Tribal courts conference brings together tribal, state, and federal representatives

Dr. Brad Myrstol and Dr. Cory Lepage, Justice faculty. and Barbara Armstrong, editor of the Alaska Justice Forum, attended the 29th Annual Alaska Tribal Court Development Conference, August 7-9, in Fairbanks.

Over 175 tribal court judges, court clerks, tribal administrators, Native village representatives, as well federal and state agency representatives participated.  The agenda included presentations on tribal court procedures, restorative justice, state/tribal relations, domestic violence, and juvenile cases.

 "Domestic Violence: What Can Tribes Do?" panel members present to the attendees.

 The conference is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bureau of Indian Affairs through the National Tribal Judicial Center at the National Judicial College, Tanana Chiefs Conference, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Tribal Management Program.

Premiere of documentary at conference
A highlight of the conference was the premiere of  the documentary film, "The Story of Federal Indian Law in Alaska." The film was produced by Lisa Jaeger, Tanana Chiefs Conference, and Kevin Illingworth, University of Alaska Fairbanks Interior Aleutian Campus, with funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Tribal Services. Copies of the film will be made available statewide.

L to r: Dr. Cory Lepage and Dr. Brad Myrstol, UAA Justice Center,
and  Prof. Kevin Illingworth, UAF Tribal Management Program.

2012 National Survey of Tribal Court Systems announced at conference
The 2012 National Survey of Tribal Court Systems to be conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) was announced at the conference. Survey materials will be sent in early 2013 to tribal courts. 

Donna Folger, Tanana Tribal Family Youth Specialist (at podium), addresses participants
during the "Circle Sentencing, Restorative Justice" panel.

L to r: Dr. Brad Myrstol, UAA Justice Center, and Lisa Jaeger,
Tanana Chiefs Conference.

 Mishal Gaede, Tanana Chiefs Conference, (at podium) opens the "Alaska Tribal Court" panel.
Immediately to left of the podium is Elder Tribal Court Judge MaryAhkivgak from the
Native Village of Barrow.

Dr. Magen and Prof. Periman highlight UAA faculty learning communities at 2012 new faculty orientation

Dr. Randy Magen, School of Social Work, and Prof. Deb Periman, J.D., Justice faculty, discussed UAA learning communities at the new faculty orientation on August 14 sponsored by the UAA Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence (CAFE).

Standing l to r: Dr. Magen and Prof. Periman describe the Making Learning Visible project.

Making Learning Visible

Dr. Magen and Prof. Periman outlined activities of the "Making Learning Visible" Project for the upcoming academic year. The goal of this project is to provide resources and a supportive community of colleagues to faculty as they strive to self-evaluate and improve their teaching skills.

Activities for faculty include a series of sessions centered on the book, Inquiry into the College Classroom: A Journey Toward Scholarly Teaching, and working groups to assist faculty in developing a web-based portfolio for public dissemination and for inclusion in their faculty review file, that documents efforts to improve teaching and student learning.

UAA/APU Books of the Year

At podium: Prof. Periman outlines Books of the Year events.

Prof. Periman also described the "UAA/APU Books of the Year" program, part of the Ford Foundation Difficult Dialogues Project.  The program encourages faculty to integrate into their curriculum books selected for their relevance and timeliness. The Big Short by Michael Lewis and The Working Poor by David K. Shipler were selected by a faculty committee for the 2011 through 2013 academic years.  The program's website provides faculty with materials and ideas for weaving themes from the books into their classes and creating a community conversation.

David Shipler

David Shipler will visit the UAA and APU campuses and Anchorage community as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow on September 24 - 28, 2012, and will speak at a series of events.  He will give a public lecture on Thursday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m. (location tba) and a campus talk for APU and UAA on the APU campus Friday, September 28 from 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon. He will also be working directly with students in the classroom.

Mr. Shipler has worked as a journalist for "The New York Times," and has written for "The New Yorker," "The Washington Post," and the "Los Angeles Times."  He won a Pulitzer Prize for his book, Arab and Jew: Wounded Spirits in a Promised Land, and has taught at Princeton University, American University in Washington, D.C., and at Darmouth College.

Paralegal Studies students invited to meet new faculty August 22

All Paralegal Studies students are invited for deli snacks and to meet the new Justice Center faculty, Professors Ryan Fortson and Kristin Knudsen.

• Day: Wednesday, August 22
• Time: 12 noon
• Where: LIB214 - next door to Justice Center office
• Refreshments: Deli snacks and cookies

Come welcome our new faculty, ask questions about course changes, and help us celebrate the growth of our program.

For more info contact the Justice Center at 786-1810 or email us. Prof. Deb Periman, J.D., is the Legal Studies Coordinator.

Alaska Federation of Natives cites Alaska Victimization Survey data in letter to Congressman Young about Violence Against Women Act

The Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) cite Alaska Victimization Survey (AVS) data and other Justice Center research on violence against Ahtna and Athabascan women in a May 7, 2012 letter to Alaska Congressman Don Young. [Update: the letter is no longer available online.]

The letter urges Congressman Young  to "include provisions that will enable Tribal governments in Alaska to more effectively combat an epidemic of domestic violence aginst Native American and Alaska Native women, as you consider any Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) authorization."

The AFN website also has a link to the UAA Justice Center  Alaska Victimization Survey webpage.

Dr. Chamard attends American Association of University Professors training on contract and grievance administration

Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice Center faculty, recently attended the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) Summer Institute, held in Chicago.

She received three days of training on "Contract and Grievance Administration."  Dr. Chamard is the Grievance Officer on the Anchorage campus for United Academics-AAUP/AFT Local 4996.

Paralegal Studies program celebrates 20 years of American Bar Association approval

1992 approval letter from the American Bar Association

The Paralegal Studies Certificate Program at the Justice Center was approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) 20 years ago today.  Since 1992, the Paralegal Studies Certificate has been awarded to several hundred individuals. The Paralegal Studies programs at UAA and UAF are the only American Bar approved programs in Alaska.

The mission of the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Paralegals  is to improve the American system of justice by establishing ABA standards for the education of paralegals and by promoting attorneys' professional, effective and ethical utilization of paralegals.

UAA Paralegal graduates can be found working in law firms, state and federal agencies, corporate legal departments, the courts, Native corporations, and the private business sector, contributing to the justice system on the local, state, and federal levels.

Prof. Deborah Periman, J.D., is the coordinator for the Paralegal Studies Certificate Program.

The Paralegal Studies program does not train lawyers or legal administrators, and graduates are not authorized to provide direct legal services to the public.

Justice Center offers Minor in Legal Studies for fall 2012

The Justice Center is offering a Minor in Legal Studies starting in fall 2012.

Jumpstart your career with an education that combines legal knowledge with specialized skills training!

The Legal Studies Minor:

• Provides students with a theoretical education about the law
• Offers specialized skills to work as a paralegal or other nonlawyer professional in a variety of legal settings
• Lays the academic foundation for students who may wish to advance to graduate programs in law or public policy

A total of 21 credits is required for the minor with a minimum grade of C in each course.

Honors Option for Students - Improving Access to Justice
Students minoring in Legal Studies are eligible to graduate with Pro Bono Service Honors upon completion of 50 hours of volunteer service with a legal services agency approved by the Legal Studies Program Coordinator.

Career Opportunities
The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that jobs in the legal field will continue to grow at a much faster than average rate for the foreseeable future. Students with a Minor in Legal Studies will be prepared to work in federal and state agencies, court systems, private law offices or corporate legal departments, or in other organizations where familiarity with government regulation and legal processes is required.

Questions? Please contact us!
Email us or contact us at 786-1810.  Prof. Deb Periman, J.D., is the Legal Studies Program Coordinator.

Drs. Chamard and Payne attend program on breath alcohol ignition interlock devices for DUI convictions

Dr. Sharon Chamard and Dr. Troy Payne, Justice faculty, recently attended a two-day National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) workshop on breath alcohol automobile ignition interlock devices for people convicted of DUI in Alaska. Attendees included representatives from the Alaska Highway Safety Office, the Alcohol Safety Action Program (ASAP), Alaska Department of Public Safety,  Department of Corrections, Department of Motor Vehicles, Alaska State Troopers, Juneau Police Department, and other law enforcement, as well other agencies involved in this effort. The device is in use in a number of other states.

The technical assistance workshop was presented by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation in partnership with NHTSA and  included a report on the status of the current interlock program in Alaska and recommendations for increasing program participation.

Dr. Rivera named coordinator of Justice undergraduate programs

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty, has been named Justice Undergraduate Program Coordinator effective July 2012.  Dr. Rivera is responsible for developing curricula and implementing course and program revisions, as well as serving as a resource for all instructional activities including student advising, course offerings, scheduling, and program development for undergraduate programs.  Dr. Rivera will also oversee program approvals, certifications, and accreditations, as needed.

Dr. Ron Everett, Justice faculty, is the former Justice Program Coordinator.

Prof. Wolfe presents at National Institute of Justice & FBI Impression and Pattern Evidence Symposium

Prof. Jim Wolfe, adjunct faculty, presents at the Impression and Pattern Evidence Symposium to be held August 6–9, 2012, in Clearwater Beach, Florida. His presentation is titled "Optimizing Photographic Techniques for Documenting Snow Impression Evidence."

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Office of Justice Programs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Laboratory Division are co-sponsoring this event.

The symposium brings together practitioners and researchers to enhance information-sharing and promote collaboration among the impression and pattern evidence, law enforcement, and legal communities. The symposium also provides unique educational opportunities for impression and pattern evidence examiners.

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