Alaska Arrest Records

In Alaska, arrest records are official documentation of arrest events. These records contain most arrest-related data, including:

• The arrestee's data
• The alleged offense
• The arresting officer's details.

Alaska's law enforcement agencies generally create such records after an arrest. They also function as record custodians of arrest events that occurred within their area of jurisdiction. Examples of such agencies include the Anchorage Police Department, Fairbanks Police Department, and Wasilla Police Department.

Under Alaska state laws, a police officer may arrest an individual if a court order (arrest warrant) has been issued for their arrest. In addition, AS Sec 12.25.030 empowers peace officers to conduct arrests without warrants in specific situations. Such situations may include witnessing a crime or having sufficient reason to believe that an individual committed a crime.

Are Arrest Records Public in Alaska?

Yes, Alaska arrest records are mainly accessible to the public. The Alaska Public Records Act, "APRA" (AS Sec. 40.25.100), requires all public agencies to release arrest records upon request from the public. Inquirers are typically required to provide information about the requested document. Note that some records are not accessible to the public. Such exempted records often contain information whose disclosure is not in the public interest. In such cases, only certain parties may view or obtain the records. The AS Sec. 40.25.120 excludes the following records from public access:

• Arrest documents that may interfere with enforcement proceedings
• Documents that may deprive an individual of their right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication
• Arrest-related files that constitute an unwarranted invasion of a suspect's, defendant's, victim's, or witness's personal privacy.
• Documents that may reveal the identity of a confidential source.
• Arrest files that may endanger the life or physical safety of an individual.

Alaska Arrest Statistics

The Alaska Criminal Justice Data Analysis Commission maintains online reports concerning arrest events within the state. Per the agency's report, the state's law enforcement agencies made 21,648 arrests in 2024. Anchorage recorded the highest number of arrest events at 9,240, while Palmer City had the second-highest rate at 2,347.

In contrast, the FBI Crime Data Explorer provided a more comprehensive report for arrests made in 2023. Per the report, the state's arresting agencies conducted 22,250 arrests, of which 15,417 and 6,013 were males and females, respectively. The report also revealed that simple assaults and driving under the influence were the most reported crimes, at 6,651 and 3,802, respectively. The table below outlines other arrests made within the state.

Alaska 2023 Arrest Statistics

Find Public Arrest Records in Alaska

Interested persons may find and obtain copies of public arrest records in Alaska by querying local municipal and borough police departments. The methods for making queries may differ by agency. Nonetheless, inquirers may find Alaska arrest records by using these general steps:

1. Identify the police department that generated the record: Local law enforcement agencies keep records of arrests conducted by their officers. As a result, you typically must first determine where the arrest occurred and find out the agency in charge of conducting arrests in such regions.
2. Inquire about the agency's procedures and fees for requesting public records: Most local police departments' websites contain information on how to retrieve public records. Some agencies may include online or downloadable forms for requesting records in their custody. You might also find a breakdown of the record retrieval process on some websites. Case in point: The Anchorage Police Department has an online record request page. Inquirers may fill out the page to obtain the required information. In the absence of such forms, inquirers might directly contact the agency via the information listed on the "Contact Us" page.
3. Request the desired record: Inquirers may request Alaska arrest records via online or offline request options. For online requests, inquirers may utilize searchable databases or online forms on record custodian websites. In contrast, offline requests include sending mail or visiting the custodian agencies during regular office hours. Agencies that accept mail-in requests usually provide a dedicated form that record seekers may use to facilitate their requests. Some examples of these forms include the Ketchikan Police Department Report Request form and the North Pole Police Department Record Request form. In cases where these types of forms are not provided, requesters may draft a written request detailing the desired record.

Requesters typically must provide certain information that helps to easily identify arrest records. The search information may include the arrestee's name, arrest date, arrest location, or other relevant information. In terms of record fees, arresting agencies typically charge requesters for the cost of making copies of requested records and, in certain cases, the time it takes to research and retrieve requested records.

How to Look Up Arrest Records Online in Alaska

In Alaska, interested persons may look up arrest records through online resources provided by local police departments. Some local police departments host online resources on their websites that record seekers may use to look up arrest records in their custody. For instance, record seekers may use the Fairbanks Police Department's Police 2 Citizen portal to look up records of recent arrests conducted by the agency. Correctional facilities, via inmate databases, also provide online access to some Alaska arrest information.

Alternatively, certain third-party websites allow public access to Alaska arrest records online. These websites are generally easy to navigate since inquirers only need to input the arrestee's name to view records. The websites might allow users to download arrest documents to their preferred devices freely. Nevertheless, third-party sites may charge fees before inquirers can obtain full or complete arrest records. The sites often operate outside government jurisdiction and may not offer up-to-date or accurate arrest data.

What is Included in Alaska Arrest Records?

Alaska arrest records typically contain the following information:

• The arrestee's personal information, such as their full name and any known alias
• The arrestee's physical description, including their race, sex, height, weight, and age or date of birth.
• The arrest details, such as the date, time, and location of the incident
• The arrestee's mugshot
• A description of the alleged offense the arrestee committed
• The arresting officers' and their agency's information.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Alaska

Alaska State Statutes do not specifically limit how long arrests may stay on an individual's record. As a result, there is no general timeframe for an arrest to remain on an individual's record in Alaska. However, most criminal justice agencies follow the Alaska General Administrative Records Retention and Disposition Schedule in determining how long they maintain a record on file. According to the schedule, adult arrest records are retained for 10 years or longer or until the death of the subject and then destroyed. Meanwhile, juvenile arrest files are retained for six (6) years or until the juvenile reaches majority age (18 years) and then are destroyed.

Some cities might have an independent record retention schedule that local agencies may adhere to. These schedules are usually modeled after the state's administrative schedule.

Expunge an Arrest Record in Alaska

Expungement is a legal process for removing or sealing arrest or criminal conviction records from publicly accessible databases. Note that Alaska laws do not support expungement of arrest records. However, the AS Sec 12.62.180 allows the sealing of such records, provided the petitioner follows the standard procedures. Note that there is a significant difference between expunging and sealing a record. The former (expungement) requires a custodian to destroy a specific record they maintain. Meanwhile, the latter (sealing) prevents public access to a record.

In Alaska, once a record gets sealed, it becomes inaccessible to the general public, and the subject of the record may deny its existence. However, per AS Sec 12.62.180 (d), eligible persons and entities may access sealed records for specific reasons, such as the following:

• For record management purposes, including auditing
• Criminal justice employment purposes
• Research and statistical purposes
• Prevention of imminent harm to a person
• Review by the record's subject
• Reasons authorized by a court order or applicable statutes.

In Alaska, you are qualified to seal arrest records if the arrest resulted from a mistaken identity or false accusation. Eligible parties may seal arrest records by submitting a Request to Seal Arrest Record form to the head of the record custodian agency.

The head of the agency has the final administrative decision to accept or deny the request to seal the record. In cases where an agency denies a request, the requester may appeal the agency's decision to a court with appropriate jurisdiction.

How Do I Find Recent Arrests in Alaska?

In Alaska, you may find recent arrest information by using resources or options provided by the arresting agency. Arresting agencies often maintain online or offline records of arrests conducted in areas under their jurisdiction. Some local police departments provide information about recent arrests their officers conducted through online resources hosted on their official websites. For instance, you may view recent arrests via the Juneau Police Department Bulletin Archive and the Fairbanks Police Department's Recent Arrest Portal.

Alternatively, you might inquire for the records in person by visiting the agency's physical location.

Are Alaska Arrest Records Free?

Yes, interested parties may view Alaska arrest records for free by using online resources provided by designated record custodians. However, you might need to pay specific fees if you want to download or obtain physical copies of arrest records. The fees may differ based on the number of requested copies, record formats, and certification. Sometimes, agencies charge fees for the time spent in retrieving requested documents.

Some third-party websites also allow free access to Alaska arrest records. The websites may, however, charge fees before releasing complete records.