Descriptive Analysis of Assaults in Domestic Violence Incidents Reported to Alaska State Troopers: 2004

Rivera, Marny; Rosay, André B.; Wood, Darryl S.; Postle, Greg; and TePas, Katherine. (2008). Descriptive Analysis of Assaults in Domestic Violence Incidents Reported to Alaska State Troopers: 2004. Report prepared under Grant No. 2005-WG-BX-0011 awarded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice and Grants Nos. 2003-WF-BX-0201 and 2004-WF-AX-0033 awarded by the Violence Against Women Office, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice through the Alaska Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Anchorage, AK: Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Summary: Domestic violence is an undeniable urban and rural problem in Alaska, but detailed data on domestic violence incidents outside Anchorage are sparse. This report provides an overview of characteristics of domestic violence incidents involving assaults in Alaska communities outside Anchorage reported to the Alaska State Troopers in 2004. A total of 1,281 cases with an assault charge involving domestic violence were reviewed. The report describes suspect and victim characteristics, incident characteristics, and legal resolutions of the cases. Preliminary findings mirror national and Anchorage statistics: the majority of domestic violence assault incidents occur between victims and suspects of the same race, and the victim’s home is the most common location of the domestic violence incident. On the other hand, both Anchorage data and the data from this study show a much higher use of alcohol by suspects and victims in Alaska than is reported nationally.