Intimate Homicide Mortality in Alaska

Abstract

Even though Alaska has one of the smaller populations of all the states of the U.S., it is an interesting case for the study of intimate homicides. Although geographically separate from the rest of the states, and having large urban and rural areas, it is not surprising that Alaska has some unique cultural aspects that affect the relationships between men and women. One is the persistent notion of rugged individualism that could well be influencing domestic violence (Hogan and Pursell 2008). There is a widespread use of weapons in the state. Moreover, Alaska’s employment situation in the past provided ample jobs for men, such as in the pipelines, mining and construction industries. But currently, there are fewer opportunities in these areas. At the same time, there are more opportunities for women in education and government work. Nevertheless, research has shown that women in Alaska earn 77 cents for each dollar earned by men working full time, year-round (Haymes and Spielberger 2012).

I thank Alfred Andrew Fry, Science Librarian at the Falvey Library, Villanova University, for generous help in preparing the cases for search at the Alaska Courthouse. I also thank W. Clinton “Buck” Sterling, Public Services Librarian at the Law Library of the Alaska Court System, for helping me navigate the on-line resources of the Court. I am also grateful to the staff of the Court for providing me with files on the cases from Anchorage and for offering valuable suggestions. I also thank Nancy Olsen, Deputy Clerk of the Palmer Courthouse, for court trial records for the three cases tried in Palmer.