Alaska Warrant Search

An Alaska warrant search provides researchers with details about active warrants issued by the Alaska state court system. These details may include the following:

• Full name, sex, and age of the subject
• Bail amount (if applicable)
• Offense/charge description
• Warrant type (felony or misdemeanor)
• Warrant number.

Record seekers may conduct a warrant search in Alaska through Alaska State Troopers and local municipal or borough police departments, such as the Anchorage Police Department, the North Slope Borough Police Department, or the Petersburg Police Department. Alternatively, inquirers may review court records to check for warrants that may have been issued in a specific case. Record seekers may also conduct background checks through the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS). An Alaska DPS background check reveals a subject's criminal history in the state, which includes warrants issued against them.

Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Public Information Office,
5700 East Tudor Road,
Anchorage, AK 99507,
(907) 269-5511

Are Warrants Public Records in Alaska?

Yes. Alaska warrants are generally open to the public, as provided under the Alaska Public Records Act (APRA). Under the APRA, public agencies must make certain records they maintain, including warrant records, public (AS Sec. 40.25.100). As a result, anyone may obtain warrant records by querying relevant public agencies in Alaska, such as local law enforcement agencies and courts.

However, certain exceptions outlined in the APRA and other applicable statutes may limit public access to some records. For instance, per Alaska Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 37(e), a search warrant record remains sealed until the warrant is identified in a charging document or a notice filed by the prosecutor. Furthermore, per AS Sec. 40.25.120, a warrant record may be withheld from being public if the record pertains to a juvenile or if its disclosure would:

• Interfere with enforcement proceedings.
• Reveal the identity of a confidential source.
• Endanger the life or physical safety of an individual.
• Deprive an individual of their right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication.
• Constitutes an unwarranted invasion of a suspect, defendant, victim, or witness's privacy.

Types of Warrants in Alaska

Different types of warrants are issued in Alaska, including arrest, search, and bench warrants. An arrest warrant is a court order that directs a law enforcement officer to arrest and bring an individual to court to answer for an alleged crime they are accused of committing. In contrast, search warrants permit a law enforcement officer to search a specific place or person, while a bench warrant is a court order that authorizes law enforcement officers to arrest individuals for offenses related to violations of court rules, such as being in contempt of court or failing to appear for a summons.

What is a Search Warrant in Alaska?

In Alaska, a search warrant is a court order signed by a judge, magistrate, or judicial officer that directs a peace officer to search for personal property per AS 12.35.120. Once found, the property would be seized and brought before a judge or magistrate.

In Alaska, search warrants are typically issued at the request of a peace officer provided probable cause (legally reasonable grounds for the search) may be established. According to AS Sec 12.35.020, some legal grounds under which a search warrant may be issued in Alaska include the following:

• A property was stolen or embezzled
• A property was utilized to commit a crime
• The person possessing property intends to use it to facilitate a crime or has transferred it to another person to conceal it from being discovered.
• A property may serve as evidence of a particular crime.

Peace officers typically request search warrants by submitting a search warrant affidavit (a sample of the affidavit) to relevant authorities (i.e., a magistrate, judge, or judicial officer) with juridical jurisdiction over the matter. Per AS Sec. 12.35.015, search warrant requests may also be made via sworn oral testimony. Regardless of the request method, probable cause for the warrant must always be established. Under AS Sec. 12.35.060, a person who issues and executes a search warrant without probable cause is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Once a search warrant has been issued, it must be executed within 30 days of its issuance date between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., unless the issuing authority states otherwise. Once executed, the warrant must be returned to the issuing authority.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Search Warrant?

In Alaska, there is no definite timeframe for getting a search warrant. Per AS Sec. 12.35.010, appropriate authorities only issue a search warrant when the requester (typically a peace officer) shows probable cause, supported by an oath or affirmation, for the warrant. Hence, the time it takes to get a search warrant is primarily determined by how long it takes the requester to persuade the issuing authority that there is sufficient probable cause to justify the warrant's issuance. This may take mere minutes, hours, or days.

What is an Arrest Warrant in Alaska?

According to the Alaska Court System Glossary, an arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a court directing law enforcement officers to arrest a specific person and bring them to court. Like most types of warrants in Alaska, arrest warrants are typically issued at the request of law enforcement officers. They usually request an arrest warrant by submitting a complaint, wherein probable cause is established for the warrant’s issuance, to a local judge or magistrate. Upon reviewing the complaint, if the judge or magistrate is sufficiently convinced of the need for the warrant, they would grant the arrest warrant. Once issued, the arrest warrant may be executed anywhere within Alaska.

If an individual finds out that an arrest warrant has been issued against them in Alaska, the primary way to resolve the arrest warrant is to turn oneself over to law enforcement. In some instances, the option to post bail may be provided. Alternatively, a warrant’s subject may have their arrest warrant quashed by petitioning a court with appropriate jurisdiction over their case. However, there is no guarantee that the court will grant their petition.

Arrest Warrant Lookup in Alaska

Record custodians often maintain online channels to provide information about active arrests. Some of the most prominent ways to look up arrest warrants in Alaska include the following:

Local law enforcement agencies: Some law enforcement agencies in Alaska provide online resources that record seekers may use to look up arrest warrants they are responsible for executing. These resources are typically accessible through the agency’s official website. Some examples include the Alaska State Troopers' Active Warrants page and the Fairbanks Police Department Warrant list. In cases where an agency does not provide online resources, inquirers may use online resources to look up relevant arrest warrant information. Alternatively, residents may contact or visit the agency to make inquiries.

Local courts: Interested persons may look up arrest warrant records through local courts by reviewing a court case’s records to determine if an arrest warrant was issued. Fortunately, the Alaska Court System provides a central online case search portal that interested persons may use to find court records. Searches may be conducted on the portal using a subject’s name, case number, or ticket/citation number. Alternatively, inquirers may query local court clerks’ offices directly to find public information about arrest warrants their court may have issued.

Third-party websites: Some third-party websites provide services that allow users to look up public arrest warrants compiled from relevant Alaskan agencies.

How to Find Out If You Have a Warrant in Alaska

Outstanding warrants are generally accessible via two main government channels: the issuing court and the law enforcement agency responsible for executing the warrant.

To find warrants through issuing courts, interested persons may review court records of open court cases in the state to determine whether a warrant has been issued in their case. This may be done through the Alaska Court System Case Search portal or by querying a local court clerk’s office for court records.

On the other hand, Alaska law enforcement agencies usually maintain records of issued warrants. In line with the provisions of the APRA, local law enforcement agencies generally make the warrant records they maintain publicly accessible. Some agencies publish their warrant records online on their official website. For instance, interested persons may find information about warrants the Alaska State Troopers are responsible for executing through the agency’s Active Warrants page. When an agency does not provide online resources that may be used to look up information, record seekers may contact or visit the agency in person to make inquiries.

Free Warrant Search in Alaska

Interested persons may conduct free warrant searches in Alaska through online resources provided by local law enforcement agencies and the Alaska court system. These resources are usually a searchable online database or a compiled list of warrants. For searchable databases, searches are conducted using an individual’s name, case number, location details, or ticket/citation number.

Alternatively, interested persons may contact or pay relevant agencies for an in-person visit to conduct warrant searches.

How Long Can Police hold my Phone Without a Warrant in Alaska?

In Alaska, law enforcement bodies like the Alaska Police Department or the Anchorage Police Department can hold your phone in detention without obtaining a warrant where probable cause is proven. However, according to the Fourth Amendment, the general rule is that any agency must obtain a warrant to seize or search an individual’s property. These laws do not provide for how long these agencies may hold on to your phone. This is generally guided by the length of the investigation or the owner’s detention with law enforcement. Article I, Section 14 of the Alaska Constitution upholds the Fourth Amendment with some limitations. They include:

• Obtaining the consent of the owner of the phone
• Seizing the phone through a lawful arrest according to Alaska Statute § 12.25.030
• An inventory search is done according to standard department practice
• Special situations include preventing evidence from being tampered with or protecting the public's safety. However, the search will be limited to the requirements of the immediate emergency.

How to Find Out If Someone Has A Warrant Online

Generally, almost anyone may look up warrant information online in Alaska through online resources provided by the Alaska Court System or local law enforcement agencies such as the  Sitka Police Department or the Juneau Police Department. These online resources are usually searchable using an individual’s name, case number, location details, or ticket/citation number. These online resources are sometimes provided as a list containing information about active warrants.

Besides traditional government channels, interested persons may also conduct active Alaska warrant searches through certain third-party websites. These websites are maintained by private entities or individuals that compile public warrant information and records collected from relevant agencies in Alaska into a searchable database hosted on their website. Warrant searches on most third-party websites are conducted using an individual’s name. Note that searches are usually subject to a fee or subscription.

How Long Do Warrants Last in Alaska?

Alaska warrants typically do not have a statute of limitations. Besides search warrants that must be executed within 30 days of their issuance, warrants may remain active until they are resolved, recalled by the issuing court, or their subject dies.