Justice Center seeks a Communications Coodinator & Editor

The UAA Justice Center is seeking a Communications Coodinator & Editor.
This position provides editorial assistance with the preparation of Alaska Justice Forum articles, research reports, scholarly papers and presentations, and research proposals. The position orchestrates and supervises the entire publication process for the Alaska Justice Forum, including developing publication content with a focus on integration and synthesis of research findings on justice topics/issues. The successful candidate will serve as the Justice Center's media liaison and will also coordinate and supervise Justice Center public activities and events.

Requirements:

• Knowledge of communications theory and application in research, execution and evaluation of communications functions, best practices, and industry standards.
• Ability to mutli-task in a timely manner.
• Knowledge of cross-cultural communications, including translation of technical documents into forms accessible to general audiences.
• Ability to design print, multimedia, Web and collateral material.
• Ability to work and solve problems independently.

See the full job posting at the Careers at UAA website.

For more information contact the UAA Justice Center at (907) 786-1810.

Dr. Myrstol & Dr. Johnson on Hometown Alaska discuss sexual assault research

On Alaska Public Media's "Hometown Alaska — Justice Alaska," 19 Nov 2018:
(front, left to right) Judge Elaine Andrews (ret), host; Dr. Ingrid Johnson,
UAA Justice Center; Dr. Brad Myrstol, Director, UAA Justice Center; (back)
host Kathleen McCoy, Alaska Public Media.
Photo by Shelly Wozniak, UAA College of Health

Dr. Brad Myrstol, Director of the UAA Justice Center and the Alaska Justice Information Center (AJiC) and Dr. Ingrid Johnson of the UAA Justice Center joined hosts Kathleen McCoy of Alaska Public Media and Judge Elaine Andrews (ret.) on Alaska Public Media's Justice Alaska on Hometown Alaska on November 19.

The program focused on UAA Justice Center's research mission, with a particular emphasis on research being undertaken by Dr. Johnson to support the Alaska Department of Public Safety's sexual assault kit initiative (SAKI), which is focused on improving the Alaska State Troopers' and partner agencies' responses to sexual assault.

Learn more about the Alaska Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (AK-SAKI):

• "Sexual Assault Kit Initiative: Alaska Making Progress" by Pamela Cravez. Alaska Justice Forum 34(4) (Spring 2018).

Additional resources are available on the Alaska Public Media website, where the full program can also be heard:

• "UAA Justice Center Works for Data-Driven Public Policy on Sexual Assault Investigations" hosted by Kathleen McCoy and Elaine Andrews.  Alaska Public Media, 19 Nov 2018.

Legal Studies program seeking an Assistant Professor of Justice

The Justice Center's Legal Studies program is searching for an Assistant Professor of Justice

This tenure-track position is responsible for teaching and providing professional service to the  University, to the profession/discipline, and to the community. Incumbent is expected to teach  undergraduate legal studies courses on a variety of substantive and skills-based topics in legal studies and to serve as liaison with the Alaska legal community, developing career, service, and  internship opportunities for students. The standard instructional workload is 4 courses per semester.

Requirements:

• Juris Doctor degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association.
• Member in good standing of the Alaska Bar Association or the bar association of another state.
• Experience practicing criminal law is preferred, but not required.
• Seeking applicants that reflect the increasing diversity present in our community student body.

See the full job posting at the Careers at UAA website.

For more information contact the UAA Justice Center at (907) 786-1810.

Homelessness and Crime (JUSTA490-001) examines social problems associated with homelessness, including crime and victimization

What are best practices to move people out of homelessness? How do we deal with crime and other social problems associated with homelessness? How can we reduce the very high rates of victimization among homeless people? Who becomes homeless and why?

These question will be examined in Homelessness and Crime (JUSTA490-001). This Spring 2019 elective course will be held Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 to 11:15 AM.

• CRN: 37056 (Note: There are multiple sections of JUST A490. Be sure to use the right CRN for this course!)
• Catalog description: JUST A490 is a variable topics course which addresses current issues. Topics of national interest as well as those peculiar to Alaska will be included. 
• Special note: JUST A490 may be repeated once for credit with a change in subtitle. 
• Prerequisites: JUST A11O with Junior or Senior standing (exceptions made upon instructor approval). Ask about an override if you have a Social Science GER other than JUST A110.

For more information, contact Prof. Sharon Chamard at sechamard@alaska.edu or 786-1813.

Registration for Spring 2019 courses begins on November 12 for seniors and November 13 for juniors.

Environmental Crime Prevention (JUST A332) explores how to reduce crime by altering the environment

We can reduce crime without trying to make people better. The Spring 2019 course Environmental Crime Prevention (JUSTA332) explores how this is possible through altering the environment to reduce opportunities to commit crime. We’ll look at practical applications of different aspects of environmental crime prevention such as defensible space, crime prevention through environmental design, situational crime prevention, and problem-oriented policing.

This class will be useful if you

• want to learn how to reduce your own risk of being a crime victim;
• work in retail and want to keep customers and employees from stealing from you;
• are curious about the relationship between human behavior and design of places;
• are in real estate and want to provide safer spaces for your tenants;
• wonder how urban design and street patterns contribute to crime.

This elective course will be held Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:30 to 12:45 PM.

• CRN: 37051
• Catalog description: Examines the theoretical background to opportunity— reducing in environmental crime prevention. Explores the application and implementation of crime prevention through environmental design, defensible space, and problem-oriented policing. Illustrates the practical and policy difficulties of environmental crime prevention through the use of case studies and field work.
• Special note: JUST A320 recommended
• Prerequisites: JUST A200 and JUST A201 and (JUST A251 or SOC A251).

Prerequisites a problem? Ask about a registration override!

For more information, contact Prof. Sharon Chamard at sechamard@alaska.edu or 786-1813.

Registration for Spring 2019 courses begins on November 12 for seniors, November 13 for juniors, and November 14 for sophomores.

Compensation for disabling injuries focus of course on Torts, Worker’s Compensation, & Insurance Law (LEGL/JUST A380)

There are 26 million disabling injuries every year in the U.S.—and the economic cost of those injuries reach into the hundreds of billions. Why is the compensation system for such injuries so expensive, burdensome, inadequate, and slow? Does it work to deter unsafe conduct and products? Is it possible to be both fair and administratively efficient? Torts, Worker’s Compensation, & Insurance Law (LEGL/JUST A380) will examine these questions.

Studying tort law involves a lot more than learning doctrinal rules—it integrates a fundamental understanding of the American legal system. It’s also a great way to learn some professional skills in a true-to-life setting.

This Spring 2019 elective will be held Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:45 PM.

• CRN: 37060
• Catalog description: Analyzes nature and function of the law of torts, workers' compensation, and liability insurance in the United States, as well as the role of the nonlawyer legal professional in tort litigation and workers' compensation claims. Includes ethical issues in tort, workers' compensation, and insurance cases. Practice in Alaska and the development of professional skills are emphasized. Legal specialty course.
• Registration Restrictions: Completion of LEGL A356 is strongly recommended.
• Prerequisites: LEGL A101 with a minimum grade of C and LEGL A215 with a minimum grade of C.

If course prerequisites are a problem, ask about a registration override.

For more info, contact Prof. Kristin Knudsen at kknudsen@alaska.edu or 786-4885.

Registration for Spring 2019 courses begins on November 12.

Victimization (JUSTA490-002) examines how we might better respond to and enable justice for victims of crime

The study of victimization is among the most complex topics in criminology. The complexity starts with trying to understand victimization itself. Why are people victimized? What does it mean to be victimized? What is harm? The complexity increases when we seek justice for those who have been victimized. What does justice mean for victims? Can justice for victims be integrated into a fair and balanced justice system?

Through our semester-long exploration in Victimization (JUSTA490-002), we will seek to answer these and other questions and to envision how social systems might more adequately respond to and enable justice for victims of crime.

This Spring 2019 elective course will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 to 2:15 PM. There will be no textbook — all readings will be provided via Blackboard, free of charge.

• CRN: 37057 (Note: There are multiple sections of JUST A490. Be sure to use the right CRN for this course!)
• Catalog description: JUST A490 is a variable topics course which addresses current issues. Topics of national interest as well as those peculiar to Alaska will be included. 
• Special Note: JUST A490 may be repeated once for credit with a change in subtitle. 
• Prerequisites: JUST A11O with Junior or Senior standing (exceptions made upon instructor approval)

Contact Dr. Ingrid Johnson at idjohnson@alaska.edu or (907) 786-1126 with questions.

Registration for Spring 2019 courses begins on November 12 for seniors and November 13 for juniors.

Course on Probation, Parole and Community Corrections (JUST A445) explores supervision of offenders in the community

Community corrections programs oversee offenders outside of jail or prison, and are administered by agencies or courts with the legal authority to enforce sanctions. Community corrections includes probation — correctional supervision within the community rather than jail or prison — and parole — a period of conditional, supervised release from prison.

Probation, Parole and Community Corrections (JUST A445) will examine how the system of probation and parole developed, practices and methods of supervision of probationers and parolees, and programs for the reentry and reintegration of offenders into the community.

This Spring 2019 elective will be held Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:15 PM.

• CRN: 31502
• Catalog description: Covers the history and development of probation and parole, including notions of rehabilitation, reentry and reintegration. Investigates evidence-based standards, and numerous and diverse types of supervision, treatment, control, restoration and supportive programs for criminal offenders within the community.
• Prerequisites: JUST 110 & Junior/Senior Standing

Questions? Contact Dr. Rita Augustyn at rjaugustyn2@alaska.edu or 907-786-4302.

Registration for Spring 2019 courses begins on November 12 for seniors and November 13 for juniors.

Police–Community Relations (JUST A434) explores the relationships between police and the many “publics” they serve

At the heart of democratic governance are notions of limited authority, equality before the law, citizen voice and participation, legitimacy, and consent. Due to their unique capacity to use force in order to obtain compliance, and because they represent to embodiment of governmental power and authority to most citizens, the police represent an institutional site of ongoing social and cultural conflict.

In Police–Community Relations (JUST A434), we will explore the nature of the relationships that exist between police and the many “publics” they serve, the factors that influence and give shape to those relationships, and to evaluate the implications of police – community relations for policing a democratic society.

This Spring 2019 elective will be held Mondays and Wednesday from 2:30 to 3:45 PM.

• CRN: 37054
• Catalog description: Examines police-community relations in the United States. Explores common conceptions of the police role, from the perspective of both the public and the police themselves, and their impact on police-community relations. Particular emphasis is given to recent developments aimed at ameliorating strained relationships between the police and the various communities they serve. 
• Registration Restrictions: Senior standing or instructor approval
• Prerequisites: JUST A110 and JUST A200 and JUST A201

Course prerequisites a problem? Ask about a registration override!

Interested students are encouraged to contact Dr. Brad Myrstol at bamyrstol@alaska.edu or 907.786.1837 with questions.

Registration for Spring 2019 courses begins on November 12 for seniors and November 13 for juniors.

Crime Analysis & Mapping (JUST A432) course gives practical training in common crime analysis tasks used in law enforcement

Crime analysis is the practical application of data analysis — and is essential to many modern approaches to solving crime problems. Focused on doing analysis instead of talking about it, Crime Analysis & Mapping (JUST A432), introduces crime analysis tasks based on scenarios commonly faced by crime analysts in law enforcement agencies throughout the US.

The course gives students practical training in ArcGIS for Desktop and Excel, two of the most commonly-used tools in the industry. Enrollment includes a one-year academic license for ArcGIS for installation on your computer.

This Spring 2019 elective course will be held Tuesdays 2:30 to 5:15 PM.

• CRN: 31500
• Catalog description: Introduces analytical concepts and computer applications used in the study of temporal and spatial crime data. Demonstrates how these techniques can be used by justice agencies with a special emphasis given to police departments. 
• Registration restrictions: Completion of all GER Tier 1 (basic college-level skills) courses and • Junior or senior standing
• Prerequisites: JUST A200 with a minimum grade of C and JUST A201 with a minimum grade of C.
• Attributes: UAA Integrative Capstone GER.

Contact: Dr. Troy Payne, tpayne9@alaska.edu

Registration for Spring 2019 courses begins on November 12 for seniors and November 13 for juniors.

The Courts (JUST A374) course examines the impact of courts on law, society, and politics

Who really has the power in the court room? How did our courts evolve? What happens as a case moves through the legal system? Where do you find modern research on the courts’ impact on law, society, and politics?

Find out in the Spring 2019 course The Courts (JUST 374), to be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 AM to 12:45 PM.

This is a required course for the Legal Studies B.A., a selective course for the Justice B.A., and a selective course for the Paralegal AAS, PBCT.

• CRN: 31496
• Catalog description: Examines the basic components of the U.S. courts with particular emphasis on case processing through the court system and the roles of court actors. Covers the history as well as the current structure and function of the court system and assesses the gap between the ideals and the realities of court processes and practices.
• Registration restrictions: Junior or senior standing.
• Prerequisites: JUST A110 or LEGL A101.

For more info, contact Prof. Kristin Knudsen at kknudsen@alaska.edu or 786-4885.

Registration for Spring 2019 courses begins on November 12 for seniors and November 13 for juniors.

Interested in law school? Join us Tuesday, Nov. 6 over pizza to discuss law school admissions

Interested in law school? Join the Society of Law and Justice Tuesday, November 6 from noon to 1:00 in SSB 213 for a pizza lunch and discussion with Prof. Terry Price of the University of Washington School of Law. Prof. Price will be discussing both the program at the University of Washington and the law school admissions policy in general.

Substance Abuse and Crime course (JUST A366) explores relationship between substance abuse and crime

What’s the relation between substance use and crime? What is the underlying mechanism? How does society treat drug-involved offenders?

Find out in the Spring 2019 course Substance Abuse and Crime (JUST A366). This elective course will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30 to 3:45 PM.

• CRN: 37053
• Catalog description: Introduces the psychopharmacology, physiological effects and schedule classification for substance of abuse. Reviews data estimating extent of use, abuse and related consequences. Provides a critical analysis of the connection between crime and substance use. Differentiates between policy responses to substance use and abuse including prevention, treatment, enforcement and harm reduction.
• Registration restrictions: Junior or senior standing.
• Prerequisite: JUST A110.

Contact Dr. Yeungjeom Lee at ylee41@alaska.edu with questions.

Registration for Spring 2019 courses begins on November 12 for seniors and November 13 for juniors.

60 Years Later: The Alaska Constitution, History in Context — videos and symposium materials available online

"60 Years Later: The Alaska Constitution, History in Context" drew over 75 attendees on October 12 at the UAA/APU Consortium Library.

The symposium was co-sponsored by the UAA Justice Center and the Alaska Law Review in cooperation with the Historians Committee of the Alaska Bar Association. The program was approved for 4.5 CLE credits (including 1.5 Ethics credits) by the Alaska Bar Association. Prof. Ryan Fortson, J.D., Ph.D., is the Justice Center faculty coordinator for this event.

The topic of this year's symposium was selected in anticipation of the sixtieth anniversary of Alaska statehood. The Constitution of the State of Alaska was adopted by the Alaska Constitutional Convention February 5, 1956; ratified by the people of Alaska April 24, 1956; and became operative with the formal proclamation of Alaska statehood on January 3, 1959.

Erwin Chemerinsky,
Dean of Berkeley Law

Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of Berkeley Law, was keynote speaker for the event. Symposium topics included the Alaska Judicial Council and the merit selection of judges, Alaska Native perspectives on Alaska's Constitution, a presentation on unpublished materials written by the late Judge Thomas B. Stewart — who served as secretary of the Alaska Constitutional Convention — about the movement for Alaska Statehood and the development of the Alaska Constitution, and a lunchtime conversation between retired Judge Sen K. Tan and Alaska Constitutional Convention delegate Vic Fischer.

The Alaska Law Review will be publishing an issue at a later date with articles prepared for the symposium. The Alaska Law Review is published by Duke University School of Law for the Alaska Bar Association. Meantime, symposium drafts of conference papers and videos of all sessions are available for download at the UAA Justice Center website.

Erwin Chereminksy, Dean, Berkeley Law delivers the keynote address at the Alaska Law Symposium "60 Years Later: The Alaska Constitution, History in Context," 12 Oct 2018.

Panel on "A Comparative Persepctive of the Alaska Constitution." Left to right: moderator Tom Metzloff of Duke University and presenters G. Alan Tarr, Rutgers University and Center for State Constitution Studies, and Robert F. Williams, Rutgers School of Lawz

Panel on "The Alaska Judicial Council and Merit Selection of Judges." Left to right: Judge Larry Card (ret.) and presenters Susie Mason Dosik, administrative attorney for the Alaska Judicial Council, and Brett Frazer of Latham & Watkins.

Prof. Ryan Fortson, UAA Justice Center (right) introduces "A Native Perspective of Alaska's Constitution" panelists (seated left to right): Andy Erickson of Landye Bennett Blumstein LLP, John "Sky" Starkey of Landye Bennett Blumstein LLP, and Willie Hensley, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Judge Sen K. Tan (ret.) and Alaska Constitutional Convention delegate Vic Fischer.