Matanuska-Susitna County Criminal Records
What Is Matanuska-Susitna County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Matanuska-Susitna Borough (commonly referred to as the Mat-Su Borough) are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are maintained by multiple agencies across the borough and the State of Alaska.
Types of criminal records maintained in the Mat-Su Borough include:
- Arrest records — documentation of a law enforcement detainment, which does not necessarily indicate a conviction
- Conviction records — formal court findings of guilt following a plea or trial verdict
- Felony records — documentation of serious offenses carrying potential sentences exceeding one year of incarceration
- Misdemeanor records — documentation of lesser offenses, typically carrying sentences of up to one year
- Juvenile records — records involving individuals under 18 years of age, which are generally sealed under Alaska law and not accessible to the general public
- Active warrant records — current court-issued orders for arrest
- Historical records — archived documentation of past criminal proceedings
A complete criminal record may encompass charges filed, arraignment proceedings, entered pleas, trial records, sentencing details, probation or parole conditions, and any subsequent appeals. The principal agencies responsible for maintaining these records in the Mat-Su Borough are the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Police Department, the Alaska State Troopers (which serve much of the borough's unincorporated areas), the Alaska Court System's Palmer-based Superior and District Courts, and the Alaska Department of Public Safety's Criminal Records and Identification Bureau.
Matanuska-Susitna Borough 350 E. Dahlia Ave., Palmer, AK 99645 (907) 745-4801 The Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Alaska Department of Public Safety 5700 E. Tudor Rd., Anchorage, AK 99507 (907) 269-5511 Alaska Department of Public Safety
Alaska Superior Court – Palmer (Mat-Su) 435 S. Denali St., Palmer, AK 99645 (907) 746-8181 CourtView Online Information - Alaska Court System
Are Criminal Records Public In Matanuska-Susitna County
Under Alaska law, the majority of adult criminal records are presumptively open to the public. Alaska's public records framework is governed by Alaska Statute § 40.25.110, which establishes that public records held by state and local government agencies are available for inspection and copying by any member of the public upon request. Court records are additionally governed by Alaska Administrative Rule 37.5, which affirms the public's right of access to judicial records.
Records that are generally available to the public include:
- Adult conviction records
- Court case filings, dockets, and dispositions
- Sentencing orders and judgment documents
- Arrest logs maintained by law enforcement agencies
- Sex offender registry information
Records that are restricted or exempt from public disclosure include:
- Juvenile adjudication records, which are sealed pursuant to Alaska Statute § 47.12.310
- Records pertaining to active or ongoing criminal investigations
- Expunged or set-aside records where a court has ordered non-disclosure
- Certain victim information, including addresses and identifying details of minors
- Mental health and medical records incorporated into criminal proceedings
Members of the public should be aware that while inspection of records is broadly permitted, certain categories of sensitive information within otherwise public documents may be redacted prior to release.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Matanuska-Susitna County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in the Mat-Su Borough may pursue several official channels depending on the type of record required. The following steps outline the primary methods currently available.
Step 1 — Identify the appropriate agency. Court case records, including charges, pleas, and dispositions, are held by the Alaska Court System. Arrest and booking records are maintained by the arresting law enforcement agency, such as the Alaska State Troopers or local police departments. Statewide criminal history records are maintained by the Alaska Department of Public Safety.
Step 2 — Submit a court records request. Individuals seeking copies of court case files may complete the official TF-311 records request form and submit it to the Palmer courthouse clerk's office. The form requires the requester to identify the case by name, case number, or other identifying information.
Step 3 — Request a criminal history background check. For a comprehensive statewide criminal history record, members of the public may submit a request to the Alaska Department of Public Safety's Criminal Records and Identification Bureau. Requests for third-party background checks require the subject's written consent under Alaska Statute § 12.62.160.
Step 4 — Visit the courthouse in person. Members of the public may inspect court records in person at the Palmer courthouse during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding state holidays.
Step 5 — Pay applicable fees. Fees for copies of court records are currently set at $0.25 per page for standard documents. Certified copies carry an additional fee. Inspection of records without copying is generally provided at no charge.
How To Find Criminal Records in Matanuska-Susitna County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Mat-Su Borough criminal and court records without requiring an in-person visit.
CourtView Public Access — The Alaska Court System operates CourtView, a statewide online case search database. Members of the public may search cases by party name, case number, or attorney name. CourtView contains civil, criminal, and traffic case information for cases filed in Alaska courts, including the Palmer Superior and District Courts serving the Mat-Su Borough. It is important to note that a CourtView search does not constitute a comprehensive criminal history records check, and some records may not appear in the online system.
What CourtView contains:
- Case numbers and filing dates
- Party names and roles
- Charges and statute citations
- Hearing dates and case events
- Dispositions and sentencing summaries
What CourtView does not contain:
- Sealed or expunged records
- Certain older cases not yet digitized
- Full document images in all cases
Alaska Sex Offender Registry — The Alaska Department of Public Safety maintains a publicly searchable sex offender registry on its official website, which includes registrants residing within the Mat-Su Borough.
Mat-Su Borough Online Services — General borough government information, including contact directories for law enforcement and administrative offices, is accessible through the official borough portal.
No registration or account creation is currently required to perform a basic CourtView case search. However, access to certain document images or sealed case information requires in-person review at the courthouse.
Can You Search Matanuska-Susitna County Criminal Records for Free?
Alaska law currently permits members of the public to inspect public records without charge. Pursuant to Alaska Statute § 40.25.110, agencies may not impose a fee solely for the inspection of public records; fees apply only when copies are requested.
Free resources currently available include:
- CourtView Online Case Search — The Alaska Court System's case search portal is available at no cost and provides access to case-level information for Mat-Su Borough court proceedings
- In-person record inspection — Members of the public may inspect court case files at the Palmer courthouse clerk's office at no charge during public counter hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
- Alaska Sex Offender Registry — Searchable at no cost through the Alaska Department of Public Safety website
- Arrest logs — Publicly available through the Alaska State Troopers' public information office upon request
Fees are assessed when physical or certified copies of documents are requested. Standard copy fees are currently $0.25 per page; certified copies carry an additional certification fee. Requests for official statewide criminal history background checks through the Department of Public Safety are subject to a processing fee regardless of the results.
What's Included in a Matanuska-Susitna County Criminal Record?
A criminal record maintained within the Mat-Su Borough justice system may contain several categories of information depending on the nature and stage of the case.
Identifying Information:
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
- Photograph (mugshot) taken at booking
- Last known address
- State Identification (SID) number assigned by the Alaska Department of Public Safety
- FBI number, where applicable for federal database entries
Arrest Information:
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency (e.g., Alaska State Troopers, Palmer Police Department)
- Booking number and facility (e.g., Matanuska-Susitna Pretrial Facility)
- Charges filed at the time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set
Court Case Information:
- Case number and assigned court (Superior or District Court, Palmer)
- Filing date and jurisdiction
- Specific charges with applicable Alaska statute citations, including felony class (A, B, or C) or misdemeanor class (A or B)
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
- Attorney of record information
Disposition Information:
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed, acquitted)
- Conviction date
- Sentencing details, including incarceration length, fines, restitution orders, and probation or parole conditions
- Record of any appeals filed or decided
Additional Record Elements:
- Active or recalled warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status
- DUI or DWI adjudications
- Traffic-related criminal violations
- Pending charges not yet adjudicated
How Long Does Matanuska-Susitna County Keep Criminal Records?
Criminal records in Alaska are subject to retention schedules established by the Alaska State Archives and applicable state statutes. The Alaska Court System and law enforcement agencies are each governed by distinct retention requirements.
Court records retention periods currently in effect include:
- Felony case files — Retained permanently by the Alaska Court System
- Misdemeanor case files — Retained for a minimum of 10 years following case closure
- Infraction and minor offense records — Retained for a minimum of 3 years
- Juvenile adjudication records — Retained pursuant to Alaska Statute § 47.12.310, with access restrictions; physical records may be sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood
Law enforcement agency records:
- Arrest records and booking logs — Retained by the Alaska State Troopers and local agencies for a minimum of 7 years under state administrative guidelines
- Criminal history records — Maintained indefinitely by the Alaska Department of Public Safety's Criminal Records and Identification Bureau unless expunged or set aside by court order
The Alaska State Archives establishes official retention schedules for all state and local government records. Agencies are required to comply with these schedules and may not destroy records prior to the expiration of the applicable retention period. Members of the public seeking records from older cases are advised to contact the relevant court clerk or agency directly to confirm availability.