A public safety instructor at Lethbridge Polytechnic is researching ways to address and prevent gender-based violence. Jami Albright-Tolman is working with the Chinook Sexual Assault Centre on the project. She’s using an anonymous online survey to measure the prevalence of technology-facilitated gender-based violence among youth aged 14 to 25. Albright-Tolman says because youth are more candid with anonymous platforms, her research yields reliable aggregate data, including demographics, methods and trends that can improve targeting of prevention programs, interventions and victim supports. “While we’re partnered with the Chinook Sexual Assault Centre directly on this and they are the direct beneficiaries, the fact of the matter, those stats will benefit police agencies,” said Albright-Tolman. “They will benefit correctional agencies, they will benefit educational institutions, the health system, the child welfare system, you name it, all of the systems can benefit from that data.” Albright-Tolman plans to pilot the program this fall.
