Dr. Lepage and UAF Prof. Jeff May complete feasibility assessment of Anchorage Municipal Prosecutor's Office pretrial diversion program

Dr. Cory R. Lepage, UAA Justice Center faculty, and Prof. Jeff D. May, J.D., UAF Justice Department, recently completed the feasibility assessment of a pretrial diversion program in the Anchorage Municipal Prosecutor's Office.  This report, "The Anchorage, Alaska Municipal Pretrial Diversion Program: Initial Outcome Assessment," is phase 1 of the assessment. Seneca Theno is the Municipal Prosecutor in the Office of the Municipal Attorney.

The general goal of pretrial diversion (PTD) programs is to "divert" offenders from adjudication and possible incarceration to a program with specific conditions for compliance.  The Municipal Prosecutor's Office established a pretrial diversion alternative in 2001 which is typically offered to individuals with non-violent offenses or with no or minimal criminal history.  Early in the processing of a case - often at arraignment - if program criteria are met, the offender is offered diversion as an alternative to traditional court case processing.

Dr. Rosay, COH Dean Bill Hogan, and Professor Emeritus John Angell named to public safety subcommittee for mayor-elect's transition team

Three members of the UAA College of Health have been appointed to the public safety subcommittee of Mayor-elect Berkowitz's transition team: Dean Bill Hogan, College of Health; Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center Director; and Dr. John Angell, Professor Emeritus.

An article in the Alaska Dispatch News reported on the announcement.  The public safety subcommittee is chaired by Carmen Gutierrez and Craig Goodrich.

Read the full article:
"Berkowitz unveils full transition team, schedules town hall meetings" by Devin Kelly. Alaska Dispatch News, 02 June 2015.

Report by Dr. Chamard to Muni Public Transit Advisory Board quoted in Alaska Dispatch News article about downtown transit center

A report by Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice faculty, was quoted in an Alaska Dispatch News article about Anchorage's downtown transit center.  Dr. Chamard wrote the report for the Muncipality's Public Transit Advisory Board following a tour of the downtown transit center in the spring.

Among the issues she noted were the number of people coming to the transit center and remaining for long periods of time, the public ownership of the facility which presents challenges to security staff seeking to ask people to leave, poor maintenance of the space, and the concentration of criminal justice and social services tenants.

Read the full article:
"Broad effort seeks to change character of Anchorage's downtown transit center" by Devin Kelly. 25 May 2015. Alaska Dispatch News

Dr. Lepage of UAA and Prof. May of UAF to conduct evaluation of pre-trial diversion program in Anchorage

Dr. Cory R. Lepage, UAA Justice Center faculty, and Prof. Jeff D. May, J.D., UAF Justice Department, will be conducting an evaluation of  a pre-trial diversion program in the Anchorage Municipal Prosecutor's Office.  Phase 1 of the evaluation will focus on justice system cost savings as a result of this program.

The general goal of pre-trial diversion (PTD) programs is to "divert" offenders from adjudication and possible incarceration to a program with specific conditions for compliance.  The Municipal Prosecutor's Office established a pre-trial diversion alternative in 2001 which is typically offered for non-violent offenses to individuals with no or minimal criminal history.  Early in the processing of a case - often at arraignment - if program criteria are met, the offender is offered diversion as an alternative to traditional court case processing.

Participation in the program by the offender is voluntary, and the offender agrees to comply with PTD conditions which can include the payment of fines, community work service (CWS), and other applicable requirements.  If the offender successfully completes the PTD conditions, the case is dismissed.  If the pre-trial diversion conditions are not completed, the offender is subject to traditional court case processing.

January 29 declared Homeless Awareness Day in Anchorage by Mayor Sullivan

January 29 has been declared Homeless Awareness Day in Anchorage by Municipality of Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan.

Project Homeless Connect Anchorage is also being held today at the Egan Center.

This event  is a one-day, one-stop event to provide housing, services, and hospitality in a convenient one-stop model directly to people experiencing homelessness in Anchorage.

It is a way to bring service providers, government agencies, and the general community together to address a problem that affects everyone. The goal is to move from simply managing homelessness towards really ending it.

Dr. Chamard elected vice-chair of the Muni of Anchorage Public Safety Advisory Commission

Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice Center faculty, was elected on October 9, 2013 to the office of vice-chair of the Municipality of Anchorage’s Public Safety Advisory Commission (PSAC).  

This nine-member body advises the mayor and Anchorage Assembly on public safety issues of concern to the citizens of the Municipality.   Dr. Chamard has been on the PSAC since 2006, and previously served as chair from 2011-2012 and vice-chair from 2008-2011.

Prof. Brandeis interviewed for Anchorage Daily News article on Anchorage Municipality labor law litigation

Prof. Jason Brandeis, J.D., was interviewed for the Anchorage Daily News article, "City, unions argue labor law in court," by Nathaniel Herz, which appeared online July 20, 2013.

The article looks at the recent lawsuit over the municipality's new labor law ordinance.  Prof Brandeis notes, "This case is an interesting test of the extent to which the Anchorage electorate can and should be able to participate in direct lawmaking."

Prof. Brandeis teaches constitutional law and civil liberties courses, and is a frequent speaker on constitutional law issues. 

Dr. Chamard appointed to 2 Muni advisory commissions

Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice Center faculty, was recently appointed to the Municipality of Anchorage's Municipal Airports Aviation Advisory Commission (MAAC), and was reappointed in October to a third term on the Muni's Public Safety Advisory Commission (PSAC).

MAAC receives reports from the airport manager and organizations related to municipal aviation activities and meets 6 times per year. The Commission makes recommendations to the Mayor and the Assembly.

PSAC identifies broad public safety issues of concern to the citizens of the municipality, and advises the Mayor and Assembly on these issues.  The Commission solicits input from the public and works closely with the Anchorage Police Department, Anchorage Fire Department, and Office of Emergency Management to identify trends and problems that may arise.

Dr. Chamard previously served six years on the Public Safety Advisory Commission, and was vice chair and chair.  

Dr. Chamard elected chair of Anchorage Public Safety Advisory Commission

Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice Center faculty, was elected on August 10, 2011 to the office of chair of the Municipality of Anchorage’s Public Safety Advisory Commission (PSAC).  This nine-member body advises the mayor and Anchorage Assembly on public safety issues of concern to the citizens of the Municipality.   Dr. Chamard has been on the PSAC since 2006, and has served as vice-chair since 2008.

Dr. Rosay assists with Muni of Anchorage report on sexual violence in Anchorage

Dr. André Rosay received special acknowledgment for his contribution to the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) Report, "Sexual Violence in Anchorage, Alaska - Findings and Recommendations September 2009." The MOA Department of Health and Human Services, Human Services Division, Safety Links Program, expressed in the report their appreciation to Dr. Rosay "for reviewing Uniform Crime Report data and theories and relationships between data, and his testimony regarding the need for specific services and preventative measures in Anchorage."

For copies of the report, call the Safety Links Program at 907-343-6589. The report will be posted to the MOA website shortly.