Talk of Alaska: Updates to Alaska’s Sexual Assault Laws

A tan and redish building under a gray sky
The Alaska Capitol on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. (Nat Herz/Alaska Public Media)

Content Warning: This episode of Talk of Alaska contains discussion of sensitive subject matter.

Alaska has long ranked at or near the top in the nation for rates of violence and sexual assault. Over the summer of 2022, lawmakers updated Alaska’s sexual assault laws, including a new definition of what defines consent. The law went into effect on January 1st, 2023. Why did it take decades to update the statutes and how might the changes affect prosecutions? Better legal tools to prevent assaults and help survivors is our discussion on this Talk of Alaska.

Listen:

HOST: Lori Townsend

GUESTS:

  • Geran Tarr – Former State Representative for Anchorage
  • Eileen Arnold – Executive Director, Tundra Women’s Coalition
  • Keeley Olson – Executive Director, Standing Together Against Rape

Relevant Resources:

PARTICIPATE:

Call 907-550-8422 (Anchorage) or 1-800-478-8255 (statewide) during the live broadcast.

Send an email to talk@alaskapublic.org (Comments may be read on air).

Post your comment during or after the live broadcast on social media (Comments may be read on air).

LIVE Broadcast: Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 10 a.m. on Alaska public radio stations statewide.

Lori Townsend is the news director and senior host for Alaska Public Media. You can send her news tips and program ideas for Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or call 907-550-8452.

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