KTUU Ch 2 News interviews researcher Khristy Parker about violent crime in Alaska and U.S.

Khristy Parker, Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC) researcher, was interviewed by KTUU Channel 2 News recently about the AJSAC Fact Sheet, "Firearm Use in Violent Crime in the U.S. and Alaska, 1985-2012."

Interview: "UAA Justice Center Looks at Violence Statistics" by Lacie Grosvold.  KTUU Channel 2 News, 5 Apr 2014. (http://www.ktuu.com/news/news/uaa-justice-center-looks-at-violence-statistics/25343622).

Click here for more information on AJSAC publications. To subscribe to the Fact Sheet, email editor@uaa.alaska.edu and put "Fact Sheet" in the subject line.
    
Other media mentions:
"Alaska Gun Crimes Down, Knife Crimes Up" by Associated Press.  Anchorage Daily News, 6 Apr 2014. (http://www.adn.com/2014/04/06/3412706/alaska-gun-crimes-down-knife-crimes.html).

"Alaska Gun Crimes Down, Knife Crimes Up" by Associated Press.  KTOO 7 Apr 2014. (http://www.ktoo.org/2014/04/07/alaska-gun-crimes-knife-crimes/).

"Alaska Gun Crimes Down, Knife Crimes Up" by Associated Press.  Houston Chronicle, 6 Apr 2014. (http://www.chron.com/news/article/Alaska-gun-crimes-down-knife-crimes-up-5380956.php).

"University of Alaska Anchorage Researchers Say Gun Crimes Down, Knife Crimes Up" by Associated Press.  The Republic, 6 Apr 2014. (http://www.therepublic.com/w/AK--Crime-Statistics).

"University of Alaska Anchorage Researchers Say Gun Crimes Down, Knife Crimes Up" by Associated Press.  Daily Reporter, 6 Apr 2014. (http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/e3481a8a67af4f68b170ebd17149cbff/AK--Crime-Statistics).

"University of Alaska Anchorage Researchers Say Gun Crimes Down, Knife Crimes Up" by Associated Press.  Daily Journal, 6 Apr 2014. (http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/e3481a8a67af4f68b170ebd17149cbff/AK--Crime-Statistics/#.U0LeQIVNt8F).

Dr. Fortson and Dr. Kelly hold interdisciplinary class session on philosophy of law and tribal courts

Dr. Ryan Fortson, Justice Center faculty, and Dr. Terry Kelly, Department of Philosophy, held two joint class sessions in March of JUST/LEGL Tribal Courts & Alaska Native Rights and PHL Philosophy of Law.  The first session focused on philosophy of law readings pertaining to theories of legal interpretation and how a court decides the proper outcome of a case.  Session two looked at a case currently pending in the Alaska Supreme Court that deals with the jurisdiction of tribal courts and the due process requirements of tribal court proceedings; sttudents were assigned to read the legal briefs filed in the case.

The goal of this interdisciplinary process was to provide both classes with different perspectives than the ones they would ordinarily encounter in their coursework, and to demonstrate the practical application of legal theory to an actual case.

Dr. Barnes talks to Gateway Rotary about history of UAA and the Justice Center

Dr. Barnes (center) and Gateway Rotary Club
members Jacqueline Evans (l)
and Mitzi Mishler (r).

Dr. Allan Barnes, Justice Center faculty, spoke to the East Anchorage Gateway Rotary Club on March 14 about  the history and growth of UAA and the Justice Center over the last 30 years, the newly approved Justice Alumni Chapter, and general crime trends.

Dr. Chamard presents workshop on public safety and public spaces at community council leadership training

Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice Center faculty, presented a workshop on “Public Safety/Public Spaces” at an all-day Community Council Leadership Training program on March 1, 2014 at the BP Energy Center.  The training, sponsored by the Anchorage Assembly and the Municipality of Anchorage Ombudsman’s Office, was directed at presidents, vice-presidents, and other leaders of the 38 community councils in Anchorage.

Presenters of other training sessions included Tim Potter of Dowl HKM, Dennis McMillan of the Foraker Group, Hazel Blackmore of NeighborWorks Anchorage, Beth Nordlund of the Anchorage Park Foundation and Kitty Farnham of the Alaska Humanities Forum.

Dr. Chamard’s three-hour session covered:

• disaster preparedness at the neighborhood level
• the difference between illegal and undesirable behavior in public spaces
• problem-solving partnerships with the police
• use of crime prevention through environmental design and civil remedies
• social strategies for dealing with crime and disorder problems

Prof. Knudsen speaks about Affordable Care Act to UAA Institute for Healthcare Improvement

Prof. Kristin Knudsen, Justice Center faculty, and Joan Fisher, Lead Navigator at United Way of Anchorage, co-presented on the Affordable Care Act to health sciences students in the UAA Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) on March 28.

The session included discussion of:

• the Healthcare.gov website
• insurance options
• important provisions beyond insurance
• legal history of the Act
• legal and policy implications of the Act

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Open School for Health Professions is an interprofessional educational community that gives students the skills to become agents of change in health care improvement. Students in nursing, medicine, allied health, pharmacy, dentistry, policy and other health professions are encouraged to participate in order to gain and improve skills like quality improvement, patient safety, teamwork, leadership and patient-centered care.  Dr. Heidi Mannion is the faculty advisor for this group. For more information about the the IHI, email her hamannion@uaa.alaska.edu.

National Public Health Week starts April 7 at UAA - check out Healthy Alaskans 2020 and other events

National  Public Health Week starts Monday, April 7, at UAA with a roster of activities including a drive-in movie, a group walk, and sessions on health topics.  These events are coordinated by the College of Health Department of Health Sciences.

On Tuesday, April 8,  Lisa DH Aquino, State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, and Emily Read, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, will discuss "Healthy Alaskans 2020 - Alaskans in Healthy Communities." This event will run from 11:30 a.m.. - 12:30 p.m. in Room 113, Health Sciences Building, UAA Campus.

Healthy Alaskans 2020 is a joint effort of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. Together they have identified 25 Leading Health Indicators — a list of critical health priorities for Alaska. The 25 leading health indicators include reducing the rates of cancer, suicide, and interpersonal violence and sexual assault.

Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center Director, and Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty, are co-conveners for the Healthy Alaskans 2020 Strategy Workgroup responsible for identifying key strategies and actions steps related to reducing the rate of child maltreatment, rate of rape, and percentage of adolescents who were ever physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend.

Contact the UAA Department of Health Sciences at 786-6540 or krfrost@uaa.alaska.edu for a full schedule of events.

UAA student returns to her village to teach about domestic violence and sexual assault prevention

From Sarah's Facebook post.

Sarah Anderson, a Native Aleut and UAA student, is making a visit to her home village of Port Heiden to talk to the youth in the village about domestic violence and sexual assault prevention.  Sarah is a survivor of sexual assault and was motivated to share her story by "so many supportive people, including those incredible girls [Justice majors Simona Gerdts and Kristen Speyerer] from UAA Justice Center and NOMORE.org."  In response to her request for assistance with this effort, the Native Council of Port Heiden awarded her a grant.

Shoes donated by the UAA
NO MORE team.

While at Port Heiden, Sarah is also coordinating a "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" event and is taking 10 pairs of donated high heels for participants to wear.  "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" is an international men's march to "stop rape, sexual assault, and gender violence."  Men are invited to don high heels and walk one mile.

You can read all of Sarah's post on the UAA Says No More Facebook page.  She writes, " I encourage every person who has suffered from sexual abuse to reach out & tell your story... Take your voice back."

Sarah has been studying journalism at UAA, and will be applying for the paramedic program at UA Mat-Su College. The "two incredible girls" she refers to are Simona Gerdts and Kristen Speyerer who coordinated the March 19 "NO MORE Silence in the Dark" panel discussion at UAA on domestic violence and sexual assault. The event is part of their Justice degree capstone project with the UAA Center for Community Engagement and Learning (CCEL). Simona and Kristen, Justice majors/Legal Studies minors, will be graduating in May 2014.

Standing room only for March 19 panel discussion on domestic violence and sexual assault - "NO MORE" campaign

Dr. Ryan Fortson (at podium) welcomes attendees to the program.

 Over 150 people attended the March 19 "NO MORE Silence in the Dark" panel discussion on domestic violence and sexual assault held at the UAA/APU Consortium Library.

Panelists listen to a question from the moderator. L to r: Dr. Angelia Trujillo,
Officer Rhoda Street, Officer Dave DeLesline, Randi Breager, and Dr. Marny Rivera.

Speakers included Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty; Randi Breager, Alaska State Troopers Program Coordinator; Officer Rhonda Street and Officer Dave DeLesline, Anchorage Police Department; Shannon Eddy, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) Legal Project Staff Attorney; Dr. Angelia Trujillo, UAA School of Nursing, Forensic Nurse Examiner. Dr. Ryan Fortson, Justice Center faculty, is the moderator.

L to r: Officer Rhoda Street, Dr. Marny Rivera, Kristen Speyerer,
Simona Gerdts (back row), Dr. Ryan Fortson, Dr. Angelia Trujillo, and
Officer Dave DeLesline stand in front of "No More"
statements made by the public.

 
The program was sponsored by the UAA Justice Center and Alpha Phi Sigma, Omega Xi chapter, national criminal justice honor society.

Senior Justice majors/Legal Studies minors Simona Gerdts and Kristen Speyerer planned and coordinated this event as part of their capstone project through the UAA Center for Community Engagement & Learning (CCEL). The students made contact with the "NO MORE" national campaign which has the goal of  increasing greater awareness and action to end domestic violence and sexual assault. Simona and Kristen also connected with local media to increase awareness of the program and these issues on campus and to encourage the UAA community to engage in prevention efforts.

Volunteers for the event: (l to r) UAA students Lena Illig, Jilene Galle, Kristen Speyerer, Isabella Forshee (back row), Camilla Hussein-Scott, Simona Gerdts. (l to r) JBER volunteers Airman First Class Ty Melnyk (back row), TSgt Alan Gerdts, (both with 703 AMXS), Senior Airman Brittany Pritner with 673 MDG, and Senior Airman Lance Pritner with 703 AMXS.

The event was part of the "NO MORE" national campaign   Like us on the UAA Says No More Facebook page.  The hope is to make the "No More" campaign an annual event at UAA.

Far left and far right: representatives from JBER - Chief George Richey, 673 LRG,
and the Third Wing Command Chief, Chief Jose Barraza, USAF.
Ctr l to r: student coordinators Kristen Speyerer and Simona Gerdts.

Representatives from STAR and AWAIC made information
available to participants about their services.

Justice Alumni Chapter to meet April 13

Justice Alumni Chapter Meeting
Sunday, April 13, 2014
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

At a recent student event, Dr. Allan Barnes, chapter faculty advisor;
John Havelock, first Director of the Justice Center; and
Bridgette Ellis, chapter chair.

An informal meeting of the recently chartered Justice Alumni Chapter of the UAA Alumni Association will be held on Sunday, April 13 at 6 - 8 p.m. at the home of Dr. Allan Barnes, chapter faculty advisor.

Anyone who has graduated with a degree or certificate from the Justice Center is automatically a member.

If you would like to attend, please contact Dr. Allan Barnes at arbarnes@uaa.alaska.edu or 907-786-1819 or Bridgette Ellis, chapter chair at bridgeellis@gmail.com.  Click here for link to the Alumni page for more details and a map.

Justice major awarded $20,000 scholarship from National Guard Youth Foundation

Lena Illig at the 9th Annual ChalleNGe
Champions Gala in Washington, D.C.
Photo by Johnny Bivera

Lena Illig, Justice major, was recently awarded a $20,000 scholarship from the National Guard Youth Foundation and was named a Youth ChalleNGe Ambassador. Lena spoke to members of Congress at a luncheon in Washington, D.C., in February and described how her experience attending the Alaska Youth Military Academy gave her a "second chance in life."  The Alaska Youth Military Academy administers the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program in Alaska for at-risk young people.

Lena's goal is to become an Alaska State Trooper.  She credits the Alaska Youth Military Academy with helping her get back on track and into college.  In addition to pursuing a degree in Justice, Lena also volunteers with Standing Together Against Rape (STAR), Planned Parenthood, and the Anchorage Police Department Auxiliary Search Team.

The National Guard Youth Foundation provides programs and assistance across the country for youth who have dropped out of school.