Search Alaska Inmate Records
Alaska operates a unified correctional system, which means that all sentenced offenders and pretrial detainees are supervised by the Alaska Department of Corrections.
The correctional system, which comprises 13 state-level prisons, 15 local jails, and private prisons, houses over 5400 prisoners. This includes the population of female and juvenile offenders in the five female detention centers and six youth facilities in the state.
As of 2022, Alaska has an incarceration rate of 205 per 100,000 people, giving it one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. It's important to note that Alaska does not have a federal prison. Federal prisoners awaiting trial or sentencing are held in state facilities under the supervision of the Alaska Department of Corrections. Federal offenders sentenced in Alaska are moved to the Federal Correctional Institution, Sheridan, in Oregon.
Alaska Department of Corrections ensures that all correctional facilities under its control are built, maintained, and operated in a manner consistent with section 33.30.015 of the State's Statute. Each of these facilities is managed by a warden who reports to the Alaska Department of Corrections commissioner.
According to Statistics, there are over 5,400 prisoners in Alaska correctional system as of 2022. The system comprises 13 state-level prisons, 15 local jails, 5 female detention centers, and 6 youth facilities. Alaska has an incarceration rate of 205 per 100,000 people, making it one of the highest incarceration rates in the world.
Alaska Department of Corrections Inmate Search
The Alaska Department of Corrections oversees all state-level prisons in Alaska. The Department, which is led by a commissioner, ensures that there are secure confinements, reformative programs, and a process of supervised community reintegration for incarcerated persons. The commissioner shall determine the availability of state correctional facilities suitable for the detention and confinement of persons held under the authority of state law.
Other responsibilities of the commissioner include but are not limited to maintenance and control of state-level prisons, classification of prisoners, provision of necessary medical and psychological treatment for prisoners, facilitating fingerprinting in correctional facilities, establishing minimum standards for sex offenders' treatment programs, and establishing a program to begin reentry planning with each prisoner serving a term of 90 days or more.
The Alaska Department of Corrections also maintains records of all incarcerated persons in the State's correctional system. The public can access inmate records in Alaska by calling the Alaska Department of Corrections at (800) 247-9763 or using the Department's inmate search portal. Interested persons can search for inmates by providing their first and last names.
Alternatively, requesters can search for an inmate by providing their ID number. Accurate entry will allow requesters to view inmate records such as the inmate's name, age, gender, race, custody status, custody detail, location, and the reporting agency.
Find Inmate by Name
The inmate search portal the Alaska Department of Corrections uses allows requesters to conduct inmate searches by providing first name/last name. First and last name searches generally return all matches whose names match the letters the requester typed.
Users do not need to type the surname in full as the system generates returns for incarcerated persons with the first name and first three letters of the surname entered.
To use this option, requesters must first click the partial name box. This makes it easy for requesters who are not sure of the spelling of the inmate's surname.
Find Inmate by Number
The inmate search portal used by the Alaska Department of Corrections allows users to search for an inmate using the six-digit Identification number assigned to them by the Department. If the exact ID number is unknown or does not return results, requesters may select the 'partial ID number box' and enter at least the first 4 characters, not including any 0s at the beginning, to see more potential matches. It is recommended that requesters select the display offender photos option to identify inmates quickly.
How Many Inmates Are Currently Incarcerated in Alaska?
Alaska has an estimated total incarcerated population of about ~6,100 people across state prisons, county jails, federal facilities, private prisons, juvenile facilities, and other detention categories. Because Alaska operates a unified state correctional system and has no county jail network, many jail and pretrial functions are handled by state-operated correctional centers.
| Facility Type | Population | % of Total | Avg. Daily Cost | Capacity Utilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Prisons | ~3,850 | 63.1% | ~$220 | ~92% |
| County Jails | ~0 | 0.0% | N/A | N/A |
| Federal Facilities | ~250 | 4.1% | ~$135 | ~80% |
| Private Prisons | ~0 | 0.0% | N/A | N/A |
| Juvenile Facilities | ~120 | 2.0% | ~$500 | ~55% |
| Other / Pre-Trial | ~1,880 | 30.8% | ~$220 | ~88% |
| Total | ~6,100 | 100.0% | ~$225 | ~89% |
State Correctional Facilities in Alaska
The Alaska Department of Corrections operates roughly 13 major correctional institutions and related community programs across the state. The system includes prisons, regional jail-style correctional centers, specialty facilities, a women’s institution, and work-release or community residential centers.
| Facility Name | Type | Location | Capacity | Population | Security Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goose Creek Correctional Center | State Prison | Wasilla area | ~1,500 | ~1,250 | Medium |
| Spring Creek Correctional Center | State Prison | Seward | ~500 | ~430 | Maximum |
| Hiland Mountain Correctional Center | Women's Facility | Eagle River | ~400 | ~330 | Multi-Level |
| Anchorage Correctional Complex | Specialty Facility | Anchorage | ~850 | ~780 | Multi-Level / Pretrial |
| Lemon Creek Correctional Center | State Prison | Juneau | ~220 | ~200 | Medium / Pretrial |
| Fairbanks Correctional Center | Community Corrections Facility | Fairbanks | ~300 | ~270 | Multi-Level |
| Pt. Mackenzie Correctional Farm | Work Release Center | Point MacKenzie | ~100 | ~75 | Minimum |
| Wildwood Correctional Complex | Medical / Aged Facility | Kenai | ~470 | ~420 | Multi-Level |
Inmate Demographics & Population Trends in Alaska
Alaska’s incarcerated population is shaped by a mix of sentenced felony cases, pretrial detention, supervision violations, and regional access challenges. Compared with national trends, Alaska has a notably high share of Alaska Native and American Indian inmates and a substantial pretrial population within its unified state-run system.
| Demographic Category | Breakdown | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Male ~88%; Female ~12% | Men make up the large majority of the incarcerated population, while the women’s population is concentrated primarily at Hiland Mountain and regional facilities. |
| Age Groups | Under 25: ~10%; 25–34: ~31%; 35–44: ~29%; 45–54: ~18%; 55+: ~12% | The largest groups are adults ages 25–44, consistent with broader state and national correctional patterns. |
| Race / Ethnicity | Alaska Native / American Indian: ~42%; White: ~40%; Black: ~8%; Hispanic / Latino: ~5%; Asian / Pacific Islander: ~3%; Other / Unknown: ~2% | Alaska Native people are significantly overrepresented compared with their share of the statewide population. |
| Top Offense Types | Violent: ~42%; Property: ~18%; Drug: ~10%; DUI / Public Order: ~15%; Supervision / Other: ~15% | Violent offenses and supervision-related admissions account for a large share of custody demand. |
| Avg. Sentence Length | ~3.5 to 4.5 years for sentenced prisoners | Time served varies widely because many people in custody are held pretrial or for short-term violations. |
| Recidivism Rate | ~55% to 60% within 3 years | Recidivism estimates vary by measure, with reentry housing, treatment access, and rural supervision capacity affecting outcomes. |
Parole, Release & Reentry Resources in Alaska
Alaska offers parole review, discretionary release, statutory good time credits, supervised release, and reentry services through the Department of Corrections and community partners. Support commonly includes housing referrals, employment assistance, treatment coordination, benefits access, and victim notification services.
| Program / Resource | Description | Who It Serves | Contact / Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Parole Board | Reviews eligible cases for discretionary parole and sets release conditions. | Eligible sentenced prisoners in Alaska DOC custody | Alaska Board of Parole through the Department of Corrections |
| Good Time / Sentence Reduction | Statutory good time credits may reduce time served for eligible inmates who follow facility rules. | Eligible sentenced inmates | Facility records office or assigned institutional probation officer |
| Parole Supervision | Community supervision with reporting, treatment, employment, and compliance requirements. | People released on parole or mandatory supervision | Alaska DOC Division of Pretrial, Probation and Parole offices |
| Reentry Housing | Transitional housing and community residential options help stabilize people after release. | People leaving custody who need housing support | DOC reentry staff, probation/parole officers, and contracted community providers |
| Employment Assistance | Job readiness, referrals, vocational planning, and connections to workforce services. | Individuals preparing for or recently released from custody | Facility reentry coordinators, Alaska Job Centers, and local nonprofit partners |
| Benefits Restoration | Assistance with identification, Medicaid, SNAP, veterans benefits, and other public benefit applications. | Returning residents with eligibility needs | DOC reentry staff, Alaska Division of Public Assistance, and community case managers |
| Victim Notification Program | Alaska VINE provides automated custody status and release notifications for registered victims and the public. | Victims, survivors, families, and concerned community members | Alaska VINE online or by phone through the statewide victim notification system |
What Information is Contained in an Alaska Inmate Record?
Alaska inmate records typically contain relevant information about an inmate, such as:
- Personal Information: The inmate's full name, hyphenated names, Alaska Department of Corrections ID number, date of birth, gender, and race
- Custody Status and Details: Whether the inmate is under parole supervision, whether the inmate is in custody, and the type of custody (supervised or unsupervised)
- Facility Information: Details about the facility where they are being held
- Reporting Agency: Usually the Alaska Department of Corrections
- Parole Information: Details about discretionary parole (early release before term expiration) and mandatory parole (release based on good behavior)
- Location Details: Information about the correctional facility and its address
Alaska Inmate Records by Counties
In Alaska, inmate records are also maintained at the county level for individuals held at the county jails. Alaska has 15 local jails, each serving one or more counties. The public can access inmate records at the county level by visiting the county website or contacting the Sheriff's Office or Police Department that operates the jail. The public can also view the public phone numbers of each of the 15 local jails by downloading the locally run community jails contact directory.
- Aleutians East County
- Aleutians West County
- Anchorage County
- Bethel County
- Bristol Bay County
- Denali County
- Dillingham County
- Fairbanks North Star County
- Haines County
- Hoonah Angoon County
- Juneau County
- Kenai Peninsula County
- Ketchikan Gateway County
- Kodiak Island County
- Lake And Peninsula County
- Matanuska Susitna County
- Nome County
- North Slope County
- Northwest Arctic County
- Petersburg County
- Prince Of Wales Hyde County
- Sitka County
- Skagway County
- Southeast Fairbanks County
- Valdez Cordova County
- Wade Hampton County
- Wrangell County
- Yakutat County
- Yukon Koyukuk County
Are Incarceration Records Public Information in Alaska?
Yes, incarceration records are generally considered public in Alaska following the State's Public Records Act. As such, citizens of Alaska have the right to view public records to locate an inmate or for research purposes.
The Department of Corrections allows users to view inmate records, with some restrictions for privacy and security reasons. These records typically include an inmate's personal information, custody details and status, and location within the correctional system.
It's important to note that confidential information, such as medical records, is exempt from inmate records.
US Prison and Jail System
The United States federal prison system comprises United States Penitentiaries, Federal Correctional Institutions, Private Correctional Institutions, Federal Correctional Complexes, Administrative Facilities, Federal Prison Camps, and Former Federal Facilities. The United States Federal Bureau of Prisons controls and maintains these facilities. The federal prison system typically handles inmates convicted of federal crimes.
It's important to note that Alaska does not have a federal prison. Federal prisoners awaiting trial or sentencing are held in state facilities under the supervision of the Alaska Department of Corrections. Federal offenders sentenced in Alaska are moved to the Federal Correctional Institution, Sheridan, in Oregon.
Frequently Asked Questions about Inmate Records
Below are some key questions to guide requesters seeking information about an inmate within Alaska:
To request public records from the Alaska Department of Corrections, interested persons must complete and submit an electronic public records request form . The request must include relevant information about the record to facilitate a timely response. Requesters will be contacted if their request incurs charges before it is processed.
You can look up inmates in Alaska using the Department of Corrections inmate search portal. This portal allows users to search for an inmate by providing the individual's first/last name or ID number. Additionally, you can look up inmates in local jails using specific inmate search tools maintained by the jail administrator.
You may request old inmate records from the Alaska Department of Corrections by completing the public records request form online . However, some of these records can not be obtained merely by submitting a public records request form. Requesters may be required to visit the Department in person to access the archive section.
To obtain inmate death records in Alaska, you can request them from the Alaska Department of Corrections. Death records may also be available through county offices for inmates who passed away while in county jails.
Inmate information is typically updated promptly on the Alaska inmate search portal. However, it may take some time for new information, such as transfer or release, to appear in the system.
To send money to an inmate in Alaska, you must first find the inmate's location and find out what payment options are acceptable at the facility where they are being held. After that, you can set up an account and send money to the inmate. Note that most correctional facilities in Alaska accept money orders.