NCJ Number
209538
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 53 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2005 Pages: 62,64,65
Date Published
March 2005
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes the Crime Intervention Unit (CIU) instituted within the Anchorage Police Department, in Alaska to reduce the increased numbers of sexual assaults.
Abstract
In 2001, Alaska had the highest percent of sexual assaults with 78.9 percent rapes per 100,000 persons. In Anchorage, AK, the city averaged 122 percent more rapes than any other city in the United States. In an attempt to reduce the number of sexual assaults, especially rape and domestic violence, the Anchorage Police Department developed, through State funding, the Crime Intervention Unit (CIU) which became operational as a test program in 2004. The program involves volunteers and undercover police officers targeting areas where sexual violence is most likely to occur. Within the first 6 weeks, the unit had proven that it could be a successful tool in helping reduce sexual assaults. Efforts are focused on proactive prevention strategies with any sexual assault cases the unit encounters being handed over to the Special Victims Unit detectives for investigation. Even though the CIU is still too new to determine its effectiveness, it is seen as a positive beginning to a program that will potentially take the spotlight away from Alaska in having the highest number of sexual assaults in the country.