Justice faculty present at American Society of Criminology annual conference

Justice faculty will be presenting on a variety of topics at the 2011 annual American Society of Criminology Conference on November 16-19 in Washington, D.C.:

 "Using POGIL Techniques in Justice Related Classes: Considerations, Caveats and Conclusions
   Dr. Allan Barnes

"Do Housing Vouchers Increase Crime?"
"Criminogenic Features of Apartment Complexes: Effects of Place Management"
  Dr. Troy Payne

"Self-Protective Measures and Fear of Crime, Social Engagement, Collective Efficacy and Neighborhood Crime Levels"
 Dr. Sharon Chamard

"Estimates of Violence against Women in Alaska: Results from the Alaska Victimization Survey"
"Intimate Partner Violence against Alaska Native and Non-Native Women: Estimates from the Alaska Victimization Survey"
"Reporting of Sexual Assault Victimizations to Police: Results from Two Alaska Cities"
 Dr. André Rosay and Dr. Brad Myrstol

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.

Dr. Rivera participates in UAA Alcohol Awareness event

UPD Lt. Scott Chafin (left) and Dr. Rivera at the Justice Center display.

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty, participated in the UAA Alcohol Awareness Week event held Wednesday, October 26, at the Student Cafeteria.  The "Wii Happy Hour" included pizza, "mocktails," a chance to wear "drunk goggles" to test your equilibrium, and displays by the Justice Center, the University Police Department Drug Paraphernelia, Student Health and Counseling, and others.

The Justice Center display highlighted recent research on college-age drinking and included data from the 2010 survey of UAA students. This event was part of National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week and was coordinated by the UAA Dean of Students Office.

(l to r) Dr. Rivera and Justice majors Mary Dombroski and Kristen Crain-Robinson enjoy pizza while looking at research data.

Dr. Chamard publishes 2009 Anchorage Community Survey results for Anchorage Police Department

Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice faculty, has recently published, "Anchorage Community Survey 2009: Anchorage Police-related Results," as part of the Community Indicators Project at the UAA Justice Center.

The Anchorage Community Survey (ACS) asked residents to respond to questions about the quality of life in their Anchorage neighborhood, their satisfaction with municipal services, and their opinion of the criminal justice system, including police.  This report presents the findings of the 23 questions that focused on the Anchorage Police Department (APD).  Overall, respondents were satisfied with APD, with close to two-thirds (66%) of those who answered these questions reporting they were satisfied (43%) or very satisfied (23%).

The report also includes results grouped by community council area of the survey respondents.The full report of the 2009 Anchorage Community Survey is forthcoming.

Women in Law Enforcement Recruitment Fair a great success

IRS Special Agent Cathleen Hollowell.

The October 5, 2011 Women in Law Enforcement Recruitment Fair sponsored by the Women Police of Alaska (WPA) attracted numerous UAA students and non-students interested in law enforcement career opportunities. Women, and also a number of men, attended the fair to talk to federal and state law enforcement agency representatives from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Anchorage International Airport Police, Alaska Air National Guard Security Forces, Seward Police Department, U.S. Air Force Reserve, Anchorage Police Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement, Alaska State Troopers, IRS Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (AFT), Alaska Department of Corrections, and the Women Police of Alaska..

K-9s "Elvis" and "Batman," explosives detection dogs from the Anchorage International Airport Police attended as representatives of their law enforcement agency, as well K-9 "Rex" from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge Law Enforcement who is trained to detect different types of game that have been taken illegally.  Photos of the K-9s are in the slideshow below.

The event was presented with the support of the Alaska State Troopers, the Alaska Association of Chiefs of Police, and the UAA Justice Center. Dr. Brad Myrstol was the faculty liaison for this program.

UAA Chancellor Tom Case (left) with U.S. Deputy Marshals Rochelle Liedike
and Ryan Thompson of the U.S. Marshals Service.

See a slideshow of this year's Women in Law Enforcement Recruitment Fair below.

"Compass" piece appears in Anchorage Daily News about violence against women and Alaska Victimization Survey

"Act to end violence against Alaska women," an opinion piece, appeared in the Anchorage Daily News Compass section on Sunday, November 6, 2011.  This essay was written by Lauree Morton, Executive Director, Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, and Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center Director, and principal investigator for the Alaska Victimization Survey.

The piece discusses the high rates of violence against women in Alaska and the Alaska Victimization Survey, and describes ways communities and individuals can make a difference. Details on the survey are available at the Justice Center website (http://justice.uaa.alaska.edu/avs/index.html).

Prof. Wolfe presents crime scene and evidence collection for statewide law enforcement agencies

(l to r) Enhancing snow impressions to see detail.

Prof. Jim Wolfe, Justice Center adjunct faculty, lectured at several law enforcement training events during October and November. During the week of October 24, he presented "Crime Scene and Evidence Collection" at the UAF CTC Law Enforcement Academy in Fairbanks.

The following week he was in Bethel for the Advanced VPO (Village Police Officer) Training where he team taught "Crime Scene and Evidence Collection" with Jessica Hogan of the Alaska Crime Laboratory. Prof. Wolfe will be in Dillingham the week of November 7 presenting "Evidence Collection Refresher" for the Dillingham Police Department.

Prof. Wolfe (l) discusses comparison of tracks.

Prof. Wolfe (l front) demonstrates making snow impressions.

Prof. Wolfe is a former forensic scientist with the Alaska Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory, and is currently a forensic consultant and trainer.

Photos are from the Fairbanks training.

Prof. Periman speaks to Alaska Association of Paralegals

Prof. Deb Periman, J.D., has been invited to speak to the Alaska Association of Paralegals (AAP) about "Current Issues Facing Today's Paralegals" on Thursday, November 10.

Prof. Periman is a Justice faculty member and the coordinator of the Paralegal Studies Certificate Program at the Justice Center.

Overflow crowd listens to Steven Barnes tell of being wrongly imprisoned for 20 years

Steven Barnes tell his story.

Over 150 students and members of the public listened to Steven Barnes, wrongly imprisoned for murder and rape for 20 years, tell his moving and unforgettable story on November 2 on campus at Rasmuson Hall 117.  An overflow crowd watched him via livestreaming in RH 110.

Steven was ultimately exonerated through DNA testing obtained by the Innocence Project.  He shared with the audience his experiences in prison and his reintegration into a normal life. Since his release in 2008, Steven has been working with troubled teens and teaches them construction skills. 

The event was cosponsored by the Alaska Innocence Project and the UAA Justice Center.

Click here for the web version of his presentation which was produced by the UAA Journalism and Public Communications Department. 

Media coverage of this event:
"Falsely imprisoned for twenty years, Steve Barnes speaks at UAA" by Grace Hawkins (The Northern Light - UAA Student Newspaper - online November 1, 2011)

"Innocent Man Released After 20 Years In Jail Shares His Story with Alaskans" by Christine Kim, KTUU Channel 2 News, November 2, 2011

 KTUU Channel 2 video (3:33)

Dr. Rivera awarded contract by ABC Board to analyze strategies to reduce sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty, has been awarded a contract by the Alaska Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to conduct a policy analysis of strategies designed to reduce the sale of tobacco and alcohol to underage persons and to analyze data on compliance with laws prohibiting such sales. The policy analysis will include a review of other research and studies on this topic and an exploration of the kinds of influences (social climate, enforcement, sanctions) that affect compliance/violation of laws prohibiting tobacco and alcohol sales to underage persons. This report will also assess the impact of the municipal code requiring identifications checks for all alcohol purchases.

Steven Barnes wrongfully imprisoned for 20 years speaks at Justice Center event November 2

Steven Barnes tells his story.

Hear Steven Barnes, wrongfully imprisoned for murder for 20 years, tell his story. The Alaska Innocence Project and the UAA Justice Center cosponsor this presentation by exoneree Steven Barnes on Wednesday, November 2, 2011, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. in UAA Rasmuson Hall, Room 117.

Mr. Barnes was convicted of rape and murder based on questionable eyewitness identification and evidence in 1989 and was finally exonerated in 2009 through DNA testing obtained by the Innocence Project.  Come hear his unforgettable story.

This event is free and open to all UAA students, faculty, staff, and the public.  Parking is free. For more information, call the Justice Center at 786-1810.