Spatial Patterning of Sexual Assaults in Anchorage

Justice Center

Research > Spatial Patterning of Sexual Assaults in Anchorage

Principal investigator(s):	André B. Rosay
Project dates:	2003
JC#:	0408
Funding agency:	agency
Affected agency/area:	UAA Faculty Development Grant
Project amount:	$4500
Project status:	Closed

Anchorage is marked by high rates of forcible rape. From 1982 to 2001, the average rate of forcible rape in Anchorage was 82.01 rapes per 100,000 population, while the average rate in the United States was 39.95 per 100,000. Stated differently, the rate of forcible rape per 100,000 in Anchorage was, on average, 122.39 percent higher than the US rate. In 2001, Anchorage had the fifth highest rate of forcible rape per 100,000 among metropolitan statistical areas in the US. Recent trends in forcible rape are also alarming. From 1999 to 2001, the rate of forcible rape per 100,000 has increased by 27 percent in Anchorage while it has declined by 3 percent in the US. Furthermore, Anchorage police data from 2000 clearly show that sexual assault victims are disproportionately American Indian and Alaska Native. In 2000, 10.4 percent of Anchorage’s population was American Indian or Alaska Native (U.S. Census Bureau, 2002) but 42 percent of victims that reported a sexual assault to police were American Indian or Alaska Native.

This project's purpose is to enhance our knowledge about the location of sexual assaults in Anchorage by describing their spatial patterning and geographical concentration and examining the extent to which geographical concentrations vary by racial group. Understanding where and why sexual assaults are spatially clustered will assist practitioners’ efforts in prevention and intervention. This project utilizes spatial data analyses of data already collected from police reports of sexual assaults in Anchorage.

Products

Altaffer, Kamaree and Rosay, André. (Apr 2004). "Sexual Assault Study: Differences by Victim's Race." Anchorage Community Indicators 2(4).

Fleming, Alexa and Rosay, André. (Apr 2004). "Sexual Assault Study: Differences by Day of Week." Anchorage Community Indicators 2(6).

Matthews, Amanda and Rosay, André. (Apr 2004). "Sexual Assault Study: Differences by Relationship." Anchorage Community Indicators 2(5).

Morris, Catherine and Rosay, André. (Apr 2004). "Sexual Assault Study: Differences by Age of Victim." Anchorage Community Indicators 2(3).

———. (Apr 2004). "Sexual Assault Study: Differences by Community Council." Anchorage Community Indicators 2(2). (http://justice.uaa.alaska.edu/indicators/anchorage/series02/index.html).

———. (Apr 2004). "Sexual Assault Study: Overview." Anchorage Community Indicators 2(1). (http://justice.uaa.alaska.edu/indicators/anchorage/series2/index.html).

Snodgrass, G. Matthew and Rosay, André. (Apr 2004). "Sexual Assault Study: Differences by Victim's Alcohol Use." Anchorage Community Indicators 2(8).

Valentine, Jeff and Rosay, André. (Apr 2004). "Sexual Assault Study: Differences by Season." Anchorage Community Indicators 2(7).

Conference presentations

Rosay, André and Langworthy, Robert H. (Apr 2004). Exploratory Spatial Analyses of Sexual Assaults in Anchorage" (Powerpoint slide presentation). Slide presentation presented to the Seventh Annual International Crime Mapping Research Conference, National Institute of Justice, Boston, MA. (Available from Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage.) (http://justice.uaa.alaska.edu/research/2000/0408.spatialsxassault/0408exploratory.html).

Rosay, André and Langworthy, Robert H. (May 2004). "Using Problem-Oriented Policing to Reduce Sexual Assaults" (Powerpoint slide presentation). Slide presentation presented to the Societies of Criminology, 1st Key Issues Conference, Paris, France. (Available from Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage.)

Last updated 06-Nov-2009 by ayjust@uaa.alaska.edu