Justice faculty celebrate 2017 graduates

Justice faculty L-R: Dr. Brad Myrstol, Prof. Deborah Periman, Dr. Ron Everett, Dr. Marny Rivera, Dr. Cory Lepage,
 Dr. Allan Barnes, Prof. Kristin Knudsen, Dr. Andre Rosay, and Dr. Sharon Chamard. Not pictured: Prof. Ryan Fortson,
 who was performing on the French horn in the pit orchestra during UAA's Commencement. Sunday, May 7.

Congratulations 2017 graduates! Best wishes on your future success!

Justice Center welcomes students at 2017 Spring Preview Day

Prof. Kristin Knudsen (L) and Dr. Marny Rivera speak
with students at the Student Union during 2017
Preview Day.

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice Undergraduate Program Coordinator, and Prof. Kristin Knudsen, J.D., M.J.S., Legal Studies Program Coordinator, taught three mock classes to give students an idea of what classes would be like in Justice Center programs and spoke with high school students in the Student Union at the Spring 2017 Preview Day on February 10. 

Preview Day is designed to help high school juniors and seniors get ready to attend UAA. In addition to mock classes, students learn about admissions and financial aid and speak with current students about campus life.

Dr. Rivera and Prof. Knudsen helped students understand what they could expect from the Justice Undergraduate Program and the Legal Studies Program and fielded questions from students who came from all over Alaska and as far away as Texas.

Dr. Rivera elected to Board of Directors for Alaska Public Health Association

Dr. Marny Rivera, a faculty member of the UAA Justice Center, was elected to the Alaska Public Health Association Board of Directors.  As a member of the Board of Directors, Dr. Rivera will oversee the management and affairs of the Alaska Public Health Association.  The mission of the association is the advancement of public health.  It serves as a hub that connects all health groups in Alaska to promote the quality of life for all Alaskans.  Dr. Rivera has made significant contributions to Alaska’s public health issues on underage drinking and substance abuse, as well as on the co-occurrence of substance abuse with child maltreatment and violence against women.

Dr. Rivera presents emerging public health issues among Anchorage youth at 34th Annual Alaska Health Summit

Wednesday, January 18, 2017 — Dr. Marny Rivera, a faculty member of the UAA Justice Center, presented emerging public health issues among Anchorage youth at the 34th Annual Alaska Health Summit.  Her co-presenters were Curtis Smith (UAA Center for Human Development) and Drs. Gabriel Garcia and Travis Hedwig (UAA Department of Health Sciences).  Together, they presented an assessment of current behavioral health concerns among Anchorage youth through the analysis of primary and secondary data sources.

They presented three major findings.  First, while substance use is trending downward across nearly all substances and age groups, there are still racial/ethnic disparities in substance use and differences in the types of substance used.  Second, poor mental health conditions affect a sizeable proportion of youth.  However, some groups are more likely to be affected by these conditions, including racial/ethnic minorities, high school freshmen, and females.  Third, a significant proportion of youth experience bullying in school or electronically.  Those who report being bullied are also likely to report alcohol use and binge drinking, feeling alone and sad or hopeless, missing school, and having suicidal thoughts.  Dr. Rivera and her co-presenters discussed the importance of enhancing and increasing internal and external youth assets to address these problems.

For more information on their 2015 behavioral health and wellness assessment:

• Growing up Anchorage 2015: Anchorage Youth and Young Adult Behavioral Health and Wellness Assessment. Anchorage: Center for Human Development, University of Alaska Anchorage, Dec 2015.
• Dr. Rivera is coauthor of Anchorage Collaborative Coalitions report on youth behavioral needs assessment (UAA Justice center blog, 29 Apr 2016).

Presenting at the 34th Annual Alaska Health Summit (left to right): Dr. Travis Hedwig, UAA Department of Health Sciences; Dr. Gabriel Garcia, UAA Department of Health Sciences; Curtis Smith, UAA Center for Human Development; Dr. Marny Rivera, UAA Justice Center

Summer/Fall 2016 issue of the Alaska Justice Forum

The Summer/Fall 2016 issue of the Alaska Justice Forum presents articles on the Recover Alaska initiative to address Alaska's alcohol-related problems; therapeutic courts in Alaska; findings of the Alaska Judicial Council's analysis of felony sentencing patterns in Alaska in 2012–2013; outcomes of the Teens Acting Against Violence (TAAV) program in Bethel seen through the lens of Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets; and a farewell from Barbara Armstrong, whose eight-year tenure as editor of the Alaska Justice Forum is ending with this issue.

The 12-page issue includes the following articles:

"Recover Alaska: Healing Alaska's Alcohol Problems" by Marny Rivera and Tiffany Hall

This article provides an overview of the strategies being implemented by the Recover Alaska initiative in its mission to reduce excessive alcohol use and related harm in Alaska by influencing social norms and perceptions about alcohol use and abuse. Includes a list of online resources.

"Editor's Goodbye" by Barbara Armstrong

Barbara Armstrong, editor of the Alaska Justice Forum since 2008, is leaving the Justice Center at the end of December 2016.

"Therapeutic Courts in the Alaska Court System" by Barbara Armstrong

Therapeutic courts — often called “problem-solving courts” or “wellness courts” — have been a growing component of the U.S. court system since the 1990s. This article provides an overview of the development of Alaska Court System therapeutic courts, and describes the 12 therapeutic courts currently operating in Alaska as well as proposed pilot project courts. Includes a bibliography.

"Alaska Felony Sentencing Patterns: Selected Findings" by Teresa White Carns

This article describes selected findings from the Alaska Judicial Council's recently released report Alaska Felony Sentencing Patterns: 2012–2013. The report examines factors associated with felony sentences under new presumptive ranges set by the Alaska Legislature in 2005 and 2006. The study has been used by the Alaska Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC), established by the legislature in 2014 to make recommendations about criminal justice reform and sentencing.

"Teens Acting against Violence (TAAV) and the 40 Developmental Assets" by Khristy Parker

Teens Acting Against Violence (TAAV) is a student-led anti-violence education group formed in 1996 by Tundra Women’s Coalition (TWC) in Bethel, Alaska. This article looks at the program in light of the 40 developmental assets defined by the Search Institute, a nonprofit research program whose framework of strengths and supports for youth development has become an international benchmark. While the developmental assets were not intentionally incorporated in the design of the TAAV program, they are reflected in the program's outcomes.

"New Staff"

Jo Walker has joined the staff of the Justice Center as Academic Program Specialist, and Tristian Monterastelli, has joined the Alaska Justice Information Center (AJiC) staff as a Research Professional.

Summer/Fall 2016 issue of the Alaska Justice Forum released

The Summer/Fall 2016 issue of the Alaska Justice Forum has been released and contains the articles noted below.

Click here to read the PDF of this issue.

Articles:
"Recover Alaska: Healing Alaska's Alcohol Problems" by Marny Rivera and Tiffany Hall
"Therapeutic Courts in the Alaska Court System" by Barbara Armstrong
"Alaska Felony Sentencing Patterns: Selected Findings" by Teresa White Carns
"Teens Acting Against Violence and the 40 Developmental Assets" by Khristy Parker

Justice Center faculty present at American Society of Criminology 2016 Annual Meeting in New Orleans

Drs.  André Rosay, Troy Payne, Marny Rivera, Brad Myrstol, Sharon Chamard, Allan Barnes, Cory R. Lepage, and Lindsey Blumenstein made presentations at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology in New Orleans in November. This year's conference theme was "The Many Colors of Crime & Justice."

Justice Center faculty made 10 presentations on a range of topics: data from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) -- including elder abuse and polyvictimization, homeless young adults in Anchorage, civil legal needs of crime victims in Alaska,  data centers for criminal justice research, police referrals for prosecution in sexual assault and sexual abuse of a minor cases, public inebriates, and classroom teaching methods.

The American Society of Criminology is an international organization whose members pursue scholarly, scientific, and professional knowledge concerning the measurement, etiology, consequences, prevention, control, and treatment of crime and delinquency.

L to r: Dr. Cory R. Lepage and Dr. Marny Rivera at
their ASC presentation.

Justice Center welcomes students at 2016 Fall Preview Day

Dr. Marny Rivera (r) talks to students
about Justice Center programs.

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice Undergraduate Program Coordinator, and Prof. Kristin Knudsen, J.D., Legal Studies Program Coordinator, met with high school students and their parents at the Fall 2016 Preview Day on November 4 at the UAA Student Union.

Preview Days are designed specifically for high school juniors and seniors and their guests and provides potential incoming students with an opportunity to experience what UAA has to offer all in one day. This event gives them the opportunity to explore programs, organizations and resources that they might follow throughout their path here at the university.

Prof. Knudsen (l) describes for students some of the courses
in Justice and in Legal Studies offered by the Justice Center.

Dr. Rivera discusses recent Forum article on youth marijuana and prescription drug abuse at State Epidemiology Workgroup

L to r: Dr. Marny Rivera and Claire Schieder,
Department of  Health and Social Services;
chair of the State Epidemiological Workgrop.

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice Center faculty, was invited to the State Epidemiological Workgroup (SEW) meeting on October 12 to discuss her research, including an article in the recent issue of the Alaska Justice Forum, which looks at Anchorage adults' perceptions and attitudes toward youth abuse of marijuana and non-medical use of prescription drugs. 

The State Epidemiological Workgroup (SEW) is under the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Division of Behavioral Health (DBH), and is funded by the Alaska Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant.  SEW is responsible for developing a systematic, scientific process to determine state prevention priorities related to substance use consumption, consequences and influences.

Read the Alaska Justice Forum article, "Youth Marijuana and Prescription Drug Abuse in Anchorage." Dr. Cory R. Lepage, Justice faculty, is a co-author of the article with Dr. Rivera. The Alaska Justice Forum is the research journal of the UAA Justice Center and is published 3 times per year. Subscribe to the Alaska Justice Forum.

Dr. Rivera interviewed by KTUU Channel 2 News regarding research about adults' perceptions of youth use of marijuana and prescription drugs

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice Center faculty, was interviewed about her  research and an article in the recent issue of the Alaska Justice Forum, which looks at Anchorage adults' perceptions and attitudes toward youth abuse of marijuana and non-medical use of prescription drugs.  Dr. Cory R. Lepage, Justice faculty, is a co-author of the article with Dr. Rivera .

View the full KTUU story here:
"Teen prescription drug concerns higher than marijuana" by Mallory Peebles.  KTUU Channel 2 News. 27 Sep 2016.

Click here for a link to the Alaska Justice Forum article, "Youth Marijuana and Prescription Drug Abuse in Anchorage." 

The Alaska Justice Forum is the research journal of the UAA Justice Center and is published 3 times per year. To subscribe to the Alaska Justice Forum, send an email to editor@alaska.edu with "Forum" in the subject line.

Spring 2016 of the Alaska Justice Forum released

The Spring 2016 issue of the Alaska Justice Forum includes articles focusing on University of Alaska students' disclosures of sexual misconduct and sexual assault victimizations; a summary of the provisions of the criminal justice reform measure Senate Bill 91 "Omnibus Criminal Law & Procedure; Corrections" enacted into law in July 2016 ; and findings from a survey of Anchorage adults on perceptions of youth marijuana use and youth non-medical use of prescription drugs.

"University of Alaska Students’ Disclosures of Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Assault Victimizations" by Brad A. Myrstol and Lindsey Blumenstein

This article uses data collected for the University of Alaska Campus Climate Survey to explore how often University of Alaska (UA) students who experienced sexual misconduct or sexual assault, either on or off campus, disclosed their victimizations to others. The likelihood of victimization disclosure in relation to the type of victimization, the persons or institutions to whom disclosure was made, and the demographic characteristics of UA student victims are also examined.

"Senate Bill 91: Summary of Policy Reforms"

This article highlights provisions of Senate Bill 91, "Omnibus Criminal Law & Procedure; Corrections Act," related to the recommendations of the Alaska Criminal Justice Commission. SB91 was signed into law on July 11, 2016.

"Youth Marijuana and Prescription Drug Abuse in Anchorage"
by Marny Rivera and Cory R. Lepage

This article examines results of the Adult Perceptions of Anchorage Youth: 2015 Survey (APAYS) to examine perceptions and concerns of Anchorage adults, both parents and non-parents, about youth marijuana use and youth non-medical use of prescription drugs. A resource list is included.

"New Staff"

Elaine Main has joined the staff of the Justice Center as an Academic Program Specialist.

"New Look and Web Addresses for the Justice 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.

Dr. Rivera presents at "Shatter the Myth": Town Hall on Underage Drinking in Anchorage

 L to r: Zara Smelcer, Volunteers of America Alaska;
Beth Schuerman and Sylvia Craig, Alaska Injury Prevention Center (AIPC);
and Dr. Marny Rivera, UAA Justice Center, at the program.

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty, was a panelist at the "Shatter the Myth": Town Hall Underage Drinking Presentation at the Fairview Community Recreation Center on September 6. She discussed data on underage drinking in Anchorage.

Other panelists included Zara Smelcer, Volunteers of America Alaska; Beth Schuerman, Alaska Injury Prevention Center (AIPC) Projects Director; Sylvia Craig, AIPC Projects Coordinator. This event was sponsored by Healthy Voices Healthy Choices/Volunteers of America Alaska.

Professors Rivera and Knudsen present at College of Health Howl Days Frosh Orientation

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice Undergraduate Program Coordinator, and Prof. Kristin Knudsen, J.D., M.J.S., Legal Studies Undergraduate Program Coordinator, presented at the Fall 2016 Howl Days College of Health (COH) freshman orientation on Tuesday, August 23.

They described the academic programs offered by the Justice Center, Justice student organizations, and career opportunities.

L to r standing: Dr. Marny Rivera and Prof. Kristin Knudsen, discuss the
various Justice and Legal Studies courses offered by the Justice Center.

Dr. Rivera presents today at Town Hall on Underage Drinking

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty, is a panelist today at the "Shatter the Myth": Town Hall Underage Drinking Presentation at the Fairview Community Recreation Center at 3:00 p.m.

She will be discussing data on underage drinking in Anchorage.  This event is sponsored by Healthy Voices Healthy Choices/Volunteers of America Alaska.

Justice and Legal Studies faculty welcome the Class of 2016 at Campus Kickoff!

L to r: Prof. Deb Periman, Prof. Marny Rivera, Prof. Ryan Fortson,
and Prof. Kristin Knudsen.

The  2016 Campus Kickoff on Saturday, August 27 was a great success - loads of sunshine and tons of booths, food, and activities!  Justice Center faculty were on hand to talk to current and prospective Justice and Legal Studies students and their parents about  courses and career options.

Justice and Legal Studies faculty included Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice Undergraduate Program Coordinator; Prof. Kristin Knudsen, J.D., M.J.S., Legal Studies Program Undergraduate Program Coordinator; Prof. Deb Periman, J.D.; and Prof. Ryan Fortson, J.D., Ph.D.

L to r: Prof. Deb Periman, Prof. Kristin Knudsen, and
UAA Chancellor Tom Case at the Justice Center exhibit table.

Professors Rivera and Knudsen to present at College of Health Howl Days Frosh Orientation on August 23

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice Undergraduate Program Coordinator, and Prof. Kristin Knudsen, J.D., Legal Studies Undergraduate Program Coordinator, will present at the Fall 2016 Howl Days College of Health (COH) freshman orientation on Tuesday, August 23.

They will be describing the academic programs offered by the Justice Center, Justice student organizations, and career opportunities.

Dr. Rivera presents about data collection and evaluation of Recover Alaska program

L to r: Dr. David Tarcy; Tiffany Hall, Recover Alaska
Executive Director; and Dr. Marny Rivera pose for a
photo at the end of the meeting.  They are holding
Cook Inlet glacial clay tiles by Alaska Native artist
Ed Mighell which were presented to them
by Southcentral Foundation.

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice Center faculty, is part of the evaluation team that recently presented on "Measuring Progress: Recover Alaska Data Collection and Evaluation."  Dr. Rivera and Dr. David Tarcy, Alaska Research and Evaluation Services, made their presentation on July 14 at the Recover Alaska Steering Committee meeting.

Recover Alaska is a statewide effort supported by the Rasmuson Foundation, The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, Mat-Su Health Foundation, State of Alaska-Department of Health and Social Services, Southcentral Foundation, and other stakeholders to "reduce the harm caused by excessive consumption of alcohol in our state."

The focus of the evaluation is two-fold: (1) to provide constructive, ongoing information to inform and facilitate joint efforts to reduce the harm caused by excessive consumption of alcohol in Alaska, and (2) to assess both the process and outcomes of Recover Alaska at the state level. It is anticipated that this will be a multi-year evaluation project.

Earlier this year, Recover Alaska launched the campaign, "Day 001 - Voices of Recovery." This video series has been airing on television.

SB 165 on alcohol law reforms passed by Alaska Legislature - Dr. Rivera participated in reviewing statutes and proposing changes

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice Center faculty, was a member of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (now the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office) work groups that reviewed Title IV statutes on alcohol, and proposed some of the changes in SB 165 passed by the Alaska Legislature in April.

The reforms include a change in penalties for minors in possession of alcohol offenses making them violations instead of misdemeanors. Additional changes to Title IV will be proposed to the legislature for their consideration next session.

Dr. Rivera is coauthor of Anchorage Collaborative Coalitions report on youth behavioral needs assessment

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice Center faculty, is a co-author of a report, Growing up Anchorage 2015: Anchorage Youth and Young Adult Behavioral Health and Wellness Assessment developed as part of a UAA research project led by the Center for Human Development. This project is under the auspices of the Anchorage Collaborative Coalitions.

The UAA team includes researchers from the Center for Human Development, the Justice Center, the Center for Behavioral Health Research and Services, and the Department of Health Sciences

This report will be used to inform the design of a community-based intervention for interrupting youth suicide, determining mental illness risk factors, and fostering well-being, as well as resiliency.

Final report from Governor's Housing Summit released - Dr. Rivera facilitated session on reducing recidivism through housing

The summation reports from the Governor's Housing Summit held January 6, 2016 at UAA have been released.

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice Center faculty, facilitated the Reducing Recidivism through Housing breakout session which included assistance from Bryan Butcher, CEO/Executive Director, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC), and Jeff Jesse, Chief Executive Officer, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (AMHTA), and a designated note-keeper, Morgen Jaco, Reentry Coordinator, Probation Officer II, Department of Corrections.

Below is the summary for the Reducing Recidivism through Housing session:

The goal of the summit noted on the Governor's website was "to bring together Alaskans from across the state to identify the barriers and seek budget-neutral solutions to the numerous housing challenges facing Alaskans."

A total of 8 breakout sessions were held at the summit: Alaskans Experiencing Homelessness, Housing Affordability in Rural Alaska, Incentivizing Private Sector Housing Investments, Innovative Funding and Financing Options for Housing, Reducing Recidivism through Housing, Senior Housing, State Building Codes and Energy Efficiency Standards, and Veteran Homelessness.  The mandate for the sessions was to generate recommendations that would be budget-neutral.