims of rape or attempted rape, survey says” by Alex DeMarban (Tundra Drums).
• “Survey reveals higher rate of violence against Alaska women: ALASKA: 59 percent of women in poll experienced violence, threats” by Lisa Demer (Anchorage Daily News).
• “Study paints stark portrait of Alaska domestic violence” (video) by Christine Kim (KTUU Channel 2 News).
• “Survey Shows More Alaskan Women Victims of Sexual Assault ” (video) by Alexis Fernandez (KTVA Channel 11 News) (text of story here).
• “Shockingly High Rate of Violence Against Women Found in Alaska” (audio) by Ellen Lockyer (KSKA Anchorage Public Radio and Alaska Public Radio Network).
• "AK's domestic, sexual violence: Not just bad, AWFUL" (Alaska Dispatch).
• "Alaska women report high rate of domestic violence" by the Associated Press (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner).

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: