JUSTICE CENTER
YOUR CAREER IN JUSTICE. OUR 50-YEAR LEGACY.
Established by the Alaska Legislature in 1975, the UAA Justice Center provides statewide leadership in justice education and research. As an interdisciplinary unit within the UAA College of Health, we serve urban and rural Alaska to promote a safer, more just society.
Through our degree programs in Criminology & Criminal Justice and our ABA-approved Legal Studies tracks, students gain the technical mastery and analytical skills required for professional success. Our students learn alongside faculty experts whose research shapes Alaska’s response to critical issues—from policing to crime prevention, community corrections and reentry, and the courts.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Leading statewide efforts in criminal justice and criminology education, research and service, the UAA Justice Center is a top choice among criminal justice schools in Alaska and the U.S.
The Legal Studies BA program trains you in American law, legal processes and policy. You’ll expand your legal knowledge and develop technical job skills in legal research, analysis and writing.
NEWS & Stories
Tara Schmidt is an alumna of the Division of Population Health Sciences Master of Public Health program. In this spotlight, she reflects on how her time at UAA shaped her career path—from the relationships that opened doors and guided her forward to the unexpected milestones.
Human Services alumna Billie Slaikeu knows a thing or two about what it means to start over. A retired certified nursing assistant, Billie returned to school in her sixties after being inspired by her daughter’s experience with mental illness. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in 2025.
A College of Health alumna and current employee of the Alaska Justice Information Center, Rus’sel Sampson has had a rich educational and professional journey. Her story exemplifies how a sense of curiosity in higher education can open unexpected doors that lead to meaningful careers.
School of Nursing alumna Kristen Alcorn turned clinical expertise into entrepreneurial success. In this spotlight, Kristen shares a few of the experiences that shaped her journey in nursing, the things she loves about her job, and how her education at UAA helped her achieve her goals.
Dacia Davis, a clinical assistant professor in the School of Social Work and a graduate of UAA's MSW program, finds inspiration in teaching and community.
RESEARCH & CENTERS
Alaska Justice Information Center
The Alaska Justice Information Center (AJiC) compiles, analyzes, and reports on criminal justice topics in order to improve public safety, to increase criminal justice system accountability, and to reduce recidivism.
The Alaska Victimization Survey (AVS) provides comprehensive statewide and regional data to guide planning and policy development and to evaluate the impact of prevention and intervention services.
The Alaska Justice Forum is a research journal focusing on justice and legal issues in Alaska. It was published by the Justice Center at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
John E. Havelock Trial Simulation Courtroom
The courtroom also provides opportunities to educate and inspire Alaska middle and high school students to build partnerships with secondary legal education programs and curricula.
Contact Us:
Phone: (907) 786-1810
Email: uaa_justicecenter@alaska.edu
UAA Justice Center
UAA Professional Studies Building
2533 Providence Dr., Suite 234
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
Mailing Address:
UAA Justice Center
3211 Providence Dr., PSB 234
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
