Alaska Victimization Survey results for Municipality of Anchorage show decline in intimate partner violence since 2010

Chancellor Tom Case (at podium) opens the press conference and thanks
the UAA Justice Center researchers and victims' services advocates.

The results of the 2015 Alaska Victimization Survey for the Municipality of Anchorage were released on August 26 at a press conference at the University of Alaska Anchorage. The 2015 survey was conducted by the University of Alaska Anchorage Justice Center for the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault  (CDVSA) and shows a decline in intimate partner and sexual violence in Anchorage since 2010. Ms. Lauree Morton, CDVSA Executive Director, and Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center Director, presented the findings. 

Ms. Lauree Morton, CDVSA, (at podium) discusses the background of the survey. L to r: Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center; Ms. Mara Kimmel, First Lady of Anchorage; Ms. Keeley Olson, Standing Together Against Rape;
Ms. Suzi Pearson, Abused Women's Aid in Crisis; and Dr. Lindsey Blumenstein, Justice Center.

Results:
The 2015 Alaska Victimization Survey for the Municipality of Anchorage was conducted from May to August 2015. The survey was designed to measure lifetime and past-year experiences of sexual violence and intimate partner violence. Findings include:

• 1 in 2 adult women in the Municipality of Anchorage (48%) have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both, in their lifetime;
• 1 in 13 have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both, in the past year;
• The percentage of women in the Municipality of Anchorage who have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence, or both in their lifetime dropped from 55% to 48%.
• The percentage of women who have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence, or both in the past year dropped from 10% to 8%.
• Rates of violence against women in the Municipality of Anchorage remain unacceptably high.

Results from the 2015 survey of sexual violence against UAA students were also presented by Dr. Lindsey Blumenstein, Justice Center faculty. Conducted in the spring of 2016, this survey measured the prevalence of sexual misconduct and sexual assault against UAA students, both on and off campus. Findings include:

• From January 2015 to Spring 2016, 1 in 10 UAA students have experienced sexual assault and/or misconduct.
• 1 in 30 have experienced sexual assault.
• 1 in 11 have experienced sexual misconduct.

Details of the 2015 AVS are available at: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-health/departments/justice-center/research/alaska-victimization-survey/anchorage.cshtml
Summary document
PowerPoint presentation

MORE INFORMATION:
For more background on this project, visit http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/justice/avs
For more information about CDVSA, visit http://www.dps.state.ak.us/CDVSA/
To learn more about Abused Women’s Aid in Crisis, visit http://www.awaic.org
To learn more about Standing Together Against Rape, visit http://www.staralaska.com/