34(2), Fall 2017

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The Fall 2017 print edition of the Alaska Justice Forum features two stories on crime rates — in relation to criminal justice reform and in relation to police staffing — that caution using crime rates as a single factor to determine policy. A story on Crisis Intervention Teams shows how specialized responses are helping law enforcement deal with calls from individuals with mental illness and/or substance use disorders. The Fall 2017 online edition includes expanded versions of print stories and a video (with transcript) on property crime rates in Alaska.

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Is the Rate of Property Crime Increasing in Alaska? [transcript]
(Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage, 2017-10-18) Myrstol, Brad A.; Cravez, Pamela
Is the rate of property crime increasing in Alaska? Data from six Alaska jurisdictions show it’s a complex question. Dr. Brad Myrstol, interim Justice Center director developed a series of graphs to show how the rate of property crime in Alaska is impacted by factors including time, place of crime and type of crime. This presentation focuses on the property crimes of larceny-theft, shoplifting (which is a subcategory of larceny), burglary, and motor vehicle theft. The time period is from 1985 to 2016. The jurisdictions reviewed are: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Kenai, North Slope Borough and Palmer. Each use the Uniform Crime Reports to report data. This is a transcript of the video presentation "Property Crime Rates 1985–2016: Is the Rate of Property Crime Increasing in Alaska? Trend Data from Six Alaska Police Agencies" which can be found at https://youtu.be/HiQqNyDgmas. Graphs by Brad A. Myrstol; produced & narrated by Pamela Cravez.
When Mental Illness Becomes a Police Matter
(Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage, 2017-10-18) UAA Justice Center
Mental illness is not a police matter in and of itself and most people with mental illness (MI) are not involved in the criminal justice system. When police do interact with an individual with MI, care needs to be taken not to label the person as the problem but to focus on behavior that causes harm to self and others.
Crisis Intervention Teams Assist Law Enforcement
(Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage, 2017-10-18) Cravez, Pamela
The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a police-based, first responders’ pre-arrest jail diversion model for individuals with mental illness and/or substance abuse disorder. A new CIT coalition is being developed in Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The online version of the article also includes additional information about specialized police responses.
How Do You Determine the Right Size of a Police Department? Don’t Look to Crime Rates.
(Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage, 2017-10-18) Payne, Troy C.
Studies have shown that changing the number of police officers has no effect on crime rates. This article explains why and describes alternative measures. An accompanying chart compares rates of violent crime in Alaska for 1986–2015 with the number of police officers per 1,000 residents for the same period.
Editor's Note
(Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage, 2017-10-18) Cravez, Pamela
Pamela Cravez, editor of the Alaska Justice Forum, gives an overview of articles in the current edition of the Alaska Justice Forum.
Crime Rates and Alaska Criminal Justice Reform
(Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage, 2017-10-18) Myrstol, Brad A.; Cravez, Pamela
Definitive conclusions about the impact of Senate Bill 91 on the rate of property crimes in Alaska are not possible for a number of reasons, including that the most current data cover less than six months following implementation of the first phase of the law. Accompanying figures show rates of incidents of shoplifting, motor vehicle theft, burglary, and larceny theft reported to police in 1985–2016.
Alaska Justice Forum ; Vol. 34, No. 2 (Fall 2017)
(Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage, 2017-10-18) Myrstol, Brad A.; Cravez, Pamela; Payne, Troy C.; UAA Justice Center
The Fall 2017 print edition of the Alaska Justice Forum features two stories on crime rates — in relation to criminal justice reform and in relation to police staffing — that caution using crime rates as a single factor to determine policy. A story on Crisis Intervention Teams shows how specialized responses are helping law enforcement deal with calls from individuals with mental illness and/or substance use disorders. The Fall 2017 online edition includes expanded versions of print stories and a video (with transcript) on property crime rates in Alaska.

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