Justice alum - Justin Voss - highlighted in "I Am UAA" series

Justin and his family at the Alaska WWAMI White Coat Ceremony
in August 2011 at the Alaska Native Heritage Center

Justice Voss, Alaska WWMAI School of Medical Education E'11, B.A. Justice '11, was highlighted recently in the UAA Green & Gold "I AM UAA" series.  Justin knew after high school that he wanted to become a police officer, but he was not old enough to apply.

To pass a few years' time, he landed a job supervising the admitting process at Alaska Regional Hospital emergency room. At age 21, he applied for the police academy, and ultimately served with the Anchorage Police Department for 8 years. In 2006, he decided it was time to go back to school to pursue a degree in Justice.

Things changed for Justin after a highway accident on duty, and he was not able to recover fully enough to stay on as a police officer. While finishing his Justice degree, he took prerequisites for med school, and now is in the WWAMI program.

Justin explains that his justice degree from UAA will help him in his daily interactions as a future physician. “As a physician, I will need to make sound treatment decisions based in science,” he says. “Having a degree related to human interaction, ethics, justice and psychology will allow me to relate to people in an understanding way and address socioeconomic problems that relate to their health care.” For more of Justin's story click here.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

The 2013 National Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) campaign focuses on healthy sexuality and child sexual abuse prevention.

This April, join the conversation. Start talking about healthy childhood development to prevent child sexual abuse.

Justice Club tours State Crime Lab facility

Far right: Brandi Barnett, a forensic scientist, gives students a tour of the
garage where vehicles are searched.

The Justice Club sponsored a tour of the State Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory on February 27 for members and other interested students. This state of the art facility opened in June 2012. Students had the opportunity to see first-hand the forensic investigation capabilities in Alaska.

The crime lab provides forensic support to all law enforcement agencies in Alaska and provides examinations and expertise in:

• breath alcohol    
• blood alcohol    
• controlled substances   
• firearm/toolmark   
• biological screening    
• DNA    
• latent fingerprints    
• crime scene investigation

L to r: Ailee Wood and Chris Wood examine the blood spatter room where experiments are
done to determine blood spatter patterns.

After the tour, students pose for a group photo in the lobby of the crime lab.
In the background is a"percent for art" installation.

Dr. Chamard presents data from Mat-Su Survey to Mat-Su Assembly and Planning Commission

Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice faculty, presented information about data collection, survey contents, and the organization of the final report of the annual Matanuska-Susitna Borough Community Survey 2012 and Trends 2008–2012: A Sourcebook of Community Attitudes to the joint meeting of the Mat-Su Borough Assembly and Planning Commission on March 26. The report was originally released in January 2013.

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Community Survey, conducted annually beginning in 2006, is a cooperative research effort between the Justice Center and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough to collect information about satisfaction with Borough services, household aspirations, and household composition. These data are used by Borough decision-makers to prioritize projects, improve services, and better plan for the future growth of the Mat-Su Borough.

The 2012 study was conducted by Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice faculty, who also was the principal investigator for the 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 Mat-Su Surveys. Heather MacAlpine, Justice B.A. Cum Laude ’12, assisted with data collection, entry, and analysis for the 2011 and 2012 surveys.

The survey asks Mat-Su Borough residents to evaluate the quality of Borough services, provide opinions about Borough decision-making, and sum up their perceptions about a range of issues relevant to the present and future of the Mat-Su community. The 2012 survey was distributed to 1,965 adult heads-of-household in the Mat-Su Borough in the late summer and fall of 2012; a total of 845 completed surveys were returned, for a response rate of  43%.

This sourcebook presents both the results from the 2012 survey and trends from 2008-2012 in five major areas: (1) evaluation of current borough services; (2) use of borough facilities; (3) life in Mat-Su neighborhoods; (4) local government access, policies, and practices; and (5) respondent background information. Additionally, findings from a derived importance-performance analysis of the survey data are presented, as is a compilation of respondent comments.

Information on past Mat-Su surveys and other community surveys in Alaska is available on the Justice Center website.

Alpha Phi Sigma national criminal justice honor society welcomes 14 new members

L to r: Dr. Marny Rivera, Derek Witte, Samuel Giacalone, Donte Powell, Joshua Johnson, Melinda Guerrissi,
Simona Gerdts, Margaret Spears, Dr. Ryan Fortson, Gaynor Johansen, Kimberly Del Frate, Jessica Lopez,
Dr. Allan Barnes, Joshua Kopp, Cheng Vang.
Not pictured - Dr. Sharon Chamard, Eric Burkett, and Daniel Reinhard.

Fourteen Justice majors were inducted as members of the Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society, Omega Xi Chapter, on Thursday, March 28 at the UAA/APU Consortium Library. Family and friends attended the ceremony, followed by a reception.

To be selected for this honor, each student had to maintain a 3.2 overall cumulative GPA and 3.2 GPA in their Justice major. Alpha Phi Sigma is the only National Criminal Justice Honor Society for Criminal Justice majors. The society recognizes academic excellence of undergraduate and graduate students of criminal justice.


Dr. Ryan Fortson, J.D., faculty advisor, moderated the ceremony. Dr. Marny Rivera, Dr. Sharon Chamard and Dr. Allan Barnes, Justice faculty, also attended.

2013 inductees:

Eric Burkett
Kimberly Del Frate
Simona Gerdts
Samuel Giacalone
Melinda Guerrissi
Gaynor Johansen
Joshua Johnson
Joshua Kopp
Jessica Lopez
Donte Powell
Daniel Reinhard
Margaret Spears
Cheng Vang
Derek Witte

Dr. Chamard discusses conflict over public space at Urban in Alaska conference at UAA

Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice Center faculty, was a panelist at the “The Urban in Alaska” conference held at UAA on March 29.  Her presentation was titled “Conflict Over Public Space: Responses to Chronic Public Inebriates in Anchorage.”  The goal of the “The Urban in Alaska” conference and workshop was to bring scholars and community members together to engage in dialogue about current research on Anchorage as an urban space.

The conference was sponsored by the UAA Department of Health Sciences and the UAA Center for Community Engagement and Learning.

Panelists l tor: Dr. Sharon Charmard, Dr. Sheila Selkregg, Klaus Meyer, and Bruce Farnsworth.

Co-panelists with Dr. Chamard for the session, "Architecture, Public Space, and Urban Design," included Klaus Mayer, architect and member of the Alaska Design Forum board of directors; Sheila Selkregg, Ph.D., associate professor of public administration at UAA; and Bruce Farnsworth, writer, community organizer, founder and director of the MTS Gallery in Anchorage (2005-2011) and member of the art group Light Brigade Kor4.

The conference was free and open to the public.

UAA participates in 3rd annual inter-university cyber-symposium on alternative dispute resolution with representatives from around the globe

Video conference screen shot - upper left:  Dr. Gandhi opens the video
conference with a discussion of his grandfather's involvement
in the law and in conflict resolution.

 Dr. Arun Gandhi, a grandson of Mohandas Gandhi,  opened the 3rd Annual UAF Cyber-symposium on Alternative Dispute Resolution via video conference from the University of Salisbury in Maryland. The event was held April 4.

Dr. Gandhi traced his grandfather's involvement in the law and in conflict resolution, including mediation and arbitration, and how the development of Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence and avoidance of conflict grew out of these experiences.

This event was developed and moderated by Prof. Brian Jarrett of the UAF Department of Justice. Representatives of over a dozen universities and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) organizations from around the globe attended via video conference.

Participating universities and organizations included:
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Anchorage
University of Alaska Juneau
University of Hawaii  at Manoa, Honolulu - Matsunaga Peace Institute
University of Hawwii at Manoa, Honolulu - 30 member student delegation from Thailand
University of Puerto Rico School of Law
Yukon College, Whitehorse, Canada
Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
Simon Fraser University, British Columbia
Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
Correctional Service of Canada
Ministry of Justice, Victoria, Canada
Beyond Borders, Anchorage

Kimep University, Kazakhstan, was unable to connect to the video conference, but will be a participant in future programs.

 
Participants discussed restoration justice programs in their areas and the current trends in dispute resolution, including the increasing role of traditional forms of mediation, mediation in prisoner reentry programs and in therapeutic courts, and how arbitration and mediation are developing in Iran under Shariah law. A highlight of the event was a presentation by David Wexler, a nationally recognized expert in therapeutic jurisprudence.

Papers were submitted for the symposium and are available on the cyber-symposium website, and an archived version of the event will uploaded shortly.  For further information, contact Prof. Brian Jarrett, bnjarrett@alaska.edu or  907-474-6790. 

Don't miss tonight's showing of the film "Temple Grandin" - a COH diversity committee student event - how autism led a young woman to become a top scientist in human livestock handling

UAA Students: 

 Join the College of Health Diversity Committee and the Department of Health Sciences for an educational discussion and viewing of the Emmy-award winning film, "Temple Grandin" on Thursday, April 4.

Date: Thursday, April 4
Time:  6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: UAA Rasmuson Hall 111
Admission: Free
Free snacks!

The film tells the story of a woman who overcame the limitations associated with autism - and is now an advocate for those with autism, and a top scientist in the humane livestock handling industry. Dr. Grandin is currently Professor of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University and the author of numerous books.

This event is presented as part of the educational programs for students in recognition of  National Public Health Week, April 1-7, 2013. April is also Autism Awareness Month. An autism resources list will be available.


Prof. Deb Periman, J.D., Justice faculty, is chair of the COH Diversity Committee.

Tribal Courts in Alaska - final presentation for National Criminal Justice Month - draws nearly 100 people

Tribal Courts panelists l to r: Magistrate Judge Christopher McLain, Alaska Court System; Natalie Landreth,
Native American Rights Fund; Lisa Jaeger, Tanana Chiefs Conference; Prof. Kevin Illingworth, UAF Tribal
Management Program; Walter Monegan, Alaska Native Justice Center, moderator.

"Tribal Courts in Alaska: Past, Present, and Future" was the topic of the final presentation in the 2013 National Criminal Justice Month lecture series on Wednesday, March 27.  A distinguished panel of experts discussed the history of tribal courts and the concept of sovereignty, the organization of and training for tribal courts, jurisdictional issues, and how the Alaska Court System has been engaging with villages along the upper Yukon in the sentencing of misdemeanors.

Panelists included: 

• Walt Monegan, Alaska Native Justice Center CEO/President, Moderator 
• Kevin Illingworth, Tribal Management Program Head and Assistant Professor, Interior-Aleutians Campus, UAF 
• Lisa Jaeger, Tribal Government Specialist, Tanana Chiefs Conference
• Natalie Landreth, Staff Attorney, Native American Rights Fund
• Magistrate Judge Christopher McLain, Alaska Court System

Nearly 100 persons attended the event which was videotaped and podcast. The video and a link to the podcast are below.  Materials for the program, including 2 PowerPoint presentations are available on the Justice Center website.

The program was sponsored by the Justice Center, the Justice Club, and the Pre-Law Society.

Media stories:
KTUU Channel 2 News: “UAA Forum Brings Awareness to Tribal Courts,” Blake Essig, March 27, 2013
KNBA 90.3: “Panel Discusses Alaska Tribal Courts,” Joaqlin Estus, March 28, 2013

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Watch the video:

Prof. Kevin Illingworth explains tribal sovereignty.

At podium: Magistrate Judge Christopher McLain discusses his work in villages along the Upper Yukon.

Center: Lisa Jaeger talks about tribal government in the Tanana Chiefs region.

At podium: Walt Monegan, moderator, opens the program.

At podium: Dr. Allan Barnes, Justice Center Acting Director, begins the q & a session.

Prof. Knudsen discusses employment law issues at campus bookstore event

L to r: Grant Larsen, Alaska Small Business Development Center; Prof. Kristin Knudsen, Justice Center;
Rhonda Gerharz, Alaska Division of Workers' Compensation; and Jeremy Applegate, State of Alaska
Wage and Hour Administration.

Prof. Kristin Knudsen, J.D., Justice faculty, discussed employment law issues for Alaska small businesses at the recent UAA Bookstore "Happenings" lecture series, "The Life of Small Businesses in Alaska: A Look at Employee Relations and Working Conditions."  The event was held Monday, March 18.

Prof. Knudsen focused on a variety of anti-discrimination laws and wrongful discharge. She was among a panel of experts who shared information concerning what people should know about the obligations of small business employers and employees, plus rules governing Workers' Compensation.

Other panelists  included Grant Larsen , Anchorage Business Advisor for the Alaska Small Business Development Center; Jeremy Applegate, Investigator for the State of Alaska Wage and Hour Administration; and Rhonda Gerharz, Chief Investigator of the Special Investigations Unit of the Alaska  Division of Workers' Compensation.