How to subscribe to the Justice Center blog

Read the UAA Justice Center blog for all the latest news about:

• New Justice Center publications, including the quarterly Alaska Justice Forum, Justice Center Research Overview, and reports and other publications on research by Justice Center faculty and their research partners.
• Academic news on the Justice B.A. and Paralegal Certificate programs.
• Student activities, including Justice Club and Alpha Phi Sigma.
• Faculty activities and achievements.
• Justice Center events.

It's easy to subscribe to the UAA Justice Center blog — or to other blogs and news sites you're interested in — through any of a number of RSS feed services. Simply subscribe using Google Reader, Bloglines, Netvibes, My Yahoo, or another RSS feed service.

What is RSS? It stands for Really Simple Syndication, a standardized format used widely on the web to publish frequently updated works like blog entries and news headlines. It's commonly represented by this orange icon .

Here's an tutorial about RSS in plain English:



By subscribing to RSS feeds, and making a visit to your RSS reader a part of your daily routine, you'll only have to visit that one site to find updates for all your favorite blogs and news services — a big time saver over visiting each site separately. RSS readers also automatically indicate what posts you've already read, and what's new.

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• Google Reader
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• Netvibes
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If you already have a Google account, you can use the same username and password for Google Reader. Familiarize yourself through the Google Reader tour, or watch this tutorial:



Once you've set up an account with a service, subscribe to the UAA Justice Center blog using the RSS subscription link on our blog's home page:

(Ignore the "All Comments" link: our blog doesn't include comments.)

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Click on the one you want, and complete your subscription. All the latest news from the UAA Justice Center will then come to your RSS reader — automatically.

Here's a few other RSS feeds you might be interested in. (Check for the orange icon or follow directions on the pages. Some of these require you to copy and paste the feed's URL into your RSS reader.):

• Anchorage Daily News
• Bureau of Justice Statistics
• National Institute of Justice
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• The Paralegal Resource
• U.S. Supreme Court decisions (through Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute)

Fall 2009 issue of Alaska Justice Forum

The Fall 2009 issue of the Alaska Justice Forum focuses on domestic violence assaults, reducing violence against women in Alaska, the relationship between animal abuse and domestic violence, and leading causes of death in Alaska and the U.S.

The 12-page issue includes the following articles:

"Predicting Legal Resolutions in Domestic Violence Cases" by Marny Rivera, André B. Rosay, Darryl S. Wood, and Katherine TePas

This article discusses characteristics of assaults in domestic violence incidents reported to Alaska State Troopers — reports, suspects, victims, victim-suspect relationships, and incidents — and the degree to which they influenced prosecution of domestic violence cases. Characteristics that predicted prosecution generally included the following: severity of the incident or corroboration of the victims’ description of events, thorough investigation and/or interrogation practices, intimate partner relationship between victim and suspect, and the incident occurring in an area with a VPSO or VPO program. Characteristics that significantly predicted prosecution can be used as the basis for modifications in policy and/or practice to enhance prosecution of domestic violence cases in Alaska.

"Attrition in Cases of Violence Against Women Reported to the Alaska State Troopers" by Darryl S. Wood, André B. Rosay, Marny Rivera, and Katherine TePas

The Alaska statutory requirement that arrests be made for all crimes involving domestic violence is rooted in research that suggests mandatory arrest has a specific deterrent effect in cases of misdemeanor assault committed by males against their female intimate partners. In this article we consider police, prosecutor, and court decision-making about intimate partner violence (IPV) cases initially dealt with by the Alaska State Troopers in 2004. The results presented allow us to consider the attrition of cases of IPV assault reported to the Troopers and prosecuted by the Alaska Department of Law. Although Alaska’s mandatory arrest law is the only policy specifically requiring official response to IPV cases, it appears that the law’s spirit of full enforcement guided other decisions regarding IPV cases as they continued through the criminal justice process in 2004. While attrition still occurred, it happened at a rate that was substantially less than what has been found outside of Alaska, indicating that IPV is taken seriously in rural Alaska. This appears to be as true for Alaska Native victims as it is for non-Native victims and it does not seem to be affected by the difficulties of travel to conduct investigations.

"Reducing Violence Against Women in Alaska"

Alaska has long been plagued by high rates of violence against women. Relative to the average U.S. rate of forcible rapes reported to law enforcement from 2003 to 2008, the average Alaska rate was 2.6 times higher, the average Anchorage rate was 2.9 times higher, and the average Fairbanks rate was 5.0 times higher. Alaska has the highest rate of forcible rape reported to law enforcement out of all U.S states. This article summarizes recent recommendations from the Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee and from Governor Sean Parnell to reduce violence against women in Alaska.

"Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence"

Animal abuse is one factor in the dynamic of intimate partner violence, and can be used by law enforcement and domestic violence advocates in assessing risk. Studies have documented high rates of pet ownership by domestic violence victims in shelters, a substantial rate of children’s exposure to pet abuse, and clear indications that domestic violence victims’ concern for pets affect decisions to stay in or leave relationships with batterers. This article describes efforts to address some of these issues, including some in Alaska. A bibliography of further reading on animal abuse and domestic violence is included.

"Leading Causes of Death"

This article details recent data about leading causes of death for Alaska and the U.S. Diseases of the body, particularly malignant neoplasms (cancer) and heart disease, continue to rank among the leading causes of death for the overall population; however, suicide and homicide rank among the top five causes of death in Alaska for age groups up to age 44.

"Visiting Faculty"

Announcing the visit of Dr. Adrienne Freng of University of Wyoming as visiting faculty for the Spring 2010 semester.

Research Overview: Underage drinking

Underage drinking is the topic of the most recent Justice Center Research Overview.

"Problems and Costs Associated With Underage Drinking" by Khristy Parker presents the most recent information (2007) on the public problems and costs of underage drinking in the U.S. and in Alaska, and describes the response to the problem of underage drinking in Alaska. In 2007, Alaska was ranked 39th among U.S. states for total costs of underage drinking, but had the highest costs of underage drinking per youth — nearly twice the national average.

See also the Justice Center website for related publications on alcohol and alcohol abuse and on juvenile delinquency.

Congrats to Justice and Paralegal Majors named to the Fall 2009 Honors Lists

Congratulations to the Justice and Paralegal Majors who were named to the Fall 2009 Honors Lists!

Dean's List
Justice Majors
Joel H. Ainsworth, Coleman J. Alguire, Amani Faisal Azzam, Joseph Wesley Cosgriff, Kristen A. Crain, John Cohen Croughen, Tamara Monique Douglas, Kayla Jean Frank, John Archer Glasgow III, Michael Bruce Guzy, Rebecca H. Hartley, Luisa F. Jones, Tristan Scott Maxwell, Joseph Darrel Mayfield, Clay William Roberts, Adam Peter Ronchetti, Kelly Kathleen, Sandlin, Kristopher Scott Sperry, Wes Frederick Stephl, Nykea Sommer Thomas, Sarah Elizabeth Tillman, Travis Sterling White.

Premajor Paralegal Majors
Julianna Larae Tobler

Chancellor's List
Justice Majors
Seth Camden Bowen, Albert Ross Donalson, Jessica Lynn Ezzell, Ezekiel J. Kaufman, Jacob A. Ruebelmann, Justin Christopher Voss, Kelsey C. Waldorf

Premajor Paralegal Majors
Anastasia Rogers, Tiffany G. Williams

Requirements for Honors Lists
To be named to the Dean's List, students must be earn a 3.5 GPA and be enrolled in at least 12 credits. To be named to the Chancellor's List, students must earn a 4.0 GPA and be enrolled in at least 12 credits.

Dr. Myrstol's research cited online

Research on homeless arrestees by Dr. Brad Myrstol, Justice Center faculty, was recently cited by two online news services, newswise and PhysOrg.com. Dr. Myrstol co-authored the article, "The Jailing of America's Homeless: Evaluating the Rabble Management Thesis," with Professor Kevin Fitzpatrick of the University of Arkansas. They note that mental health and substance abuse issues are more prevalent among the homeless, and the homeless are more likely to be jailed for their offensiveness, rather than for their dangerousness.

Dr. Rivera joins Alaska Interagency Prevention of Underage Drinking Committee

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice Center faculty, has joined the Alaska Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking. This committee is comprised of 12 state-wide agencies and association representatives and recently released the State of Alaska Plan to Reduce & Prevent Underage Drinking.

The plan employs a variety of strategies to address the issue of underage drinking including dissemination of information, education, providing alternative activities, community-based processes, and environmental approaches. A major goal is to develop community responses to underage drinking that are coordinated at the state level. Pilot projects are scheduled to begin in Yakutat and in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough once community assessments have been completed.

Fall 2010 Justice & Paralegal internship application deadline

The application deadline for Fall 2010 internships is Friday, February 19, 2010. For further information including future deadlines and application forms, see Justice Internships: Information and Required Forms or Paralegal Internships: Information and Required Forms.

Dr. Rosay signs commitment to youth mentoring

The Alaska Mentoring Initiative, a partnership project with the University of Alaska Anchorage, the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska, joined Governor Sean Parnell, Mayor Dan Sullivan, and members of the Anchorage Mentoring Alliance, in signing a commitment to mentoring the youth of Anchorage. The signing took place January 13 at the Alaska Native Charter School.

The goals of the Alaska Mentoring Initiative partnership are to enhance the civic engagement of students at UAA by providing them with formal opportunities to mentor institutionalized youth at McLaughlin Youth Center. Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center Director, heads this program.

For information on being a mentor, contact Dr. Rosay - afabr@uaa.alaska.edu or call 786-1810.

Dr. Rivera to develop manual for Cengage Learning

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice Center faculty, has been invited by Cengage Learning to develop an instructor's manual for the forthcoming 7th edition of the textbook Drug Use and Abuse: A Comprehensive Introduction. Dr. Howard Abadinsky is the original author of the textbook. Dr. Rivera uses this textbook in the Justice 366 course, Alcohol and Crime.

Justice Center data cited by Catholic Anchor

Data from an Alaska Justice Forum article, "Prisoners in Alaska and the U.S.," Winter 2008, Vol. 24, No. 4, was cited by the Catholic Anchor in their January 8 article about Alaska prisons and Catholic outreach.

Dr. Chamard interviewed by KTUU Channel 2 News

Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice Center faculty, was interviewed by KTUU Channel 2 News concerning the proposal to convert the Red Roof Inn into housing for chronic inebriates. She was interviewed twice, on January 5 and January 9, in her capacity as a member of the Mayor's Homeless Leadership Team and as president of the Fairview Community Council.

Dr. Rosay guest lectures at Gruening Middle School

Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center Director, will present two guest lectures at Gruening Middle School on January 12 on the topic of sexual assault in Alaska. Students at Gruening Middle School are participating in "We the People: Project Citizen" and have decided to address the topic of sexual assault in Alaska. "We the People: Project Citizen" is a curricular program for middle school studnets that promotes competent and responsible participation in local and state government. The program helps students learn how to monitor and influence public policy. In the process, students develop support for democratic values and principles, tolerance, and feelings of political efficacy.

Dr. Chamard interviewed by Anchorage Daily News

Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice Center faculty, was interviewed by the Anchorage Daily News for their January 5 article on the proposal to purchase the Red Roof Inn and convert it to a shelter for chronic inebriates. She spoke in her capacity as a member of the Mayor's Homelessness Leadership Team and as president of the Fairview Community Council.

Research Overview: Referrals to the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice, 2003–2008

Referrals of youth to the juvenile justice system is the topic of the most recent Justice Center Research Overview.

"Referrals to the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice: 2003–2008" by André B. Rosay presents statistics on juveniles referred by law enforcement agencies to the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) from 2003 to 2008.

Juveniles are referred to DJJ if there is probable cause that a youth (1) committed an offense which would be criminal if committed by an adult, (2) committed a felony traffic offense, or (3) committed an alcohol offense after two prior convictions in District Court for minor consuming. Adults may be referred to the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice if their offenses were committed as juveniles.

Dr. Freng joins Justice Center as Visiting Faculty

Dr. Adrienne Freng, Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Wyoming, has joined the Justice Center as Visiting Faculty for the Spring 2010 semester. Dr. Freng received her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her research areas include juvenile justice, gangs, Native American justice issues, and research methods. Dr. Freng's experience includes serving as a counselor in a group home for delinquent boys and as an intern probation officer.