Alaska Inmate Search

Inmate records provide specific information about all convicted offenders within correctional facilities. Searching for this information is relatively easy, considering this information is available to all requesters following federal and state regulations. In Alaska, these records are provided by state-specific platforms or third-party sites. The main custodian of inmate records is the Alaska Department of Corrections.

It offers access to relevant inmate information via a VINE link. The database should only show the individuals in the state's care, but others may also provide access to past and current information. That allows the record seeker to view incarcerated inmates before being released. To perform a successful inmate search, one would have to know the basics about the individual of interest. That is their names, ages, booking numbers, date of birth, and the facility where they have been detained.

Should the inmate search not yield any results, the individual may be held at a federal or county facility. For the latter, these records may still need to be updated to the statewide database, so checking with the county platforms would be advisable. These are maintained by the local sheriff’s office, which usually offers an online lookup tool.

Some databases may also allow one to search using an alias or a part of the person’s name. Though, a first and last name is required. There are common names, so the result may entail a long list. In these cases, the requester would have to filter the results to get to the desired name.

What are Alaska Inmate Records?

Alaska inmate records are details concerning an incarcerated person as requested by an eligible interested party. Though inmate records are deemed public domain in most states, it is not the case for Alaska. According to section 22 AAC 05.095 of the administrative code, there is a restriction for individuals that can access inmate searches.

The state statute maintains that except as provided otherwise, access to prisoner information is limited to particular personnel and agents of the department. Individual and medical case records containing prisoner information might not leave facilities unless authorized by a court order or the commissioner of the Department of Corrections.

In the absence of state law toward the contrary, legal representatives have to be given access to inmate information to prepare for classification, parole, revocation hearing, or an appeal. The Deputy Commissioner can also approve access to the inmate information by agencies or individuals involved in research provided there is evidence that threats to confidentiality have been minimized.

It should also be that privacy concerns are more than the advantage to the person seeking the record or the agency they represent. Individuals not under the supervision of the Department of Corrections can access the records, except if the commissioner determines there would be a significant risk, reprisals, or injury. Typically, inmate records are stored by the Alaska Department of Corrections. The department takes inventory of inmates incarcerated at state and county facilities. For the latter, though, the information is maintained by the sheriff’s office. It is possible to contact the local offices or use their inmate locators if they have them available. The Department of Corrections also contains information on inmates held at any federal facilities located within the state jurisdiction.

Alaskan inmate records include information on offenders, such as their physical descriptors. That is name, age, height, and weight. They also entail criminal charges, sentencing information, bail status, and court appearance dates.

What are Alaska Prison and Jail Records?

Alaska's criminal justice system includes prisons, jails, parole, and probation. The state of Alaska has a unified prison system, entailing integrated management of both the prisons and jails. As of 2019, the number of incarcerated in Alaska was 1782, distributed among 12 prison facilities and 15 jails. The number of people in the jails numbers an average of 90, while the parole population consists of 1,163 individuals. It also has a probation population of 2,100.

It is understandable that the incarceration rate for the state then is 718 per 100,000 people from the prisons, jails, and immigration and juvenile justice facilities. Most of the individuals incarcerated were from the American Indian and Alaskan native ethnicities. Considering the overall prison population, Black Americans were also found to have been incarcerated in high numbers. It would appear then that groups such as whites are underrepresented within the prisons and jails. However, blacks, Latinos and Native Americans were found to be over-represented within the incarcerated population.

As is the case with other jail facilities, the prison system in Alaska is shifting the cost of incarceration to the imprisoned. The jails in Alaska currently charge $3.15 for a quarter-hour call. Prisons charge $2.1 for the same duration. The inmates also cost 50 cents an e-message to or from the prison. Fortunately, it is one of the few states in the United States where the inmates are not charged for the transferal of funds. During the pandemic, the state also suspended any medical copays for the imprisoned people who wanted treatment for Covid-19, like diagnoses. Ultimately, the goal is to end the copay, as not many can afford them.

Should an individual in prison have more than $15 in their commissary account, they will not qualify for assistance in buying hygiene-related basics or posting. They might also be made to pay Alaska back for any related aid received. However, the inmates in Alaska prisons only earn 30 cents an hour for their work, so most of their revenue would likely come from friends, family, or well-wishers. On average, Alaska was found to release 1714 people per year.

How to Perform Inmate Search in Alaska

It is possible to search for an inmate in two ways which are at the state and county levels. The Department of Corrections does have a database though this is not available for use by any interested party. An alternative, in this case, would be the Vine Link platform. This is a free and anonymous service that was meant to support victims of crime. It is set up so that one can register to get automated notifications via email or text and check the offender's custody status online. This is not a state-specific but federally available tool. Inmate searches are also possible at the local jail level. The sheriff’s office and local police departments within counties maintain booking lists for people held in custody. Interested parties can visit the sheriff’s webpage or look up the county’s designated inmate search tools to find these lists. These sites do not usually charge for finding records on inmates.

How to Contact an Inmate in Alaska

Alaska is one of the more conservative states in the country when it comes to contacting prisoners, but it should be possible to maintain contact from the outside. Phone calls are not allowed from outside to the inmate. Rather inmates can call their friends, family, or well-wishers at a specific rate. As previously mentioned, inmates are charged $3.15 per 15-minute call. The costs are $2.1 per 15 minutes in Alaska state prisons.

Phones at these facilities are turned on when the morning county has been done and switched off at around 10 pm. It is possible to also correspond via email messages. Inmates are not allowed to have internet. Rather the messages are sent through a prison app to the outside world. All correspondences that are done by phone are also monitored by the facility. Therefore, anything untoward or not allowed by the facility regulations is immediately shut down, and restrictions are placed on the inmate for further communication. Alaska inmates are charged 50 cents for email messages to and from the prison.

Inmates are allowed to use designated applications, such as Corrlinks, to enable communication via email. To get the inmate’s specific handle, interested parties have to contact the Alaska Department of Corrections and sign up for mailing. One can also check the DoC for additional regulations. Inmates at state prisons and county jails can receive letters, cards, and photographs, provided they are structured in a particular manner. Mail regulations may also vary depending on the facility, and there is no limit on the number of pages an inmate would receive in a letter. It should also not be larger than 8 inches wide or 10 inches tall.

Photographs may be relayed from the outside, but they have to be on white paper. Polaroid is not allowed. Obscene or vulgar messages are also prohibited, and conducting any form of business via mail is not permitted. Incoming mail should be addressed correctly, illustrating the inmate’s name, booking number, and facility address. Abbreviations should also not be used in letters, and all that have pictures outside the envelope are not permitted. Postcards are permitted though it would be advisable to contact the facility concerning the regulations of what to include. Nudity, glue, and tape are commonly denied elements in these cases.

How to Visit an Inmate in Alaska

Inmates at Alaska State and jail facilities can get visitors in person or online. Though, the visitor must be approved first by the inmate and the facility before arrival, which means they have to be scheduled in advance. Depending on the facility, there are particular days for visitation, which should be verified by checking with the local county or state facilities. Visitors also have to adhere to particular facility rules, such as wearing appropriate clothing.

The clothing should not have inappropriate writing and ought to cover the neck to the knee. It is the visitor's responsibility to ensure they are within the dress code parameters. A change of clothes is a great idea considering it allows one to change into comfortable clothing once they leave their vehicle. Visitors are also not allowed to wear clothing that closely resembles what the inmates don. Heads are not to be covered by hats, and shoes must always be worn. Photographic or imagery devices are not allowed during visits with inmates.

Other than prior approval via security, all visitors can only visit an inmate once in a 30-day period. That is unless the visitors have more than one immediate family member jailed at the facility. In these cases, the visitor can see each inmate on different days within the 30 days.

The visitors must also be above the age of 18 or accompanied by an approved legal guardian or their parents. In some cases, visitation can be denied. For example, the potential visitors may have been in the custody of a correctional facility and released within 60 days of the application to visit the other inmate. Though, this does not include individuals that are part of the inmate’s immediate family. Restrictions are also placed on individuals designated as a security threat to the facility. Visitors under the influence of alcohol and substance are not allowed to visit with inmates.

How to Send Money to an Inmate in Alaska

Inmates are allowed to receive money from friends, family, and well-wishers. These can be sent to an inmate's account via money gram or cashier’s check filed with the inmate’s name and identification number. When an inmate is booked, a trust account is created, allowing them to purchase items and pay for different jail-related services. If the depositing party does not fill in the inmate's details appropriately, they will get a refund. Inmates can purchase hygiene items and snacks during their incarceration via commissary.

The money that is spent is then deducted from their account. Pricing depends on the specific facility and the rates identified by the Department of Corrections. One may contact the facility, though, for more information concerning the online fees as well as the related amount. In these cases, deposits cannot be sent over the phone by linking to the Department of Corrections. Funds may be deposited into the inmate's account through mail or the kiosk in the jail lobbies. To send funds via mail, one may contact the DoC. The deposit time for funds into the inmate’s account varies, but those deposited via card are done so immediately.

Counties in Alaska