Summer 2012 issue of the Alaska Justice Forum

The Summer 2012 issue of the Alaska Justice Forum features articles on public perceptions of judicial fairness in Alaska courts; the Bring the Kids Home Initiative, launched in 2004 to reduce the placement of emotionally disturbed children and youth in out-of-state facilities; a summary of current work being conducted by the Criminal Justice Working Group; and faculty news.

ARTICLES:

"Public Perceptions of Judicial Fairness" by Brad A. Myrstol and Cory R. Lepage

Despite the prominent role played by local courts in the justice system, research investigating public perceptions of local courts is scarce. This article uses data from the 2009 Anchorage Community Survey to examines public perceptions of judicial fairness in Alaska criminal courts.

"'Bring the Kids Home': Alaska Community-Based Treatment for Children and Youth" by Barbara Armstrong

For a long time, children and youth in Alaska with severe emotional disturbances and challenging behaviors had few in-state options for treatment, most often being sent to out-of-state residential psychiatric treatment facilities. The Alaska Youth Initiative and the creation of more community-based services improved the situation in the 1980s, but by the late 1990s, the number of children sent out of state for treatment was again on the rise. This article described the Bring the Kids Home Initiative, launched in 2004 to address these circumstances and to develop a more cohesive system of in-state services.

"Criminal Justice Working Group Update"

A summary of current work being conducted by the Criminal Justice Working Group (CWCG): a pilot electronic discovery project in Juneau; a study of how court-appointed counsel in criminal cases are appointed; therapeutic DUI courts; the Prisoner Re-Entry Task Force; recidivism; and case management systems. CWCG is coordinated and staffed by the Alaska Judicial Council.

"Correction to Alaska Judicial Council Report"

The Alaska Judicial Council has issued a correction to the report Does the YLS/CMI Help to Prevent Recidivism disucssed in the Winter/Spring 2012 of the Alaska Justice Forum.

"Dr. Rosay Awarded Visiting Executive Research Fellowship With National Institute of Justice"

Dr. André B. Rosay, Justice Center Director, has been awarded a Visiting Executive Research Fellowship with the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).

"New Faculty"

Professor Ryan Fortson and Professor Kristin Knudsen have joined the Justice Center faculty as of the Fall 2012 semester.