Individuals seeking Alaska criminal records have several locations to use to gather this information. Criminal records are created when an individual is charged with and found guilty of a crime. In many cases, this information becomes public knowledge, but that is not always the case. The search for this information is often helpful to those who plan to hire an individual or those who wish to learn about a person in-depth. Not all records are available to the public. Those that are available are available through various resources.

The availability of Alaska criminal records depends on various factors. The state does make most records available including those having to do with both felonies and misdemeanors. This includes most cases involving situations of traffic violations, municipal coding violations and DUI convictions. Individuals who commit crimes that are more serious and those on probation have this documented in their criminal records. Those who have the name, address and the Social Security number of the individual may be able to search databases to gather this information.

One of the first places individuals can look in person for this data is the Department of Public Safety. It has the largest repository of information related to criminal records in Alaska. You can contact the office in person by visiting the following address:

Department of Public Safety

5700 East Tudor Road

Anchorage, Alaska 99507

It is also possible to contact the office over the phone for most requests. By calling 907 269-5511, individuals can inquire about a background check. However, there is often a requirement for individuals to have the permission of the person the search is being conducted on to obtain these records. This includes a "waiver of consent" in situations of licensing, background checks for security purposes and even for employment verification. It becomes very important to show a cause for researching information on individuals.

In addition to this database through the Department of Public Safety, another option is to turn to local courthouse records. Local courthouses have records of criminal activity, including evidence and full documentation of various crimes on hand for those instances occurring at the local level. It is possible that this information is available at the town or the county level. State related offenses, including driving violations, are held through state trial records through state repository databases. For those who are looking for federal crime charges, these are held at that level.

Gathering information on Alaska criminal records is not always easy to do. The information contained will provide a wealth of knowledge on a person's criminal past, including any type of conviction from the age of 18 onward. In order to access records of someone who is under the age of 18, individuals must pursue a court order to access this information. It is rarely available.

Most Alaska criminal records searches can be conducted online through various database searches. It is a good idea to use a variety of sources to get full information regarding the individual's actions. Not all sources contain all information.

• Alaska Crime Reports & Statistics

• Alaska Sex Offender Registry Search