Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Summer 2010 issue of Alaska Justice Forum

The most recent issue of the Alaska Justice Forum features articles on civil legal assistance in Alaska and the U.S., a history and guide to Alaska pro bono programs, a comparison of gun ownership in Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, and two pilot programs initiated by the Criminal Justice Working Group.

The 12-page issue includes the following articles:

"Unmet Legal Needs in the U.S. and Alaska" by Barbara Armstrong

Concern about access to justice for low-income individuals prompted to founding in 1876 of the first legal aid society in the U.S. Currently, the largest provider of civil legal assistance to the poor is the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created by Congress in the 1970s, which funds programs in all 50 states, including the Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALCS). This article desribes civil legal assistance and pro bono programs provided by LSC, ALSC, and other legal aid and pro bono organizations in Alaska and the U.S. which are attempting to address the "justice gap" for impovershed persons.
A web supplement provides additional map and tables with statistics from Alaska pro bono organizations describing lawyer participation, cases, and number of clients assisted, as well as additional information on poverty rates and Alaska Court System service locations.

"Pro Bono Programs in Alaska"

This article gives a history and overview of programs in Alaska which provide pro bono legal services — free legal representation — by volunteer attorneys to low-income persons.

"Correlates of Gun Ownership in Anchorage and the Mat-Su Borough" by Sharon Chamard

Data from two residential surveys conducted by the Justice Center — the 2009 Matanuska-Susitna Borough Community Survey and the 2009–2010 Anchorage Community Survey — provides the basis for this descriptive comparison of correlates of firearm ownership in the Municipality of Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

"Two Pilot Projects in the Alaska Court System" by Teresa White Carns

This article describes two pilot projects in Alaska initiated by the Criminal Justice Working Group (CJWG). The goal of PACE (Probationer Accountability with Certain Enforcement), modeled on Hawaii's successful Project HOPE, is to reduce substance abuse, technical violations, and incarceration for probationers. Electronic Exchange of Discovery will allow law enforcement agencies and state and municipal prosecutors in Juneau (the pilot location) to electronically share discoverable information and reports in criminal cases.

"New Faculty"

Professors Troy Payne and Jason Brandeis have joined the Justice Center faculty as of the Fall 2010 semester.

"Rosay Awarded Contract"

Dr. AndrĂ© B. Rosay has been awarded a contract from the Office of the Governor to provide research services to support the Governor’s Initiative to end the epidemic of domestic violence and sexual assault in Alaska.