What are Alaska Juvenile Court Records?

A juvenile in Alaska generally refers to any individual below 18 who is facing delinquent charges according to the provisions of the Juvenile Justice System. A juvenile record is an official documentation of the activities of the justice system in relation to a juvenile. Such records may exist as court records, community probation writings, or law enforcement agency reports. They could also be documented by social service agencies and community supervision officers. Regarding juvenile court records in the state, the Alaska State Statutes mainly provide interpretations of the proceedings of the Juvenile Court system. The Juvenile Justice System is a subsidiary of the Alaska Department of Health and has jurisdiction over all cases pertaining to juveniles. Juvenile records are typically private in the state because their purpose is rehabilitation and not for punitive reasons.

What Information is Contained in an Alaska Juvenile Record?

An Alaska juvenile record may contain some or all of the following:

• Names and contact addresses of the juvenile
• A unique record identifier code
• Referral source (police or sheriff’s departments, District Courts, school districts)
• Notice of arrests and charges
• Names of defending attorneys
• Names and contact details of guardians and parents
• Investigation reports
• Court evaluations
• Medical examination
• Defendant identification details
• Reports of proceedings
• Juvenile Probation supervisor feedback
• Progress updates of supervision programs

What Cases are heard by Alaska Juvenile Courts?

The Alaska Juvenile Justice System handles juvenile cases through the Superior and Youth Courts across the state. Some of the cases handled include:

• Bullying (Assault)
• Shoplifting
• School Suspensions
• Curfew Violation
• Tobacco violations
• Marijuana use
• Traffic violations
• Ganga involvement

Who is Eligible to View Juvenile Records in Alaska?

Information about juveniles in courts and law enforcement agencies is generally confidential under Alaska statutes. Custodian agencies may only release to eligible persons or with a court order. Typically, eligible persons include:

• Preliminary investigators
• The victim or their insurance agencies
• Probationary officer
• Prosecuting counsel
• School officials
• Participating government agencies

A juvenile record may become public, so long as the rule of anonymity remains unviolated.

How to Find Juvenile Records in Alaska

Superior Courts hear cases of juvenile delinquency across the state. There is a Youth Court arm of the Juvenile Justice System that hears juvenile cases by peers empowered to serve as prosecutors, defense, and judges. Determine the court that received the filing or referral. Use the Alaska Court Directory to get information about the relevant court location. Youth Courts mostly serve tribal communities. Have at hand the name of the juvenile, the court that handled the case, the year of the hearing, and the unique identifying record number. Besides these, have ready a valid proof of eligibility to view or copy the records. Otherwise, get a court order and submit it along with the application.

Both primary custodians listed above submit data on cases pertaining to juveniles to the Juvenile Justice System. For more information, interested parties may visit the facility at:

State of Alaska Dept of Health & Social Services Division of Juvenile Justice
240 Main Street, Suite 701
P. O. Box 110635 Juneau
AK 99811

Alternatively, call (907) 465–2212, send a facsimile to (907) 465–2333, or send an email.

Law enforcement agencies also create and maintain records of arrests, custody and detentions. The same rules of confidentiality apply to them as court records. Viewing the records may be free, but copies may come at a fee. The intentional violation of the confidentiality statute by an individual is basically a Class B misdemeanor.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. Operating independently of any federal, state, or local agency, such websites may simplify the search process as they are not limited by geographic location. In addition, third-party sites typically have search engines that can be used for filtering specific or multiple record(s). To use third-party or government websites, interested parties may need to provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that the person resides in or was accused in

However, third-party sites are independent of government sources and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Therefore, the record results, availability, or accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

Can You Look up Alaska Juvenile Records Online?

The laws of the state do not specifically state if the online repositories of juvenile records are accessible to the public. However, the statute of confidentiality of paper records imposes that electronic versions must not jeopardize the confidential nature of the record. In other words, most juvenile records are not publicly accessible online. Furthermore, requests for electronic copies typically require a submission of requests at the local courthouse that handled the case. Occasionally, a juvenile may move into the public space by order, if there is a need to protect members of the community by notifying them. This is basically true of habitual offenders of crimes that are felony equivalents in adult criminal courts.

Do Alaska Juvenile Records show on Background Checks?

No. Alaska juvenile records are generally invisible to most regular inquirers. Authorities usually respond to such requests with a "not available" notice. However, when a person applies for a position in childcare, healthcare, or security, the employing agency may have access to all records, including those related to juveniles.

The delicate nature of the roles in these facilities makes it essential to assess the risk profile of the individual. Government agencies on official business may also see these records, as well as law enforcement officials assigned to the case.

How Long are Juvenile Records Kept in Alaska?

Alaska state custodian agencies generally retain juvenile records for a lifetime. While the Alaska State statutes §§ 47.12.300 (d)- (f) provide for sealing of juvenile records, there is no provision for expungement or destruction of the records from the system. However, when a record is sealed, it is as though it did not exist. The law restores deprived civil rights to the owner of the record.

Alaska typically conducts an auto-sealing process of court records within 30 days after the bearer reaches the age of 18 years. If the court keeps jurisdiction over the juvenile, the process activates upon the expiry of the jurisdiction. Here, jurisdiction refers to pending court orders, obligations, or administrative processes. If the juvenile has been convicted of a felony offense, he or she must wait for five years after completing the sentence to qualify for auto-sealing. Even then, the Superior Court normally must declare that the sentence had a rehabilitative effect on the juvenile, before a court to seal is issued. 

Note: Sealed records may be opened if the juvenile involved earns a conviction in adulthood. Offenses that usually do not qualify for sealing are felony offenses, equivalents, traffic offenses, and violent crimes.