Chugach Census Area Arrest Records
Chugach Census Area arrest records are held by multiple agencies, including the Alaska State Troopers posts in Valdez and Cordova and the Valdez and Cordova city police departments. The census area was established in 2019 and covers Southcentral Alaska communities including Valdez, Cordova, and Whittier. Arrest records from Chugach can be searched through the statewide CourtView portal, the DPS public records request system, and the VINElink inmate lookup. This page covers each path for accessing Chugach Census Area arrest records.
Chugach Census Area Arrest Records Overview
The Chugach Census Area is one of Alaska's newer census areas, created in 2019. It includes communities along Prince William Sound and the Copper River delta. Valdez is the largest community and serves as a major port and pipeline terminal. Cordova sits at the edge of the Copper River Delta. Whittier is a small port town connected to the road system. Each community has its own police presence, and the Alaska State Troopers cover the unincorporated areas of the census area.
All criminal cases from Chugach go through the Alaska Court System. CourtView is the first stop for checking whether an arrest produced a court case. Search by party name or case number. The system is free and available around the clock. Cases from Chugach fall under the Third Judicial District. Below is a screenshot from the CourtView portal.
CourtView shows charges, docket entries, and hearing dates. It does not show mugshots, and it does not replace a full records request for incident reports or booking documents.
Note: Chugach Census Area is geographically diverse. Valdez, Cordova, and Whittier each have their own local police, and the Troopers cover the rest. Know which agency made the arrest before submitting a records request.
Valdez Trooper Post and Arrest Records
The Alaska State Troopers Valdez Post at (907) 835-4307 serves the Valdez area and the broader unincorporated Chugach Census Area. Troopers at this post generate arrest reports for incidents in their jurisdiction. To request Trooper records from the Valdez Post area, use the DPS public records portal. Submit a formal request online, naming the Valdez Post and including the incident date, parties involved, and any case number you have.
The Alaska Cordova Trooper Post at (907) 424-3181 covers the Cordova area of the census area. For incidents in Cordova handled by Troopers rather than city police, requests go through the same DPS portal. Under AS 40.25.110, the agency has 10 business days to respond. A 10-day extension is allowed for files that need legal review. The Department of Law APRA page explains your rights under the Alaska Public Records Act. Below is the DPS portal screenshot.
The Alaska State Troopers site has a full list of post locations and coverage areas across the state.
Valdez Police Department Arrest Records
The Valdez Police Department at 212 Chenega Avenue, Valdez, AK 99686, phone (907) 835-4563, maintains arrest records for incidents inside Valdez city limits. Written requests for police reports and arrest records are submitted to the department directly. Call first to confirm the current request process, identification requirements, and fees. The Valdez Police maintain their own records separate from the State Troopers. For incidents where both agencies responded, you may need records from both.
Valdez is the terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and a major port. Law enforcement activity here includes incidents tied to the port, marine shipping, and the pipeline corridor. The Valdez Police and the Valdez Trooper Post coordinate on major incidents. For any case that went to court, CourtView will show which agency is listed as the arresting authority.
Cordova Police Department Arrest Records
The Cordova Police Department at 602 1st Street, Cordova, AK 99574, phone (907) 424-6100, handles arrest records for incidents within Cordova city limits. Cordova is accessible only by air and sea, which makes it one of Alaska's more isolated communities with road system access. Arrests in Cordova that stay within city jurisdiction are recorded by the local police. Submit written requests to the department for police reports and booking information.
The Cordova area is also served by the Cordova Trooper Post at (907) 424-3181. This post covers the surrounding unincorporated areas. When checking records for a Cordova area arrest, you should check both the city police and the Trooper records depending on which agency was involved. For court filings, all Cordova cases are searchable on CourtView under the Third Judicial District. Below is the CourtView help page screenshot from courts.alaska.gov.
The Alaska Court System site has forms, fee schedules, and trial court directories for all Alaska courts.
Valdez Court and Chugach Case Filings
The Valdez Court at 213 Meals Avenue, Valdez, AK 99686, phone (907) 835-2266, is the local trial court for the Chugach Census Area. The Valdez Court handles both Superior and District Court matters for the region. Felony cases, domestic relations, and civil cases over the threshold go to Superior Court. Misdemeanors, small claims, and preliminary hearings are in District Court. All cases are filed in the statewide Alaska Court System and are searchable on CourtView.
To get physical copies of court documents from Valdez, use form TF-311 and submit to the Valdez Court. Copy fees are $5 for the first document, $3 for each additional. Certified copies are $10 for the first, then $3 each. The Alaska Court System site has the form and full instructions. For information about how CourtView works, the help page at courts.alaska.gov explains the search interface.
Note: Whittier, the third main community in the census area, is geographically closer to Anchorage but part of the Chugach Census Area. Cases from Whittier may be filed in Anchorage courts depending on the case type and the judicial assignment.
Inmate Lookup for Chugach Census Area
After an arrest in the Chugach Census Area, individuals are typically transferred to state correctional facilities if held beyond the initial booking period. Use VINElink Alaska to search for anyone in state custody by name or offender ID. VINElink shows the current facility, custody status, gender, race, and ID. You can also sign up for free alerts when someone's custody status changes or when they are released from state custody.
The Alaska Department of Corrections manages the state facilities. For Chugach Census Area cases, the Anchorage Correctional Complex at 1400 East 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501, phone (907) 269-4100, is a common receiving facility due to Valdez and Cordova's access to road and air links to Anchorage. For very recent bookings, call the Valdez Police at (907) 835-4563 or the Valdez Trooper Post at (907) 835-4307 to confirm local custody before searching VINElink. The DOC page screenshot below shows the corrections home page.
VINElink covers the state prison and pretrial system. It does not show people held only at a city police station or local holding area.
Criminal History Checks for Chugach Arrest Records
The DPS Criminal Records and Identification Bureau at 5700 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99507, phone (907) 269-5767, handles statewide criminal history checks. A name-based check is $20. A fingerprint check is $35. Each extra copy costs $5. Walk-in hours are 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Bring two photo IDs if you go in person. The DPS self-service portal lets you submit online. Mail-in requests go to the Tudor Road address. Pay by cash, check, or money order.
AS 12.62.160 governs who may access criminal history records in Alaska. AS 12.62.900 defines the key terms. Third-party requests need the record subject's signed consent and a signed Unsworn Falsification Statement. Incomplete forms are returned. For federal records not in the Alaska system, the FBI offers a nationwide identity history summary check at fbi.gov. The Alaska sex offender registry at dps.alaska.gov is also publicly searchable under AS 18.65.087 and AS 12.63.010.
Public Access and Sealed Chugach Arrest Records
Alaska law gives every person the right to inspect a public record. AS 40.25.100 through AS 40.25.295 is the foundation. Most Chugach Census Area arrest records are public. You do not need to state a reason when asking for a record. AS 40.25.110 sets the 10-day response deadline. AS 40.25.120 lists what can be withheld, including open investigation files, records that could endanger a witness, and juvenile records.
Juvenile arrest records are sealed by default in Alaska. They do not appear on CourtView or in DPS name checks. Cases where charges were dropped may still appear in the history system. A person who was arrested but not convicted can sometimes challenge or seek correction of their record through DPS. Older Chugach area records that predate the current digital systems may be held by the Alaska State Archives in Juneau. The archives maintain historical court files and agency records for research purposes. Below is the archives site screenshot.
The archives are useful for genealogy work and historical case research on incidents that occurred before the current electronic record systems were in place.
Nearby Areas and Resources
The Copper River Census Area borders the Chugach Census Area to the north. The Glennallen Trooper Post at Mile 115 Glenn Highway, Glennallen, AK 99588, phone (907) 822-3263, serves that region. Anchorage is the nearest major city and the hub for Third Judicial District court services not handled locally. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough and the Kenai Peninsula Borough are within driving range for some Chugach residents. All use the statewide CourtView system and the DPS portal for records requests.
The DPS crime statistics page publishes annual Alaska arrest and crime data by region. The Alaska Judicial Council at ajc.state.ak.us provides court statistics and criminal case processing data for the full state, including the Third Judicial District that covers Chugach Census Area.