Alaska State Departament Of Corrections Inmate Search

The Alaska DOC (Department of Corrections) oversees the correctional needs in Alaska. It presides over the affairs and activities of correctional institutions and inmates' probation and parole under the current commissioner, Nancy Dahlstrom.  

Initially, Alaska had no state-run department of corrections. The state's correctional reds were handled by the Federal Bureau of Prisons until the establishment of the Alaska Department of Corrections in 1959. 

However, more than 30 percent of the state's convicts were held in private out-of-state facilities (especially Arizona's Florence Correctional Center) as of 2005.  

The issue was finally resolved in 2012 when all Alaska's inmates serving time in Arizona were transferred back to one of the state's newly established facilities. Alaska currently has 27 county jails and prisons.  

Alaska State Prison Inmate Roster 

Alaska DOC has a prison inmate roster containing the details of inmates under its custody. Inmates' details are considered public information. So, it's accessible to anyone, including independent sites providing inmate search services and governmental entities. However, third-party sites aren't very reliable as they're not regularly updated.  

Alternatively, you can visit the state's Department of Corrections: 

Officials at the Alaska DOC will help find the information about inmates, including which facility they're being held in and their potential release dates. Some other details available after successfully conducting an inmate search includes: 

• Gender  
• Inmate's Age 
• Crime Committed  
• Race 
• Date of Incarceration  
• Years of Incarceration  

Using VINE Link for State Inmate Search  

VINE Link, a third-party service platform, allows state residents, especially crime victims, to check on their offenders. It's USA's largest victim notification system and is accessible every day of the week. The system allows crime victims to open an account, which enables them access to email updates whenever the offender's custody status changes. The victims are also notified of the progress of criminal cases, such as an offender's upcoming court hearings.  

When opening an account, you must ensure to have the following details: 

• The Inmate's unique Incarceration number 
• The Inmate's Full Name (First and Last) 

How to Visit an Inmate in Alaska 

All prospective visitors must get approval before visiting any prison in Alaska. To obtain approval, an inmate must send a visitor's form to their prospective visitor through the mail. The intending visitor will mail back the application form to the facility after completing it and await approval.  

Adult visitors must present a valid ID, address, name, and relationship with the inmate during visitation. Minors being accompanied by an adult must present guardianship paperwork or birth certificate.  

A visitor can only visit one prisoner within 30 days unless they've got more than one close family member being held in custody (and they must have prior approval via security). The visitor can see each family member in custody on different days. 

Furthermore, the Alaska DOC has strict guidelines on expected conduct and dress code during visits. Hence, prospective visitors must go through and comply with the visitation policy.  

How to Send Money to Inmates in Alaska 

Inmates in the different facilities in Alaska can receive money sent from friends and family by mail. Since personal checks aren't allowed, cashier's checks and money orders sent must be correctly filled with the offender's identification number and full name. There's a ten-day hold on every cashier's check, and money order before the inmate's account is credited with the funds.  

Only checks issued or certified by the American government, the State of Alaska, corporate dividends, certified checks, postal money orders, payroll checks, or refunds from vendors are allowed. An inmate can transfer up to $250 to individuals outside Alaska's prisons with the Superintendent's approval. 

How to Contact an Inmate  

Inmates aren't allowed to receive incoming calls. If you'd like to communicate with an inmate, call the facility where they're being held. Most jails in Alaska allow inmates to make calls to individuals outside the prison. 

You must be on the approved calling list of an inmate to receive a collect call from them. The prisons monitor all calls for security reasons except those made to doctors, clergy, or attorneys. Also, inmates can only make collect calls at specific times provided by the authority.  

Inmates need to create a prepaid account with Global Tel Link or Securus to communicate with their families. You can deposit money into the inmate's calling account to enable them to purchase commissaries and call you or other loved ones. Note that you can't receive collect calls from an inmate if you use a VoIP phone or cell phone.