Drs. Garcia and Rivera publish article in Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Dr. Gabriel Garcia, UAA Department of Health Sciences and Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice Center faculty, published the article, "Is Race a Factor in Disparate Health Problems Associated with Violence Against Women?," in the current issue of the Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice, Vol. 7, Issue 7, 2014.

In this article, they noted that "[r]esearch studies examining the health correlates of violence against women have consistently demonstrated associations between violence and poor health outcomes, but have not examined a disparate impact on racial minorities.... This study found that victimization increased the odds of health problems for all women, but significantly more so for minority women."

Published by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice is a refereed online journal that explores the dimensions of health disparities globally.

Fact Sheet data on firearm use in violent crimes noted in Alaska Dispatch News story about spike in Anchorage shootings

Data from the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC) Fact Sheet, "Firearm Use in Violent Crime in the U.S. and Alaska, 1985-2012," was noted in an Alaska Dispatch News article about recent shootings in Anchorage.

The Fact Sheet presents national and statewide statistics from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports program on the use of firearms in the commission of three violent crimes — homicide (murder and nonnegligent manslaughter), robbery, and aggravated assault — in the U.S. and Alaska from 1985 to 2012. Khristy Parker, Research Professional, is the Fact Sheet author. In the article she "noted the fact sheet references specific violent crimes — robberies, homicides, aggravated assaults -- and does not offer a complete picture [of firearm use in all crimes]."

Read the Alaska Dispatch article:
"Spike in violent crime to be met by police shakedowns" by Jerzy Shedlock. Alaska Dispatch News, 29 Jan 2015.

Dr. Blumenstein publishes article in Criminal Justice Studies journal

Dr. Lindsey Blumenstein, Justice faculty, published an article, "Intimate Partner Assault and Structural-Level Correlates of Crime: Exploring the Relationship between Contextual Factors and Intimate Partner Violence," in the recent online issue of Criminal Justice Studies: A Critical Journal of Crime, Law and Society.  Her co-author is Dr. Jana L. Jasinski, University of Central Florida.

This study examined intimate partner aggravated assaults in 227 counties in Tennessee and Virginia. The authors noted that" [s]pecifically, the current study presents a descriptive picture of intimate partner violence from a police perspective, and investigates the relationship between structural-level factors and the criminal offense intimate partner aggravated assault....Concentrated disadvantage, immigrant concentration, and urbanity were all significantly associated with intimate partner assaults in the expected directions [greater frequency]."

Criminal Justice Studies is a quarterly journal that publishes theoretical, empirical and interpretive studies of crime and criminal justice, with a focus on multi-disciplinary research 

Dr. Payne publishes book review in Security Journal

Dr. Troy Payne, Justice faculty, published a book review in the current issue of Security Journal, Vol. 28, Issue 1, 2015.

His review discusses Policing Problem Places: Crime Hot Spots and Effective Prevention, edited by Michael Tonry and Norval Morris.  Dr. Payne notes that this book is "best understood as a summary of the existing research regarding geographically focused or ‘hot spots’ policing. While the book offers few new insights for readers familiar with the original research, this is the first time the research on hot spots has been collected and presented as one coherent whole."

Security Journal publishes the latest developments and techniques in security management and is a resource for security researchers and professionals.

Prof. Brandeis provides pro bono legal assistance at Martin Luther King Day legal clinic

Prof. Jason Brandeis, J.D., Legal Studies faculty in the Justice Center, was one of the many volunteer attorneys who provided legal advice on January 19 to Alaskans at the 6th Annual Martin Luther King Day free legal clinic in Anchorage.  Free legal clinics were also held in Fairbanks and Juneau, and for the first time, a free 800 number was available for individuals outside of those 3 cities to speak to a volunteer attorney over the phone.

Statewide over 150 lawyers and legal professionals volunteered at this event in 2015. Over the past six years, the legal clinics and phone bank have assisted nearly 2,000 Alaskans - resulting in more than $320,000 in donated legal services.

This clinic is a public service project of the Alaska Bar Association, Alaska Court System, Alaska Legal Services Corporation, and Alaska Public Media.

Prof. Brandeis advises a client
at the legal clinic.

Justice minor Kiana Morris is off to Juneau as a legislative intern

Kiana Morris
(Photo by Philip Hall/ UAA)

Kiana Morris, Political Science major/Justice minor, is one of five UAA students who will spend the spring semester in Juneau as legislative aides.

Kiana grew up in a small town in Minnesota. She chose UAA because the political science program here (she’s a political science major/justice minor) included this legislative internship program. “Lots of political science programs don’t offer anything like this,” she said. Alaska’s small population size makes this sort of up-close engagement possible, she said.

The other UAA students are German Baquero, Mark Simon, Kevin Prestegard and Trevor Gutierrez.

Read about all the legislative aides:

"Postcards Home: Meet the UAA crew head to Juneau as legislative interns." Seawolf Weekly, 7 Jan 2015.

Alaska State Capitol Building

Students in Prof. Wolfe's Intro to Forensic Science class get hands-on experience making impressions of shoe prints

Prof. Jim Wolfe, adjunct faculty in the Justice Center, had students in his fall 2014 JUST 310 Introduction to Forensic Science class get some hands-on experience making shoe prints.

The photos below show students first making test impressions on paper and then using black fingerprint powder to bring up the impressions.

 

Students make test impressions on paper.

Students brush black fingerprint powder on test impressions
to bring out the detail.

Bringing up more test impressions.

UAA's winning gymnastics team and Morgan Cook, team co-captain and Justice minor, featured in Seawolf Weekly

Morgan Cook, team co-captain, in a meet against Winona State.
(Photo by Sam Wasson/UAA Athletics)

Morgan Cook, Justice minor and a senior in her fourth and final season with the Seawolves Gymnastics team, is featured along with her teammate Simone Penker in the January 14 issue of the Seawolf Weekly Special Edition.The story highlights the new facilities for gymnasts in the Alaska Airlines Center and the new routines the team is developing.

Read the full story:
"UAA's gymnasts have upgraded" by Jamie Gonzales, UAA Office of Advancement. 14 Jan 2015.

UAA-Willamette law school partnership was one of most viewed stories in 2014 on UAA website

UAA and Willamette University College of Law signed a memorandum of understanding to offer a 3+3 program allowing students to complete a bachelor’s degree and a law degree in 6 years, rather than the usual 7. This story was one of the top 10 stories viewed on the UAA website in 2014. Click here for all the top 10 stories.

Prof. Deb Periman, J.D., Legal Studies Program Coordinator at the UAA Justice Center, worked with Willamette to develop the 3+3 program and is UAA’s point of contact for program advising.

Prof. Wolfe presents on photographing and casting snow impression evidence at International Association of Identification

Prof. Wolfe at his presentation.

Prof. Jim Wolfe, adjunct faculty in the Justice Center, presented on "Photographing and Casting Snow Impression Evidence" at the 99th International Association of Identification (IAI) Educational Conference in Minneapolis in August 2014.

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

He teaches JUST 255 Criminal Investigation and JUST 310 Introduction to Forensic Science at the Justice Center.

The IAI website notes that the organization "has grown into the most prestigious professional association of its kind in the world, with more than 6,700 members from the United States and many other countries. The advancement of forensic disciplines through education continues to be one of the top priorities of the Association."

Dr. Everett interviewed by Alaska Dispatch News about increased number of women in prison in Alaska

Dr. Ron Everett, Justice faculty, was interviewed by the Alaska Dispatch News about the increase in the number of women who are incarcerated in the Alaska correctional system.  Dr. Everett noted that women are most often incarcerated for drug and property offenses, and that the severity of the punishment for drug offenses has increased over time.

Dr. Everett's areas of research include corrections and racial/ethnic bias in sentencing. 
 
Read the story:
"With more Alaska women incarcerated than ever, some moved to men's jail" by Michelle Theriault Boots. Alaska Dispatch News, January 10, 2015.

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month - Victims come from all walks of life

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), U.S. Department of Justice, encourages everyone to join in the observation of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month this January.

OVC notes that human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons or modern-day slavery, is a crime that involves the exploitation of a person for the purpose of compelled sex or labor. Victims of human trafficking come from all walks of life. Anyone can be a victim—regardless of race, color, national origin, disability, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, education level, or citizenship status.

Dr. Blumenstein interviewed by KTVA Channel 11 News about crime rates in Alaska

Dr. Lindsey Blumenstein, Justice faculty, was interviewed by KTVA Channel 11 News about crime rates in Alaska.  Dr. Blumenstein's research areas include intimate partner violence, campus sexual assault, substance abuse, and criminological theory.

See the interview here:
"Is Alaska the most violent state?" KTVA Channel 11 News.
5 Jan 2015

Alaska Victimization Survey research noted in USA Today article on crime in the U.S.

Research from the 2010 statewide Alaska Victimization Survey was noted in a recent USA Today article on crime in the U.S.

Read the article:
"The most dangerous states in America" by Alexander Kent and Thomas C. Frohlich. USA Today. 3 Jan 2015.

The Alaska Victimization Survey is conducted annually by the State of Alaska Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the University of Alaska Anchorage Justice Center. The survey provides estimates of intimate partner violence and sexual violence experienced by adult women in Alaska.

2010 statewide estimates and regional estimates for 2011, 2012, and 2013 are available on the website.  Results from the 2014 regional survey will be published shortly.

Justice Center staff and alum mentioned in UAA Alumni Spirit magazine

Two members of the Justice Center staff are mentioned in the premier issue of the UAA Alumni Spirit magazine which was launched in 2014.

Khristy Parker, Research Professional, Alaska Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC), is listed in "Class Notes" - a page of alumni updates. Khristy earned a B.A. in Justice in 2008 and an M.P.A. with an emphasis in criminal justice in 2013. She joined the AJSAC in 2013. The AJSAC is housed in the Justice Center.

Melissa Green, Justice Center Publication Specialist, is featured in the article, "LGBT Students, Staff, Allies Reminisce about Their Lives at UAA".  Melissa earned her M.F.A. in creative writing at UAA in 1997. She talks about her positive experience as a staff member in the Justice Center and notes that everyone there "[was] with me all the way" during some difficult times.  Melissa joined the Justice Center in 1990.

Melissa Green, Justice Center Publication Specialist

Justice alum Melanie Osborne featured in UAA "Alumni Advice for December grads"

Melanie Baca Osborne. (Photo by Philip Hall/UAA)

Melanie Baca Osborne, Just/Psych BA '96, was one of the grads featured in the recent article "Alumni advice for December grads"  on the UAA homepage. Her advice: Set high goals, but don't be disappointed to change course.

Melanie also carried the gonfalon for the College of Health at the December 14 winter commencement.  Read more about Melanie in her November 2014 "I Am UAA" profile.

What is a gonfalon?
It’s a ceremonial flag with roots stretching back to the Italian renaissance (fun fact: gonfalone is an Italian word for banner). The word gonfalon specifically refers to flags suspended vertically from a crossbar, and the banners are still used in numerous Italian towns. It was a prestigious honor to be a gonfalon bearer in renaissance Italy, and it continues to be a prestigious honor today—each college at UAA handpicks alumni to represent their program as a gonfalon bearer at commencement.

College of Health gonfalon.