Matanuska-Susitna County Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Matanuska-Susitna County
Arrest records in Matanuska-Susitna County are generally considered public records under Alaska state law. Pursuant to Alaska Statute § 40.25.110, all public records held by state and local government agencies are presumed open to inspection by members of the public unless a specific statutory exemption applies. This presumption of openness extends to law enforcement records, including arrest logs, booking records, and incident reports maintained by borough and municipal police agencies.
It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under current Alaska law, an individual may have an arrest record without any corresponding conviction if charges were dropped, dismissed, or never filed. Members of the public should be aware that accessing an arrest record does not constitute a criminal history background check, and the two record types serve distinct legal and administrative purposes.
Certain categories of arrest information may be withheld from public disclosure. Records involving juveniles, ongoing investigations, confidential informants, or information whose release would jeopardize public safety may be exempt from disclosure under § 40.25.120. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough's public records policy, procedures, and regulations govern how citizens may access these documents at the local level.
What's in Matanuska-Susitna County Arrest Records
Arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies in Matanuska-Susitna County typically contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and throughout the processing of an arrested individual.
Arrestee Identifying Information:
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and age at time of arrest
- Physical description, including height, weight, hair color, and eye color
- Home address at time of arrest
- Race and gender as recorded by the arresting agency
Arrest Details:
- Date, time, and location of the arrest
- Name and badge number of the arresting officer
- Arresting agency (e.g., Alaska State Troopers, Wasilla Police Department, or Mat-Su Borough law enforcement)
- Incident or case number assigned to the arrest
Charge Information:
- Specific criminal charges filed at the time of arrest
- Alaska Statute citation for each charge
- Classification of each offense (felony, misdemeanor, or infraction)
Warrant Information (if applicable):
- Warrant number and issuing court
- Date the warrant was issued
- Jurisdiction of the warrant
Booking Information:
- Booking number assigned by the detention facility
- Date and time of booking
- Name of the facility where the individual was booked
Bond/Bail Information:
- Bail amount set by the court or pretrial services
- Type of bond (cash, surety, or personal recognizance)
- Bond conditions imposed by the court
Court Information:
- Court case number
- Scheduled arraignment or hearing dates
- Assigned judge or magistrate
Custody Status:
- Whether the individual is currently in custody, released, or transferred
- Release date and conditions of release, if applicable
Additional Information May Include:
- Photographs taken at booking (mugshots)
- Fingerprint records
- Vehicle information if relevant to the arrest
- Co-defendant information in multi-party cases
How To Look Up Arrest Records in Matanuska-Susitna County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain arrest records from Matanuska-Susitna County through several official channels. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or through online portals depending on the agency holding the records.
To request records from the Matanuska-Susitna Borough directly, individuals should submit a written public records request to the Borough Clerk's Office. The request must identify the records sought with reasonable specificity, including the full name of the subject, approximate date of arrest, and any known case or incident numbers.
Matanuska-Susitna Borough Clerk's Office 350 E. Dahlia Ave., Palmer, AK 99645 (907) 745-4801 The Matanuska-Susitna Borough
For records involving arrests made by the Wasilla Police Department, requests should be directed to that agency's records division. The department currently serves a city of over 10,000 residents and processes records requests during regular business hours.
Wasilla Police Department 1001 E. Swanson Ave., Wasilla, AK 99654 (907) 376-5151 Wasilla Police Department
For arrests handled by the Alaska State Troopers, requests may be submitted to the Alaska Department of Public Safety. The department's daily dispatch logs are publicly accessible and provide a contemporaneous record of law enforcement activity across the state.
Alaska Department of Public Safety — Mat-Su Area 1700 E. Bogard Rd., Wasilla, AK 99654 (907) 352-5401 Alaska Department of Public Safety Daily Dispatch
Requesters should be prepared to pay applicable copying or processing fees as authorized under state law. Agencies are generally required to respond to public records requests within ten business days of receipt.
How To Find Matanuska-Susitna County Arrest Records Online
Several official online resources currently provide access to arrest and court-related records for Matanuska-Susitna County without requiring an in-person visit.
- Alaska Court System CourtView: The Alaska Court System maintains an online case search portal where members of the public may search for court case records by name, case number, or date range. Individuals may use the Alaska court case search tool to locate criminal case filings associated with an arrest. It should be noted that a CourtView search is not equivalent to a criminal history records check, and some records may not appear in the system.
- Alaska Department of Public Safety Daily Dispatch: The state's daily dispatch portal allows the public to search dispatch reports by date range, providing information on law enforcement incidents and arrests handled by state troopers throughout the Mat-Su region.
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough Online Records Portal: The Borough's official website provides access to public records request procedures and, in some cases, direct access to certain categories of public documents through its online records management system.
How To Search Matanuska-Susitna County Arrest Records for Free?
Members of the public may access certain arrest-related records at no cost through official government platforms currently available online.
- CourtView Public Access: The Alaska Court System's online case search is available to the public at no charge. Individuals may search criminal case records associated with arrests in Matanuska-Susitna County by visiting the Alaska Court System case search portal and entering the subject's name or case number.
- Alaska DPS Daily Dispatch: The Department of Public Safety's daily dispatch reports are freely accessible online and document law enforcement activity, including arrests, on a day-by-day basis.
- In-Person Inspection: Under § 40.25.110, members of the public have the right to inspect public records in person at the agency's office during regular business hours at no cost. Fees may apply only when copies are requested.
- Borough Public Records Portal: The MSB public records page provides guidance on submitting requests and may offer direct access to certain documents without charge.
How To Delete Arrest Records in Matanuska-Susitna County
Alaska law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement (legal erasure of the record) and sealing (restricting public access while preserving the record for authorized use). These are distinct remedies with different eligibility criteria and legal effects.
Expungement results in the destruction or erasure of an arrest record, as though the arrest never occurred. Sealing restricts the record from public view but preserves it for use by law enforcement, courts, and certain licensing agencies.
Under current Alaska law, expungement options are limited. Alaska does not currently have a broad expungement statute applicable to adult criminal records. However, certain records may be eligible for sealing or limited relief under specific circumstances, including:
- Arrests that did not result in charges being filed
- Cases in which charges were dismissed or the individual was acquitted
- Juvenile records, which are subject to separate confidentiality protections under Alaska law
- Cases involving mistaken identity or wrongful arrest
To pursue sealing or expungement of an arrest record in Matanuska-Susitna County, individuals must file a petition with the Alaska Superior Court in Palmer. The petition must set forth the legal basis for relief, the specific records sought to be sealed or expunged, and supporting documentation. The court will schedule a hearing and may notify the arresting agency and prosecuting authority.
Alaska Superior Court — Third Judicial District, Palmer 435 S. Denali St., Palmer, AK 99645 (907) 746-8181 Alaska Court System
Individuals seeking this relief are advised to review the applicable provisions of Alaska law and consult with a licensed attorney regarding eligibility and procedure.
What Happens After Arrest in Matanuska-Susitna County?
The criminal justice process in Matanuska-Susitna County follows a structured sequence of events from the moment of arrest through final case disposition.
- Arrest: Law enforcement takes an individual into custody based on probable cause, a warrant, or observation of a criminal offense.
- Booking: The arrested individual is transported to a detention facility, where identifying information, fingerprints, and photographs are recorded and charges are formally logged.
- Initial Appearance / Arraignment: Within 24 to 48 hours of arrest, the individual appears before a magistrate or judge, is informed of the charges, and bail is set or denied.
- Preliminary Hearing or Grand Jury: For felony charges, the prosecution must establish probable cause either through a preliminary hearing or grand jury proceeding before the case proceeds to trial.
- Pretrial Proceedings: Both parties engage in discovery, motions practice, and, in many cases, plea negotiations.
- Trial or Plea: The case is resolved either through a guilty plea, a negotiated plea agreement, or a jury or bench trial.
- Sentencing: If the individual is convicted, the court imposes a sentence in accordance with Alaska's sentencing guidelines.
- Post-Conviction: The individual may pursue appeals, post-conviction relief, or, where eligible, record sealing through the court system.
How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Matanuska-Susitna County?
Arrest records in Matanuska-Susitna County are subject to retention schedules established under Alaska state law and applicable administrative regulations. Under current law, law enforcement agencies are generally required to retain arrest records for a minimum period that varies based on the severity of the offense and the outcome of the case.
- Felony arrest records are typically retained permanently or for a period of several decades, reflecting the seriousness of the underlying offense and the need to preserve evidence and accountability.
- Misdemeanor arrest records may be retained for shorter periods, commonly ranging from five to ten years following case closure, depending on agency policy and state retention schedules.
- Arrests without conviction are subject to the same general retention schedules unless the record is sealed or expunged by court order.
- Juvenile records are governed by separate retention rules and are generally sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood, subject to certain exceptions.
The Alaska Department of Administration's records management program establishes statewide retention schedules applicable to government agencies. Different agencies — including the Borough, municipal police departments, and the Alaska State Troopers — may maintain separate retention schedules consistent with state minimums. Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for potential future proceedings and maintaining governmental accountability to the public.
How to Find Mugshots in Matanuska-Susitna County
What Mugshots Are Mugshots are photographic images taken by law enforcement at the time of booking following an arrest. They are part of the official booking record and document the physical appearance of an arrested individual at the time of custody.
Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots are maintained by the detention facility or law enforcement agency responsible for booking the arrested individual. In Matanuska-Susitna County, this includes the Matanuska-Susitna Borough correctional facilities and municipal police departments such as the Wasilla Police Department.
Finding Mugshots Members of the public seeking mugshots may submit a public records request to the relevant law enforcement agency. Requests should identify the subject by full name and approximate date of arrest.
Can They Be Found Online At present, Matanuska-Susitna County does not maintain a publicly accessible online mugshot database. Some mugshot images may appear incidentally in court records accessible through the Alaska Court System's case search portal, though this is not guaranteed.
Obtaining Mugshots Officially Official copies of booking photographs may be obtained by submitting a written public records request to the arresting or booking agency. The Wasilla Police Department and the Alaska State Troopers each process such requests through their respective records divisions.
Restrictions on Mugshot Access Mugshots involving juvenile arrestees are confidential under Alaska law and are not subject to public disclosure. Additionally, if an arrest record has been sealed by court order, associated booking photographs are likewise restricted from public access.