Alaska Criminal History

Searches Require that you Pay a Fee
If you are interested in conducting a criminal background search in Alaska, then your primary resource will be the Alaska Department of Public Safety, which is also referred to as the DPS. The Criminal Records and Identification Bureau is maintained by the DPS as is the Sex Offender Registry. You can either search by name or with fingerprints, with fees assessed for each type of search at $20 and $35, respectively.

The Requirements for Fingerprinting
A fingerprint search necessitates that you submit fingerprints on an FBI fingerprint form (#FD-258) with the request. Any fingerprints that are not submitted on this card will not be accepted, even those provided on a standard fingerprint document. Criminal histories in Alaska are available to anyone who requests them and are comprised of details about arrests, charges, and convictions. Employers or criminal justice investigators can access data regarding one's criminal history even if a conviction was not made.

How to Obtain Inmate Records
Inmate records can be accessed through the Alaska Department of Corrections or DOC by way of telephone using the VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) system. You can gain entry to the VINE system by the telephone or the Internet. If you use the Internet, then you can obtain an inmate's information by either inputting his identification number or by inserting his name. Records will show the release date and where the inmate is currently incarcerated.

How Records can be Assessed for Use by Crime Victims
If you have been a victim of a crime, you can access inmate records to find out the tentative date of release for an inmate. Victims who register through the DOC can obtain inmate information by email, phone, or mail. Through the DOC, victims are apprised when an inmate is released, if he dies while incarcerated, or if he is transferred to a work release program or another facility.

Retrieving the Data Online
Again, criminal histories can be accessed by all individuals, including former inmates, employers, and the victims of crimes. You can access the information on the Internet through the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS), where you can get specific advice on retrieving the information. Usually, fingerprint background checks are advised as searches involving only names may miss some important details in the criminal history.

In Alaska, you have More Latitude when you are Conducting a Criminal Records Search
You have the ability to search for criminal records as well as obtain information about the sex offenders comprised in the state's registry. Victims, especially, make use of criminal background searches as it keeps them updated about the offender's status.

What Forms are Available
Online, you can obtain such forms as:

• A request that is designed to be completed by the subject of the request;
• A request that that is made for requesters who are other than the subject;
• A request to seal information in a criminal record; and
• A request to amend information in a criminal history.
  

A Few More Details
Again this information can be obtained by clicking on the DPS website. The Department of Public Safety's office is located at 5700 East Tudor Road in Anchorage (zip code 99507).