High victimization rates and lack of reporting troubling in 2016 NCVS

Darlene Hutchinson, Director of the Office for Victims of Crime, the Office of Justice Programs responded to the 2016 National Crime Victimization Survey released last week, finding troubling high victimization rates and the fact that 58 percent of victims of violent crime did not report the offenses to the police. The Bureau of Justice Statistics released the 2016 National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), a survey, undertaken every year. NCVS data show that in 2016, U.S. residents aged 12 or older experienced 5.7 million violent offenses-including rape or sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated and simple assault. The NCVS data also show that only 42 percent of victims of violence report the offenses to the police.

Video of Justice Center research wins Vega Digital Award

The National Institute of Justice video on Dr. Rosay’s research on “Violence Against American Indian and Alaska Native Women and Men” has received the Arcturus (3rd place) award in the 2016 Vega Digital Awards. Vega Digital Awards recognize and honor the outstanding performance, talent and effort of the best digital and creative professionals around the world.

Dr. Rosay’s video was produced by Palladian Partners Inc., whose mission is to drive positive change through engaging, evidence-based communication.  The video summarizes the research completedby Dr. Rosay as an Executive Visiting Research Fellow at the National Institute of Justice.

Watch the video:

Dr. Blumenstein awarded College of Health Women's Issues Mini-grant to study students' understanding of sexual misconduct

Dr. Lindsey Blumenstein, Justice faculty, was recently awarded a 2015 UAA College of Health Women's Issues Mini-grant. 

The title of her research project is "Sexual Victimization of Women on College Campuses: How Do UAA Students Define and Identify Sexual Misconduct?"

The main goal of this project is to empirically evaluate which types of sexual violence students at UAA define and do not define as sexual victimization. Using focus group discussions with students across the UAA campus, this project will examine how students’ definitions of victimization affect their decisions to identify and report sexual misconduct. Male and female students will be invited to participate in separate focus group discussions.

To start a dialog on how and why students define sexual misconduct, scenarios will be presented during the focus groups. Collectively, these focus group discussions will provide a comprehensive understanding of how sexual misconduct is understood by students across our campus.

Dr. Blumenstein's research areas include intimate partner violence, campus sexual assault, substance abuse, and criminological theory. 

Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center releases fact sheet on Violent Crimes Compensation Board claims for FY 2004–2014

The most recent issue of the AJSAC Fact Sheet presents data from the Alaska Violent Crimes Compensation Board (VCCB) on claims made and compensation granted to victims of violent crime for fiscal years 2004–2014.

The report, "Violent Crimes Compensation Board: Claims, FY 2004–FY 2014," presents data on new claims filed, types of crime and types of expenses for which compensation was claimed, and compensation totals. On average, the five most common violent crimes resulting in applications for compensation over the eleven-year period were sexual abuse of a minor, domestic violence, assault, sexual assault of adults, and homicide.

The fact sheet is by Khristy Parker of the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC). The AJSAC is housed within the UAA Justice Center and publishes Fact Sheets addressing various crime and criminal justice topics.

April 21 - 27 is National Crime Victims' Rights Week

This year's theme for National Crime Victims' Rights Week is "New Challenges. New Solutions." The theme reflects the spirit that launched the victims' rights movement and inspired its progress; it also renews the field's power to meet new challenges. This commemorative week has been set aside since 1981 to honor crime victims and the first responders, advocates, counselors, and others who assist them in their time of need, and the law enforcement personnel who work to bring offenders to justice.

In Alaska, the Office of Victims' Rights provides free legal services to victims of crime to help them obtain the rights they are guaranteed under the Alaska constitution and statutes with regard to their contacts with police, prosecutors, judges, and other criminal justice agencies in this state, as well as to advance and protect those victim rights in court when necessary and authorized by law.

Victims for Justice is a nonprofit in Alaska with the mission of serving victims of violent crime and the survivors of victims of homicide.

Drs. Rivera and Lepage to conduct survey of crime victims under U.S. Office for Victims of Crime grant

Dr. Marny Rivera and Dr. Cory Lepage, Justice faculty, will be research partners with the Alaska Victim Legal Assistance Network under a grant awarded by the U.S. Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). Dr. Rivera and Dr. Lepage will develop and conduct a survey of crime victims to determine the legal needs that have arisen in connection with their victimization.  The Alaska Victim Legal Assistance Network members will then provide assistance and services that are identified by the needs assessment.

The grant project is scheduled to begin November 1, 2012. Alaska Victim Legal Assistance Network partner agencies and key stakeholders include: Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC), Alaska Immigration Justice Project (AIJP), Alaska Network on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault (ANDVSA), UAA Justice Center, Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA), Alaska Office of Victims' Rights (OVR), Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC), Alaska Violent Crimes Compensation Board (VCCB), Alaska Department of Health and Social Services - Alaska Family Violence Prevention Project (AFVPP), Alaska Department of Law Consumer Protection Unit (DOL), and Municipality of Anchorage Prosecutors Office.

Evaluation of 2011 Alaska Victim Assistance Academy

Khristy Parker, Justice Center research professional, is working with the Alaska Victim Assistance Academy/Victims for Justice on the evaluation report for the 2011 Alaska Victim Assistance Academy (AVAA). The event was held May 15-20 and is the second victim assistance academy conducted in Alaska. The first training academy was held in 2010.

AVAA training has been tailored specifically to the laws of Alaska and the unique challenges faced by service providers in our urban and rural communities. The 2011 curriculum included training sessions on a variety of issues including the dynamics of domestic violence; the legal rights of victims; Tribal courts, sovereignty, and protective orders; child abuse; sexual trauma; and the Crime Victim Compensation Program/State of Alaska Violent Crimes Compensation Board.

National Crime Victims' Rights Week in Alaska April 30 - May 2

National Crime Victims' Rights Week will be observed in Alaska April 30 - May 2, 2011.

For details on events see the Victims for Justice calendar. This year's theme is "Reshaping the Future, Honoring the Past."

Dr. Everett to speak on victimology at international conference

Dr. Ron Everett, Justice faculty, will be a faculty member for the post-graduate course, "Victimology, Victim Assistance and Criminal Justice," presented by the World Society of Victimology (WSV) and the Inter University Centre Dubrovnik in Croatia, May 9-21, 2011. Dr. Everett will speak on "Victims in Alaska or Victims of Alaska: Understanding the Structural Context of Social Problems and Victimization."

This course was instituted in 1984 and is conducted each year by an international faculty of experts in victimology. Registration is limited to about 40 individuals. Crisis intervention, victim compensation, restorative justice, economic victimization, and women as victims of violence, are among the issues to be presented.

The WSV is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization with Special Category consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations and the Council of Europe. Brought together by a mutual concern for victims, its world-wide membership includes victim assistance practitioners, social scientists, social workers, physicians, lawyers, civil servants, volunteers, university academics of all levels, and students.

Department of Justice fellowship in Alaska for Tribal victim assistance

May 17, 2011 is the deadline for applying for an Office for Victims of Crime/Department of Justice(OVC/DOJ) fellowship to work providing Tribal victim assistance to Alaska Natives in rural Alaska through the OVC/DOJ Alaska Native Action Team (ANAT).

The focus of the fellowship will be on the public safety, justice, and victim service needs and challenges these  communities face. Serving crime victims in Alaska presents daunting challenges as many rural, remote Alaska Native communities are impoverished, isolated, and lack victim assistance services.

Applicants are encouraged to register with grants.gov several weeks before the deadline for the application submission.

If you have questions,contact Kathleen Gless, Victim Justice Program Specialist, at 202–307–6049 or
by e-mail kathleen.gless@usdoj.gov.

See the following for details:
 Website
Grants.gov
Program URL
Full program description

Evaluation of first Alaska Victim Assistance Academy completed

Khristy Parker, Justice Center research professional, assisted the Alaska Victim Assistance Academy/Victims for Justice with the preparation of the evaluation report on the 2010 Alaska Victim Assistance Academy held last May. This event was the first victim assistance academy held in Alaska. Plans are underway for a 2011 academy to be conducted May 15-20 in Anchorage.

Research Overview: Stalking victimization

Stalking victimization is the topic of the most recent Justice Center Research Overview.

"Stalking Victimization: Comparisons Between Alaska and U.S. Data" by Khristy Parker presents information on stalking victimization currently available for Alaska and notes contrasts and similarities with the U.S. national data on stalking, looking in particular at gender, age, race, and relationship between victims and offenders. Limitations on the comparability of Alaska and national data are noted.

See also the Justice Center website for related publications on stalking and victims of crime.

Justice Center research highlighted by Victims for Justice

The 2010 Alaska Victimization Survey commissioned by the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and conducted by the Justice Center was highlighted in the Winter 2010 "Victim's Voice," the newsletter of Victims for Justice.

The 2009 Needs Assessment Survey for the Alaska State Victim Assistance Academy was conducted by the Justice Center at the request of Victims for Justice and was also cited in this issue. The assessment helped identify training topics for the first Alaska Victim Assistance Academy held in May 2010.

The next Alaska Victim Assistance Academy will be held May 15-20, 2011.

Justice Center develops evaluation tool for 2011 Alaska Victim Assistance Academy

Khristy Parker, Justice Center Research Professional, is developing a new evaluation tool for the 2011 Alaska Victim Assistance Academy (AVAA). This new instrument will incorporate the 2010 evaluation format and comments from the AVAA Steering Committee to better meet the needs of the AAVA.

The first Alaska Victim Assistance Academy was held in May 2010. The AVAA is part of the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime program which provides training for individuals assisting crime victims. The Alaska curriculum includes training on a wide spectrum of victim services and focuses on issues that are unique and specific to the state. The Alaska program is coordinated by Victims for Justice.

Dr. Chamard contributes to crime handbook and crime encyclopedia

Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice Center faculty, is a contributing author on the subject of routine activity theory for two recent publications: The SAGE Handbook of Criminological Theory and the Encyclopedia of Victimology and Crime Prevention. Routine activity theory is one of the "opportunity" theories of crime that attempts to explain the occurrence of crime events rather than the development of criminal propensity in individuals. It states that crime happens when a motivated offender and a suitable target converge in time and space in the absence of a capable guardian. The theory also examines broad changes in society and how these lead to changes in community life that create new opportunities for crime.

Dr. Rosay authors Victim Assistance Academy Training Needs Assessment

Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center Director, authored the training needs assessment survey report for a planned Alaska State Victim Assistance Academy. The Academy will be coordinated by Victims for Justice, and is part of a nationwide program of Victims Assistance Academies funded by the Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice. The Academy will offer coursework and training in victimology, victims' rights, and victim services designed to meet the needs of victim service providers and allied professionals in Alaska.

A summary of the report also appeared in the Summer 2009 Alaska Justice Forum.

Summer 2009 issue of Alaska Justice Forum

The Summer 2009 issue of the Alaska Justice Forum focuses on patterns of drug use among male arrestees in Anchorage; homelessness in Alaska; and results of a needs survey being used to develop a state victim assistance academy.

The 12-page issue includes the following articles:

"Drug Use Trajectories of Anchorage Male Arrestees: 2000–2003" by Brad A. Myrstol

Using data collected in Anchorage as part of the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) program, this article reports the preliminary findings of a developmental study of the connection between the use of illicit drugs and criminal offending. Results show that for each of five illicit drugs (marijuana, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin), there were dramatic increases in (1) arrestees’ drug use levels, and (2) the number of arrestees who intensified their drug use, approximately 90 to 120 days prior to arrest. These findings suggest that analysis of drug use trajectories preceding crime events may be important for furthering our understanding of the drug use-crime connection.

"A Look at Homelessness in Alaska"

Homelessness, and its impact on individuals, families, and society, is an issue of growing concern both nationally and in Alaska. This article provides information on homelessness in Alaska and nationally. On a single night in January 2008, the U.S. homeless population was estimated at 664,000. In 2008, Alaska at 0.24 per cent ranked number 10 among states for estimates of homeless persons as a percent of a state’s total population; a single-night count in January 2009 placed Alaska's homeless count at 4,583.

"Victim Service Training Needs: State Victim Assistance Academy" by André B. Rosay

Victims for Justice, a community-based crime victim service organization located in Anchorage, began in 2008 to develop a plan for a State Victim Assistance Academy for Alaska. As a first step in developing the academy, Victims for Justice in partnership with the UAA Justice Center conducted a needs assessment survey, with results reported in this brief article.