Alaska Felony: Laws, Penalties, Sentencing, and Records

In Alaska, a felony is a serious crime that can result in a sentence of one year or more in state prison. Typically, any crime considered a felony attracts harsher punishments and more lasting consequences, unlike misdemeanors, which are regarded as less serious offenses and therefore attract milder sentences. Felonies are treated differently in each state; Alaska uses a classification system that categorizes felonies into specific sentence levels.

This guide provides an overview of the definition of a felony in Alaska and its legal classifications. It also examines associated consequences, sentencing guidelines, and methods for searching court and law enforcement databases for felony records within the state.

What Is Considered a Felony in Alaska?

The Alaska Statutes (AS) Title 11, Criminal Law, describes many of the significant crimes that fall under the broad category of felonies in Alaska. Typical felonies in Alaska include:

• Violent Crimes: Violent crimes include murder, manslaughter, first-degree assault, sexual assault, kidnapping, and robbery.
• Drug Crimes: These include the manufacturing, distributing, or trafficking of controlled substances.
• Property Crimes: In Alaska, property crimes include burglary, arson, vehicle theft, and theft involving property or money valued at $750 or more.
• White-Collar Crimes: Such crimes may include fraud, forgery, embezzlement, and identity theft.
• Weapons Offenses: This includes any convictions for the possession, unlawful use, or sale of firearms or other weapons.

Typically, aggravating circumstances, financial loss, or the severity of the injury are what elevate a crime to felony status. For instance, it is a felony to steal items valued at $750 or more, but it is a misdemeanor to steal property of less value. In a similar vein, assault with a weapon is immediately considered a crime.

What Is a Felony in Alaska?

A felony in Alaska refers to a crime that carries a sentence of more than a year in a state correctional facility. By comparison, if you commit a misdemeanor, you could expect to spend not more than a year in a municipal or regional jail.

If convicted of a felony in Alaska, there will be long-lasting consequences, such as:

• Lengthy Prison Terms and Fines: Felony sentences often exceed one year, and fines can reach $500,000 for the most serious crimes.
• Loss of Rights: Felons may lose the right to vote, own firearms, and hold public office while incarcerated.
• Criminal Record: Felony convictions remain part of a permanent record, impacting employment, housing, and professional licensing.

Felony Classes and Penalties in Alaska

Alaska categorizes felonies into four categories. These are unclassified, Class A, Class B, and Class C. Each class carries specific sentencing ranges and fines.

Alaska Felony Classes

• Unclassified Felony
  • This is typically reserved for the most serious crimes, such as first-degree murder and some sexual assault cases.
  • Penalty: Individuals convicted of such crimes can face imprisonment for up to 99 years.
  • Fine: They may also have to pay up to $500,000 in fines.
• Class A Felony
  • This typically includes first-degree assault, manslaughter, and kidnapping.
  • Penalty: If convicted, perpetrators may face 5 to 20 years in prison.
  • Fine: They may have to pay as much as $250,000 in fines.
• Class B Felony
  • This class includes burglary in the first degree, theft over $25,000, and certain drug trafficking crimes.
  • Penalty: Jail time for such crimes could range from 1 to 10 years.
  • Fine: Fines could also get as high as $100,000.
• Class C Felony
  • Includes theft between $750 and $25,000, vehicle theft, and lower-level assaults.
  • Penalty: Individuals convicted of such crimes may face imprisonment for up to 5 years.
  • Fine: Convicted individuals could pay up to $50,000.

This classification system helps standardize penalties across the state, while still allowing judges discretion within sentencing ranges.

Felony Sentencing Guidelines in Alaska

In Alaska, statutory ranges, presumptive sentence guidelines, and judicial discretion are all used to determine sentencing.

Key Sentencing Factors

1. Presumptive Sentences: Alaska courts use presumptive sentencing to determine the sentence that certain individuals would face. Presumptive sentences establish default sentence ranges based on the crime and the defendant’s prior record.
2. Aggravating Factors: These are circumstances that worsen the potential sentence and increase penalties, such as the use of a deadly weapon, crimes against minors or the elderly, repeat offenses, and crimes involving extreme harm.
3. Mitigating Factors: These are circumstances that help to reduce sentences. They include the lack of prior convictions, cooperation with law enforcement, or evidence of rehabilitation.
4. Parole and Probation: In Alaska, an individual convicted of a crime may be eligible for parole after serving a portion of their sentence. However, Alaska may not allow parole for some serious crimes, such as unclassified felonies. Probation may also involve having to wear an electronic monitoring device, attend therapy, or go through drug rehabilitation.

For instance, a repeat violent offender may receive a maximum sentence of five years. In contrast, a first-time offender of a Class C felony would typically receive a presumed term of two years.

Felony Laws and Procedures in Major Alaska Cities

Anchorage (Anchorage Borough)

As Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage handles felony cases in the Third Judicial District Superior Court. The court handles various drug cases, property crimes, and violent crimes. Records are accessible through Alaska's statewide CourtView system or the Anchorage Superior Court Clerk's office.

Fairbanks (Fairbanks North Star Borough)

Felony cases in Fairbanks are heard in the Fourth Judicial District Superior Court. The city has a higher share of property crimes compared to other regions. Records can be accessed through the Fairbanks Superior Court Clerk’s Office or online databases.

Juneau (Juneau Borough)

Juneau’s felony cases are handled by the First Judicial District Superior Court. Because it is a smaller city, resources may be more limited compared to Anchorage, but felony prosecutions follow the same Alaska Statutes. You may find records through the Juneau Clerk’s Office.

How to Search for Felony Records in Alaska

Alaska makes felony records available through multiple official and public sources.

1. CourtView Public Access System

Records of felonies can be seen online through the CourtView portal of the Alaska Court System. Users have the option to search by attorney, case number, or name. Typical information comprises:

• Case number and status.
• Charges and filings.
• Court location.
• Case outcomes and sentencing.

2. Superior Court Clerk’s Offices

The Superior Court Clerk's Office in the judicial district where the felony was tried is where certified copies and complete case files must be found.

3. Criminal History Records

The Alaska Department of Public Safety maintains a criminal history records database that covers the entire state. To get access to them, you may request a background check from the department.

4. Local Police Departments

You can also get reports of arrests and incidents, which may involve felony charges, by visiting local police departments. You may request arrest records by using the stipulations outlined in the Alaska Public Records Act.

5. Third-Party Background Checks

Several private services provide access to Alaska felony records. While convenient, these databases may not always be accurate or current. Note that you can rely solely on official state systems for accurate and reliable records.

Open vs. Sealed Records

• Open Records: Most felony convictions remain public.
• Sealed Records: In certain cases, such as when charges are dropped, a person is found not guilty, or a person is pardoned, certain felony records may be sealed or expunged from the public record.

Why Understanding Felonies in Alaska Matters

In Alaska, felony convictions have a lasting impact on one's reputation, long-term rights, and opportunities, in addition to potential jail time and other consequences. Understanding felony legislation and how to obtain public records is crucial for residents, employers, and organizations, as a conviction can significantly impact one's ability to secure employment, housing, and professional licensing.

Felonies in the Last Frontier State are grouped into Unclassified, Class A, Class B, or Class C, with Unclassified being the most serious and Class C being the least serious. The penalties for these offenses vary based on the felony class, prior convictions, and aggravating circumstances. You can obtain felony records by visiting the Department of Public Safety, checking with the Superior Court Clerks, or searching the state’s CourtView system.