Dr. Chamard directs 2012 Mat-Su Community Survey

The 2012 Matanuska-Susitna Borough Community Survey will be directed by Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice faculty.  She directed the Mat-Su Surveys for 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. The 2012 survey will be mailed to a random sample of Mat-Su residents beginning in August.

The survey has been conducted annually since 2006 and is a cooperative research effort between the Justice Center and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough to collect information about use of and satisfaction with Borough services, opinions about Borough policies and taxation, and household composition. These data will be used by Borough decision-makers to prioritize projects, improve services, and better plan for the future growth of the Mat-Su Borough.

The 2011 report, "The Matanuska-Susitna Borough - Community Survey, 2011 and Trends 2007-2011: A Sourcebook of Community Attitudes," and additional past reports of the Mat-Su Surveys are available on our website.

Justice grad Lt. David Campbell featured on UAA homepage

Lt. David Campbell, B.A. Justice '94, is currently featured on the UAA homepage. A veteran of 17 years with the Juneau Police Department, he was promoted earlier this year to the rank of lieutenant. He serves as patrol lieutenant, public information officer, a polygraph examiner, and one of two incident commanders for large events or disturbances. As David says, "Every day is different here. It is such a dynamic job; it remains fresh and challenging. It is fun to come to work every day."

Back in the 1990s, David remembers how current events - the Rodney King case and the O.J. Simpson trial -  and an "Introduction to Justice" course finally piqued his interest enough to settle on a major at UAA. The justice program, for David, was the perfect mix of engaging professors, contextualized learning, and a variety of skill sets needed for the field.

"You don't need a bachelor's degree to work as a police officer," David explains, "but having that college education has definitely helped me." The top five candidates from the original Juneau Police Department job posting in 1995 and the top three graduates of his Sitka police academy class all had college degrees.  David was one of those three top grads.

"The ability to learn to communicate effectively, to prioritize and organize—so many skill sets from college readily transferred to skill sets needed to be an officer. Education helps people be more successful in the application of their careers." Click here to read the full story about David prepared by UAA Advancement as part of the "I Am UAA" campaign.

Justice Center readies for 2012 campus kickoff

The Justice Center will be at the 2012 Campus Kickoff on Saturday, August 25, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the Cuddy Quad.  Faculty members will be at the Justice Center booth to speak with students about our programs and options.

This year's Campus Kickoff features food, information booths, prizes, and live entertainment. Dont' miss "Butt Sketcher" - the original butt sketch artist, and the band "Vintage Trouble"!  See you there!

Research Overviews: Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) statistics for Alaska

Three new issues of Justice Center Research Overview present crime and arrest statistics for serious violent and property crimes in Alaska from 2002 to 2010. Alaska figures for 2010 are compared with those for five other western U.S. states — Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. The statistics were compiled by Khristy Parker, Research Specialist.

The figures come from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, which collects information from nearly 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the U.S. on eight serious crimes, known as Part I offenses, and over twenty less serious offenses, known as Part II offenses. Part I offenses include four violent crimes — murder/non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault — and four property crimes — burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. The figures presented in the research overviews are for all eight Part I offenses.

• "Violent and Property Offenses in Alaska, 2002–2010" presents crime rates and number of offenses known to police for seven of the eight serious offenses defined as Part I offenses (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft). UCR does not report the other Part I offense, arson, by state; but data on arson arrests are included in the other two Research Overviews released today.  Overall, the data show that the rate of violent crime reported to Alaska law enforcement increased 13 percent from 2002 to 2010, while the rate of reported property crime declined 24 percent during the same period

• "Adult Violent and Property Crime Arrests in Alaska, 2002–2010" presents data on adult arrests and arrest rates for Part I crimes. Overall, the adult arrest rate for violent crime in Alaska increased 85 percent from 2002 to 2010, while the adult arrest rate for property crime increased 5 percent during the same period.

• "Juvenile Violent and Property Crime Arrests in Alaska, 2002–2010" presents data on juvenile arrests and arrest rates during the period. Overall, the juvenile arrest rate for violent crime in Alaska increased 4 percent from 2002 to 2010, while the juvenile arrest rate for property crime declined 40 percent during the same period.

Dr. Rivera attends symposium on violence against children and other vulnerable people

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty, attended the "Symposium on Violence against Children and Other Vulnerable People: A Dialogue on Surveillance, Prevention, Recognition, and Long-term Outcomes" sponsored by the Alaska Children's Trust and held July 11 in Anchorage.

The event was part of the efforts of the Alaska Surveillance of Child Abuse Neglect(Alaska SCAN) Program to educate health care providers, research professionals, and the public. Topics included an update on child physical abuse, the child death review process, data collection challenges regarding child maltreatment, prevention efforts, elder abuse and elder fatality reviews, and the links between child abuse, family violence, and elder abuse.

Prof. Wolfe presents at 2012 Wildlife Forensics Symposium and at Alaska Peace Officers Association Crime Conference

Prof. Wolfe lectures on necropsy of a bear.

Prof. Jim Wolfe, Justice Center adjunct faculty, presented at the 2012 Wildlife Field Forensics Symposium in Montana in May. Over 50 game wardens from North America attended his discussion of  field necropsy techniques (autopsies of animals) and demonstration of  how to photograph and cast shoe and tire impression evidence.
 
The symposium is attended by members of the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association (NAWEOA).

Prof. Wolfe also presented at the Alaska Peace Officers Association (APOA) Crime Conference in May in Juneau. His "Outdoor Crime Scene Class" included documenting shoe print evidence on a beach along Gastineau Channel.

Law enforcement personnel doing hands-on documentation
of shoe print evidence on the beach.

 Prof. Wolfe is a former forensic scientist with the Alaska Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory, and is currently a forensic consultant and trainer.

Justice Center closed July 4, 5, 6, for Independence Day

The Justice Center will be closed starting at 2:00p.m. today, July 3, through Friday, July 6. We will re-open on Monday, July 9 at 8:00 a.m.

Have a happy and safe Independence Day!

Justice Center acknowledged in Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium report on "Healthy Native Families"

The Justice Center was acknowledged in a recent report from the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Alaska Native Epidemiology Center, Healthy Native Families: Preventing Violence At All Ages.

This publication presents for the first time consolidated data on domestic and sexual violence affecting Alaska Native people of all age ranges. Key recommendations for prevention, intervention, and assessment of these efforts are outlined in this report.