Anchorage Arrest Records

Anchorage arrest records are kept by several agencies, starting with the Anchorage Police Department and the Alaska Court System. You can search recent bookings online, request paper copies of reports, or run a formal criminal history check through the state. Most arrest records in Anchorage are public under AS 40.25.100. This page covers where to look, how to ask for records, what you will find in them, and which offices handle requests for Anchorage arrest records.

Where to Find Anchorage Arrest Records

Anchorage is Alaska's largest city, and it has more places to look for arrest records than anywhere else in the state. The Anchorage Police Department is the main source for city arrest records. The APD keeps booking logs, incident reports, mugshots, and case files for arrests made inside Anchorage city limits. Alaska State Troopers cover areas just outside the city and hold separate records. For cases that went to court, the Alaska Court System is another key source.

The APD runs a Police to Citizen (P2C) portal that lets you look up recent arrests and bookings without submitting a formal request. This free tool shows active incidents, recent arrests, and crime maps. It is the fastest way to check on a recent Anchorage arrest. For older records or formal copies, you need to go through the APD Public Records Center or the DPS records office.

The Alaska Department of Public Safety keeps a central criminal history file on all statewide arrests through the Criminal Records and Identification Bureau. That bureau, located at 5700 East Tudor Road in Anchorage, is the place to go for full rap sheets. A name-based check costs $20. A fingerprint check costs $35. The bureau is open Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Once a case goes before a judge, the record transfers to the Alaska Court System. The CourtView public access portal lets you search by name, case number, or citation. It is free to use and covers courts statewide, including all Anchorage cases.

Anchorage Police Arrest Records

The Anchorage Police Department is headquartered at 716 West 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501. The Records Department can be reached at (907) 786-8600 ext. 1. APD has moved to an online-only records request system through the APD Public Records Center. Walk-in records requests are no longer accepted for most reports.

There are a few rules you need to follow when requesting Anchorage arrest records through APD. First, documents must be requested separately from other media such as audio, video, and photos. Second, only one case or incident number is allowed per request. Third, if you are requesting records about yourself or a juvenile in your care, you must submit a consent form with your request. The APD offers three consent forms: an Adult Consent Form, an Adult with Guardian Consent Form, and a Juvenile Consent Form.

APD also publishes active warrant information on its website. People who think they may have an outstanding warrant are strongly advised not to walk into the station to check, as they may be arrested on the spot.

The APD P2C portal is a free and open resource. It shows recent arrests, open incidents, and crime activity across Anchorage neighborhoods. No account is needed to view basic information.

Note: In 2021, APD faced controversy when attorneys challenged its fee practices under the Alaska Public Records Act. The municipality was directed to waive certain research and redaction fees. Verify the current fee schedule directly with APD before submitting a request.

Anchorage Arrest Records Statistics

APD releases annual crime data that helps put Anchorage arrest records in context. In 2021, the department recorded 19 homicides, 495 forcible rapes, 433 robberies, and 1,974 aggravated assaults. Property crimes were higher: 1,395 burglaries, 5,664 larceny and theft offenses, and 1,039 motor vehicle thefts. Officers also recorded 3,583 non-aggravated assault incidents in the same year.

These numbers reflect only crimes reported to APD and do not include cases handled solely by Alaska State Troopers or other agencies. Full annual crime reports are published by the Alaska Department of Public Safety and cover statewide data including Anchorage.

Arrest counts differ from crime counts. Not every reported crime leads to an arrest, and some arrests involve crimes committed in prior periods. When searching Anchorage arrest records, keep in mind that the arrest date and the offense date may not match.

CourtView and Anchorage Case Files

The Alaska Court System maintains CourtView, a free public search tool that covers all Alaska trial courts including Anchorage. You can search Anchorage court cases by the defendant's name, case number, citation number, or filing date. The system shows case status, scheduled hearings, charges, and docket history.

CourtView pulls data from all four judicial districts including Anchorage, which falls in the Third Judicial District. Cases filed in Anchorage Superior and District Courts appear here once they are docketed. The portal is updated regularly but is not always real-time.

The Nesbett Courthouse in Anchorage houses both the Superior Court and the District Court. It sits at 825 W. 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501-2004. The general number is (907) 264-0491. The Criminal Division has its own line at (907) 264-0470. To get paper copies of Anchorage court records, use Form TF-311 ANCH, which is specific to Anchorage trial courts. You can also email requests to ANCCopy@akcourts.us. The first document costs $5, and each one after that is $3. Certified copies start at $10.

Anchorage Arrest Records Request Process

There are two main tracks for requesting Anchorage arrest records. The first is through APD for police reports and booking records. The second is through the Alaska Court System for case records once a case has been filed.

To request records from APD, go to the APD Public Records Center online. Create an account, find the correct request form, and submit your request with the incident or case number. If you are requesting records about yourself or a minor in your care, attach the required consent form. APD handles documents and media separately, so you may need to file two requests if you want both a report and any associated video footage.

APD processes requests under the Alaska Public Records Act. Agencies are required to respond within 10 business days under AS 40.25.110. Some exemptions apply. Records that could endanger someone's safety, interfere with an active investigation, or reveal certain personal information may be withheld or redacted under AS 40.25.120.

For court records from the Nesbett Courthouse, mail or email Form TF-311 ANCH to the court clerk with your payment. Call (907) 264-0491 first if you need help finding the right form or case number.

Inmate Lookup for Anchorage

People arrested in Anchorage are typically booked into the Anchorage Correctional Complex at 1400 East 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501. The facility can be reached at (907) 269-4100. It is managed by the Alaska Department of Corrections.

To look up a current inmate at the Anchorage Correctional Complex or any other Alaska state facility, use the VINElink offender search tool. VINElink is free and does not require an account for basic searches. You can search by name using the first two characters of the last name at a minimum, or by offender ID. The tool shows the inmate's full name, facility location, custody status, and ID number.

VINElink also lets you register for notification alerts. If you want to know when an inmate is released or moved to a different facility, you can sign up for automatic alerts by email or phone. This is a free service run through the Alaska Department of Corrections.

Note: VINElink only shows inmates currently in state custody. If someone was arrested and released on bail or bond, they will not appear in the system.

Background Checks and Anchorage Arrest Records

The Alaska Department of Public Safety runs the official background check system for the state. The Criminal Records and Identification Bureau handles all formal requests for criminal history. For Anchorage residents and those with Anchorage arrest records in their history, this bureau is the right place to start a thorough records check.

You can submit a background check request online through the DPS self-service background check portal. Name-based checks cost $20 and are limited to Alaska criminal history. Fingerprint-based checks cost $35 and are more precise. Walk-in requests are accepted at the DPS office at 5700 East Tudor Road in Anchorage during regular business hours. You will need two forms of ID, and at least one must be government-issued.

The background check shows criminal history records under AS 12.62.160, which governs the disclosure of criminal justice information from Alaska's CJIS database. Third-party requests for someone else's records require the subject's signed consent and an Unsworn Falsification Statement. Forms returned without these items will not be processed.

What Anchorage Arrest Records Contain

A standard Anchorage arrest record includes the arrested person's full legal name and any known aliases, date of birth, race, sex, height, and weight. Physical identifiers like hair color, eye color, tattoos, and scars may also be noted. The record lists the date, time, and location of the arrest along with the name of the arresting officer and agency.

Booking records add more detail. They include the charges filed, the booking number, a booking photo (mugshot), and fingerprints. Bail or bond information is recorded as well. Once a court case is opened, a case number is added to the arrest record. As the case moves forward, dispositions and sentencing information are added to the file.

Criminal history reports from the DPS bureau contain more than just a single arrest. They include past conviction data with charges, dispositions, and incarceration history. They also include current offender information such as recent arrests, active warrants, and current case status. The definitions for these data fields are set out in AS 12.62.900.

Sealed Records and Exemptions in Anchorage

Not every Anchorage arrest record is open to the public. Alaska law allows certain records to be sealed or restricted. Juvenile arrest records are not public as a general rule. Cases that were dismissed without a conviction, charges that were never filed, and arrests where the person was acquitted may be eligible for sealing or expungement under certain conditions.

The Alaska Public Records Act at AS 40.25.120 lists the main exemptions. Records that could interfere with an ongoing investigation are typically withheld until the case closes. Records involving victims of certain crimes, including sexual offenses, are also restricted. Personal details that would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy can be redacted before records are released.

Sex offender registration information is handled separately. Alaska maintains a public Sex Offender Registry under AS 18.65.087 and AS 12.63.010. This registry is searchable online and includes names, photos, addresses, and offense information for registered offenders. It is managed by the Alaska Department of Public Safety.

Alaska State Troopers in Anchorage

The Alaska State Troopers maintain a presence in Anchorage and handle arrests in areas outside APD jurisdiction, including the Chugach area and unincorporated parts of the Anchorage area. The Trooper headquarters is at 5700 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, which is also the DPS address. The main contact number for the Anchorage area is (907) 269-5511.

If an arrest was made by State Troopers rather than APD, the record lives with the Troopers, not with APD. Use the DPS public records request portal to request incident reports and arrest records from the Troopers. Each request needs specific incident details including date, location, and case number if known.

The Alaska Bureau of Investigation, which handles major crimes across the state, is also based in Anchorage. For records from ABI investigations, submit a request through the same DPS portal.

Nearby Alaska Cities

Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska. Several other cities in the region also have arrest records available through local police departments and the Alaska Court System.

• Knik-Fairview - Matanuska-Susitna Borough, served by MSB Police and State Troopers
• Badger - Fairbanks North Star Borough, served by Alaska State Troopers
• Fairbanks - Second-largest city in Alaska, served by the Fairbanks Police Department
• Juneau - Alaska's capital city, served by the Juneau Police Department