Sex offender low recidivism in NYT and AJSAC research

The New York Times highlighted low recidivism rates among sex offenders in a recent Op-Docs commentary, including an Alaska rate of 3.4% from a 2001 study. A more comprehensive analysis of Alaska's sex offender recidivism rates can be found in a report co-authored by Dr. Brad Myrstol, interim Justice Center director and director of the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC) and Alaska Justice Information Center. The Alaska Sex Offender Recidivism and Case Processing Study confirms that Alaska sex offenders are infrequently rearrested or reconvicted for the new commission of new sex offenses.

Rosay appointed associate dean in College of Health, Myrstol interim Justice Center director

Dr. Andre Rosay, newly
appointed associate dean
for academic and student affairs
in the College of Health

Dr. Brad Myrstol appointed
interim Justice Center director

Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center director since 2007, has been appointed associate dean for academic and student affairs in the College of Health. Dr. Rosay bids farewell to the Justice Center here.

Dr. Brad Myrstol, director of the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center and the Alaska Justice Information Center, has been appointed interim director of the Justice Center.

Dr. Myrstol received his Ph.D in Criminal Justice from Indiana University in 2006. He has served as the principal or co-principal investigator on a variety of Alaska justice topics including the offending trajectories of juveniles, the criminal case processing of domestic violence, sexual assault and sexual abuse of a minor cases, the role and impact of Alaska’s Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) program on the state’s response to domestic violence and sexual assault, sex offender recidivism trajectories, sexual violence victimization among university students, the structure and organization of policing in Alaska, as well as factors impacting charging, time-to-disposition, and sentencing outcomes in felony cases.

While at UAA, Dr. Myrstol has received over $1 million in research funding from sources including the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, as well as Alaska state and local agencies.

Dr. Myrstol is currently the principal investigator on Alaska's Results First Initiative, a partnership with the Pew-MacArthur Trust that provides analysis of evidence-based programs giving policymakers  a tool to better understand the relationship between the state’s monetary investment in programs and the return on that investment in terms of the benefits of reduced recidivism.

A nationwide search for a new director will be launched in the future.

AJSAC Fact Sheet: Violent Crime Reported in Alaska, 1986–2015

The most recent issue of the AJSAC Fact Sheet, "Violent Crime Reported in Alaska, 1986–2015," presents data on violent crimes reported in Alaska from 1986 to 2015 as reported in the Alaska Department of Public Safety publication Crime in Alaska. "Violent crime" is an aggregate category that includes homicide (murder and non-negligent manslaughter), rape, robbery, and aggravated assault offenses reported to police.

From 1986 to 2015, violent crime rates increased in Alaska although the overall crime rate decreased. Homicide and robbery rates declined over the 30-year period, while rape and aggravated assault rates increased from 1986 to 2015 – with aggravated assault acting as the main driver of increases in the violent crime rate over the period. On average, violent crime accounted for 11 percent of all crime reported in Alaska from 1986 to 2015. Aggravated assault accounted for nearly three-quarters, robbery for nearly 15 percent, rape for nearly 13 percent, and homicide for just over one percent of all violent crime reported in Alaska over the period.

The fact sheet is by Khristy Parker, Research Professional, Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC). The AJSAC Fact Sheet series addresses various crime and criminal justice topics.

Citation:

• Parker, Khristy. (2017). "Violent Crime Reported in Alaska, 1986–2015." AJSAC Fact Sheet 17-02 (Feb 2017).

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Media coverage:

•  "Violent Crime up in Alaska over Past 30 Years, Even as Overall Crime Rate Fell" by Michelle Theriault Boots. Alaska Dispatch News, 20 Feb 2017. 
•  "Data Viz: Statewide Crime Reported in Alaska (1960-2015)"  by Sidney Sullivan.  KTUU Channel 2 News, 20 Feb 2017.

AJSAC Fact Sheet: "Property Crime Reported in Alaska, 1986–2015"

The most recent issue of the AJSAC Fact Sheet, "Property Crime Reported in Alaska, 1986–2015," presents data on property crime in Alaska from 1986 to 2015 as reported in the Alaska Department of Public Safety publication Crime in Alaska. "Property crime" is an aggregate category that includes burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft crimes. From 1986 to 2015 the property crime rate in Alaska decreased as the overall crime rate decreased. On average, property crime accounted for two-thirds of all crime in Alaska over the thirty-year period.

The fact sheet is by Khristy Parker, Research Professional, Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC). The AJSAC Fact Sheet series addresses various crime and criminal justice topics.

Citation:

• Parker, Khristy. (2017). "Property Crime Reported in Alaska, 1986–2015." AJSAC Fact Sheet 17-01 (Jan 2017).

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Media coverage:

• "Study: Anchorage Property Crimes Decreased over 30-Year Period"  by Jerzy Shedlock. Alaska Dispatch News, 6 Feb 2017.

Dr. Payne interviewed by Alaska Public Media about homicides in Anchorage

December 29, 2016 — A Fact Sheet published by the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center in November 2016 showed a steady decline in Anchorage’s homicide rate from 1986 to 2015. During this period, Anchorage had an average of 17 homicides per year. In 2016, the number of homicides in Anchorage increased to 34. Throughout 2016, as noted by Zachariah Hughes with Alaska Public Media, “news reports from Anchorage have been particularly morbid, with frequent stories about shootings and homicides.”

While the increase in the number of homicides is striking, Dr. Troy Payne, a faculty member of the UAA Justice Center, explained how this could just be a random fluctuation from year to year. At this point, it is difficult to know if there is a systemic repeatable problem that we can apply solutions to. As Dr. Payne explained, additional information will be needed to determine if this is an emerging trend and to understand the causes of these homicides.

Links:

• "34 Homicides and No Clear Solution in Anchorage" by Zachariah Hughes. Alaska Public Media, 29 Dec 2016
• "Homicide in Alaska, 1986–2015" by Khristy Parker. AJSAC Fact Sheet 16-06 (Nov 2016).

Khristy Parker interviewed by KTUU Channel 2 News about recent AJSAC Fact Sheet on homicide in Alaska

Khristy Parker, Research Professional, was interviewed by KTUU Channel 2 News about the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC) newly released Fact Sheet, "Homicide in Alaska, 1986-2015."

The Fact Sheet presents data from the Alaska Department of Public Safety’s annual report Crime in Alaska. Overall, homicide rates have declined steadily during the 30-year period 1986-2015 in Alaska. The Fact Sheet also presents data on homicide weapons used, victim-offender relationships, and clearance rates for homicide crimes during this time period.

Story: "Homicides in Alaska" by Kyle Hopkins. KTUU Channel 2 News, 1 Nov 2016.

AJSAC Fact Sheet released - Homicide in Alaska, 1986-2015

The most recent issue of the AJSAC Fact Sheet, "Homicide in Alaska, 1986-2015," presents data on homicide rates in Alaska over a 30-year period.  Homicides rates were calculated for Alaska (AK), the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) only, and Alaska - excluding the Municipality of Anchorage (AK-MOA). Data show that homicide rates have declined steadily over the 30-year period.

The Fact Sheet also presents data on the most commonly used weapons in homicides, victim-offender relationships, and clearance rates for homicides.

The fact sheet is by Khristy Parker, Research Professional, Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC).

Citation:

• Parker, Khristy. (2016). "Homicide in Alaska, 1986–2015." AJSAC Fact Sheet 16-06 (Nov 2016).

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Media coverage:

• "Homicides in Alaska" by Kyle Hopkins. KTUU Channel 2 News, 1 Nov 2016.
• "34 Homicides and No Clear Solution in Anchorage" by Zachariah Hughes. Alaska Public Media, 29 Dec 2016.
• "Death Count Rising" by Craig Medred. craigmedred.news, 3 Feb 2017.

AJSAC releases Fact Sheet - Sexual Violence Committed Against University of Alaska Students, by Gender

The 16-05 issue of the AJSAC Fact Sheet, "Sexual Violence Committed Against University of Alaska Students, by Gender," presents separate estimates of sexual violence, including sexual misconduct and sexual assault victimization both on and off campus, against women and men enrolled at the University of Alaska (UA) in spring semester 2016. Women- and men-specific estimates are provided for the UA system as a whole only.

The results presented here are based on the survey responses of a randomly selected sample of 1,982 undergraduate and graduate students who were enrolled at any of the three UA major administrative units (MAUs) — UA Anchorage (UAA), UA Fairbanks (UAF), or UA Southeast (UAS) during spring semester 2016. This survey was modeled after the Campus Climate Survey Recommendations prepared by the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault.

Dr. Lindsey Blumenstein, Justice Center faculty, and Dr. Brad Myrstol, Director, Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC), are the authors of this Fact Sheet.

New webpage look and new web addresses for the Justice Center, Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center, and Alaska Justice Information Center

The Justice Center, the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC), and the Alaska Justice Information Center (AJIC), have new web addresses and a new look to their web pages as part of the new UAA website redesign.

 
Click below and see our new web pages! 
   

 Justice Center - www.uaa.alaska.edu/justice

  

Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center - www.uaa.alaska.edu/ajsac

 

Alaska Justice Information Center - www.uaa.alaska.edu/ajic

AJSAC Fact Sheet reports referenced in KTUU Channel 2 News story about crime in Anchorage

Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC) Fact Sheets on violent crimes and drug arrests in Alaska were referenced in a recent KTUU Channel 2 news story about crime in Anchorage.   

Dr. Brad Myrstol, Justice Center faculty, is the director of the AJSAC.  Khristy Parker, M.A., Research Professional, is the author of the Fact Sheets.

"Is crime on the rise in Anchorage? A look at the numbers," by Rebecca Palsha. KTUU Channel 2 News. 1 Sep 2016. 

 

 

AJSAC Fact Sheets included in recent SAC Publication Digest

The Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA) has released the online Jan - June 2016 SAC Publication Digest.  The digest contains abstracts of reports from the nationwide statistical analysis center (SACs).

The volume includes three abstracts for Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC) Fact Sheets:

"Alaska Trauma Registry: Trauma Admissions Involving Alcohol or Illegal Drugs, 2014"
Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center Fact Sheet 16-01
Author: Khristy Parker, MPA, Research Professional

"Juvenile Justice Referrals and Charges in Alaska, FY 2006–2015"
Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center Fact Sheet 16-02
Author: Khristy Parker, MPA, Research Professional

"Alaska Trauma Registry: Trauma Admissions Involving Firearms, 2009–2014"
Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center Fact Sheet 16-03
Author: Khristy Parker, MPA, Research Professional

The Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the use of nonpartisan research and analysis to inform criminal and juvenile justice decision making. JRSA comprises a network of researchers and practitioners throughout government, academia, and the justice community.

AJSAC Fact Sheet released - Sexual misconduct and sexual assault committed against University of Alaska students

The most recent issue of the AJSAC Fact Sheet — "Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Assault Against University of Alaska Students" — presents past year estimates of sexual misconduct and sexual assault victimization against University of Alaska (UA) students. The estimates are based on 1,982 survey responses to the University of Alaska Campus Climate Survey, an online survey that collected data from a random sample of undergraduate and graduate students who were enrolled at UA during spring semester 2016.

The University of Alaska Campus Climate Survey was designed to establish baseline estimates of sexual misconduct and sexual assault committed in the preceding year — both on and off campus — against students enrolled at UA during the spring semester 2016. This survey was modeled after the Campus Climate Survey Recommendations prepared by the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault.  These data can be utilized by the University of Alaska to impact and evaluate prevention efforts and education programs for UA students.

AJSAC Fact Sheet released -- Alaska Trauma Registry: Trauma Admissions Involving Firearms, 2009-2014

The most recent issue of the AJSAC Fact Sheet presents data on trauma admissions to all 24 Alaska acute care facilities for injuries involving firearms for the period 2009 - 2014. The report, "Alaska Trauma Registry: Trauma Admissions Involving Firearms, 2009–2014," presents data provided by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Department of Public Health, Alaska Trauma Registry.

The fact sheet is by Khristy Parker, Research Professional, Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC).

Dr. Myrstol interviewed by Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman about recent AJSAC report and sexual assault case delays

Dr. Brad Myrstol, Director of the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC), was interviewed by the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman about the recently released AJSAC report, Descriptive Analysis of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Incidents Closed by the Alaska State Troopers: 2008-2011.

Dr. Myrstol's work described in the report is a collaborative effort with the Alaska Department of Public Safety, Alaska State Troopers, and the Alaska Department of Law, to empirically document the criminal justice case processing and outcomes of sexual assault, sexual abuse of a minor, and domestic violence cases in the state of Alaska.

He was interviewed in relation to a decades-long rape case that is the subject of the article.  Dr. Myrstol noted, "What we’re attempting to do is build resource capacity and data resources … and make that available to the public and available for researchers to mine and explore."  The study's primary objective  is to understand the factors that influence domestic violence and sexual assault case attrition throughout the criminal justice process in order to improve case outcomes for victims, their families, and their communities.

Read the article here:
"Decades-long rape case sheds light on reality of Alaska crime" by Caitlin Skvorc. Mat-Su Frontiersman, 29 Feb 2016.

AJSAC releases report on domestic violence and sexual assault/sexual abuse of minor cases

The Alaska Justice and Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC) recently released a final report, Descriptive Analysis of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Incidents Closed by the Alaska State Troopers: 2008-2011.

This report is part of the Alaska Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Case Processing Project.The results of the project have potential implications in a number of arenas including resource allocation, training for criminal justice professionals, as well as prevention efforts. The report was authored by Brad Myrstol, Ph.D., AJSAC Director, and Khristy Parker, M.P.A., AJSAC Research Professional.

The project is a collaborative effort with the Alaska Department of Public Safety, Alaska State Troopers, and the Alaska Department of Law, and is supported by a research grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics.

The primary objective of the project is to empirically document the criminal justice case processing and outcomes of sexual assault, sexual abuse of a minor, and domestic violence cases in the state of Alaska. In coming years, the AJSAC intends to expand the project to include additional Alaska police agencies.

Click here to read the press release from the Alaska State Troopers Public Information Office.

AJSAC Fact Sheet highlighted on Justice Research and Statistics Association website

The Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC) and the 16-01 Fact Sheet — "Alaska Trauma Registry: Trauma Admissions Involving Alcohol or Illegal Drugs, 2014" — are in the member spotlight of the Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA).
 
The fact sheet presents data from the Alaska Trauma Registry (ATR) on numbers of trauma admissions, patient demographics, and the presence of alcohol or illegal drugs in trauma admissions in 2014. Khristy Parker, Research Professional, is the author of the fact sheet.

JRSA also tweeted about the recent AJSAC Fact Sheet on Alaska Trauma Registry admissions.



The Justice Research and Statistics Association is a national nonprofit organization of state Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) directors, and other researchers and practitioners throughout government, academia, and the justice community who are dedicated to the use of research and analysis to make informed policy and program decisions.

AJSAC Fact Sheet released: Juvenile Justice Referrals and Charges in Alaska, FY 2006–2015

The most recent issue of the AJSAC Fact Sheet presents summary information on referrals made by Alaska law enforcement agencies to the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) for for state fiscal years 2006–2015. The report, "Juvenile Justice Referrals and Charges in Alaska, FY 2006–2015," presents data on the number of referrals and charges made, and unique individuals referred to DJJ.  Data is drawn from the DJJ Data Trends website.

The fact sheet is by Khristy Parker of the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC).

AJSAC Fact Sheet released - Alaska Trauma Registry: Trauma Admissions Involving Alcohol or Illegal Drugs, 2014

The most recent issue of the AJSAC Fact Sheet — "Alaska Trauma Registry: Trauma Admissions Involving Alcohol or Illegal Drugs, 2014" — presents data from the Alaska Trauma Registry (ATR) on numbers of trauma admissions, patient demographics, and the presence of alcohol or illegal drugs in trauma admissions in 2014.

The fact sheet is by Khristy Parker of the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC).

Khristy Parker, AJSAC researcher, interviewed by Alaska Dispatch News about Fact Sheet on DOC post-conviction incarcerated population 2005-2014

Khristy Parker, Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC) researcher, was interviewed by Jerzy Shedlock of the Alaska Dispatch News about the recent Fact Sheet on the Alaska Department of Corrections post-conviction incarcerated population 2005-2014.

Click here to read the article:

"Number of convict women in Alaska prisons up as overall population drops," by Jerzy Shedlock. Alaska Dispatch News. 02 Nov 2015.

AJSAC Fact Sheet: Alaska Department of Corrections: Post-Conviction Incarcerated Population, 2005–2014

The most recent issue of the AJSAC Fact Sheet presents data on post-conviction incarcerated populations supervised by the Alaska Department of Corrections (DOC). The report, "Alaska Department of Corrections: Post-Conviction Incarcerated Population, 2005–2014", focuses on post-conviction incarcerated populations by crime classifications and crime categories overall and within gender.

The fact sheet is by Khristy Parker of the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC).