Alaska
Alaska Expungement Laws: What You Can (and Cannot) Do With Your Criminal Record
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 20, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 20, 2026. · 1 primary source cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Alaska does not have a general expungement law. Criminal conviction records maintained by the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS) are permanent, with only two narrow forms of relief available under state law: the set-aside of conviction under AS 12.55.085 and the sealing, under AS 12.62.180, of records that, beyond a reasonable doubt, resulted from mistaken identity or false accusation.
Information last verified on May 29, 2026. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed attorney.
Jurisdiction scope: This article covers Alaska state criminal records only. For a state-by-state comparison, see Expungement Laws by State.
Does Alaska Have Expungement?
Alaska does not have expungement in the way most states use that term. The Alaska Department of Public Safety has confirmed on its official background-check pages that "Alaska does not have an expungement law, meaning criminal history records cannot be permanently removed from the central repository." That statement reflects longstanding Alaska law. The Alaska Legislature has not enacted a general expungement statute, so there is no procedure by which an adult can petition a court to permanently destroy or remove a criminal conviction record from the DPS central repository. Records of arrests, charges, and convictions accumulate and remain in the DPS criminal history repository indefinitely unless one of the two narrow statutory exceptions applies.
The Set-Aside of Conviction Under AS 12.55.085
The closest Alaska comes to conviction relief for adults is the set-aside procedure under AS 12.55.085. A set-aside is not expungement. When a court grants a Suspended Imposition of Sentence (SIS), it withholds a formal judgment of conviction and instead places the defendant on probation. If the defendant successfully completes all probation conditions, the court may set aside the conviction under AS 12.55.085. The practical effect is that the case is officially noted as "set aside" in court records. Under Alaska Administrative Rule 40(a)(13), cases in which a defendant successfully completed an SIS and the court set aside the conviction are automatically removed from public access on the Alaska Court System's CourtView website, provided all other charges in the case were also dismissed, set aside, or the defendant was acquitted. However, the conviction record continues to exist in DPS criminal history files and does not disappear from background checks that query the DPS repository directly. The set-aside may carry some collateral benefits in limited licensing or employment contexts, but it does not erase the DPS record or restore all civil rights automatically. Not all convictions qualify for SIS at sentencing. Courts may not impose SIS for certain serious felonies, and prosecutors and judges retain broad discretion over whether to offer SIS in the first place. If SIS was not granted at the time of sentencing, the set-aside route under AS 12.55.085 is not available.
Sealing of Records Under AS 12.62.180
Alaska law provides one mechanism specifically labeled "sealing," but it applies only to records that resulted from mistaken identity or false accusation. Under AS 12.62.180, a criminal justice agency may seal information it is responsible for maintaining when that information meets those narrow criteria. To seek this relief, an individual submits a written request to the head of the agency holding the record, asking that the information be sealed because it resulted, beyond a reasonable doubt, from mistaken identity or false accusation — one of the highest evidentiary standards in Alaska law. For records held by DPS, the request goes to the R&I Quality Assurance Unit at 5700 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99507. DPS has a designated "Request to Seal Criminal Justice Record" form for this purpose. This process does not apply to accurate conviction records. If you were arrested, charged, and convicted and the record correctly reflects those facts, AS 12.62.180 provides no avenue for sealing.
Challenging Inaccurate or Incomplete Criminal History
Separate from the sealing process, Alaska law allows individuals to challenge the accuracy or completeness of their criminal history records held by DPS. If you believe your DPS criminal history report contains inaccurate or incomplete information, you can submit a "Request to Correct Criminal Justice Information" form to the DPS R&I Quality Assurance Unit. DPS is required to respond within five days, or to forward the correction request to the responsible agency if DPS is not the holder of the disputed information. Missing disposition data is among the most common issues that arise in these correction requests. Providing documentation from your court case can help expedite the process. A successful correction updates the accuracy of the record but does not remove it. The distinction between correcting an inaccurate record and sealing or expunging an accurate conviction record is critical: only the former is available as of right under Alaska law.
Juvenile Records in Alaska
Alaska treats juvenile delinquency records under a separate statutory framework. Juvenile records are not automatically public in the same way adult criminal records are, and Alaska law provides procedures under which certain juvenile records may be sealed when the individual reaches adulthood and meets applicable conditions. The specific eligibility requirements and procedures for juvenile record sealing are distinct from anything discussed in this article, which focuses on adult criminal records. If you have a juvenile record and want to understand your options, consult an Alaska attorney familiar with the Alaska Delinquency Rules and the applicable provisions of the Alaska Children's Code.
What You Can Do If You Have an Alaska Criminal Record
Given how limited Alaska's record-relief options are, practical steps focus on accuracy and context rather than erasure. First, obtain your own criminal history record from DPS to verify it is accurate and complete. Second, if the record contains errors or missing dispositions, submit a correction request to DPS R&I with supporting court documentation. Third, if you received an SIS at sentencing and have completed probation, consult an Alaska attorney about whether you are eligible to petition the court for a set-aside under AS 12.55.085. Fourth, if your record stems from a case of mistaken identity or false accusation, ask an attorney whether a sealing request under AS 12.62.180 applies to your situation. Finally, be aware that some federal records, FBI records, and records held by other states are outside the reach of Alaska's procedures entirely.
Disclaimer: This article discusses Alaska state law as it existed on May 29, 2026. Alaska criminal records law is subject to legislative change. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice. Consult a licensed Alaska attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
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RecordingLaw.com provides general legal information, not legal advice. Laws change; verify current statutes with official Alaska sources or a licensed attorney.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Alaska have expungement?
No. Alaska does not have a general expungement law. The Alaska Department of Public Safety has stated officially that criminal history records cannot be permanently removed from the state's central repository. There is no court petition process to erase a conviction record.
What is a set-aside of conviction in Alaska?
A set-aside under AS 12.55.085 is available only when a court imposed a Suspended Imposition of Sentence (SIS) at sentencing and the defendant successfully completed probation. The court then notes the conviction as 'set aside.' Under Alaska Administrative Rule 40(a)(13), the case is automatically removed from public access on the CourtView website, but the conviction record persists in DPS criminal history files.
What does AS 12.62.180 do?
AS 12.62.180 allows a criminal justice agency to seal records that, beyond a reasonable doubt, resulted from mistaken identity or false accusation. It does not authorize sealing of accurate conviction records. A person who was accurately convicted has no avenue to seal records under this statute.
How do I clear my record in Alaska?
For most people with Alaska convictions, full record clearing is not available. If your record contains inaccurate information, you can submit a correction request to DPS R&I. If you received an SIS and completed probation, you may petition for a set-aside under AS 12.55.085, which removes the case from CourtView public access but leaves the record in DPS files. For records that, beyond a reasonable doubt, resulted from mistaken identity or false accusation, AS 12.62.180 may permit sealing. An Alaska attorney can advise which, if any, options apply to your case.
Does Alaska CourtView show set-aside records?
No. Under Alaska Administrative Rule 40(a)(13), cases in which a defendant successfully completed an SIS and the court set aside the conviction are automatically removed from public access on the CourtView website, provided all other charges in the case were also dismissed, set aside, or the defendant was acquitted. However, the conviction record remains in DPS criminal history files and may appear on background checks that query the DPS repository.
Can I get a DUI expunged in Alaska?
No. Alaska has no general expungement law, so DUI convictions cannot be expunged. A DUI may potentially qualify for a set-aside under AS 12.55.085 if the court imposed an SIS and probation was completed successfully. A set-aside removes the case from CourtView public access but does not erase the record from DPS criminal history files.
How do I request a copy of my Alaska criminal history record?
You can request your own criminal history record from the Alaska Department of Public Safety. Background check request instructions and forms are available on the DPS website at dps.alaska.gov. Reviewing your own record is a useful first step before pursuing any correction or relief option.
Are Alaska juvenile records automatically sealed?
Alaska juvenile delinquency records are not automatically public in the same way adult records are, and there are procedures for sealing juvenile records when the individual reaches adulthood and meets certain conditions. These rules are separate from adult criminal record procedures. Consult an Alaska attorney for specifics.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Corrected the description of AS 12.62.180 record sealing to reflect the statute's 'beyond a reasonable doubt' evidentiary standard for mistaken-identity or false-accusation claims, which the article had omitted throughout.
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Alaska Statutes, Title 12. Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 62. Criminal Justice Information and Records Checks
§ 12.62.180Sealing of criminal justice informationIn force
(a) Under this section, a criminal justice agency may seal only the information that the agency is responsible for maintaining. (b) A person may submit a written request to the head of the agency responsible for maintaining past conviction or current offender information, asking the agency to seal such information about the person that, beyond a reasonable doubt, resulted from mistaken identity or false accusation. The decision of the head of the agency is the final administrative decision on the request. (c) The person requesting that the information be sealed may appeal an adverse decision of the agency to the court under applicable rules of procedure for appealing the decision of an administrative agency. The appellant bears the burden on appeal of showing that the agency decision was clearly mistaken. An appeal filed under this subsection may not collaterally attack a court judgment or a decision by prison, probation, or parole authorities, or any other action that is or could have been subject to appeal, post-conviction relief, or other administrative remedy.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at akleg.gov
Cited in 3 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2023
Leading cases: State, Division of Corp., Business & Professional Licensing, Alaska Board of Nursing v. Platt (Alaska Supreme Court 2007, 169 P.3d 595) · Benjamin S. v. Stephenie S. (Alaska Supreme Court 2018) · Briggs v. Yi (District Court, D. Alaska 2023)
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
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Sources and References
- Alaska Department of Public Safety – Background Checks and Record Correction(dps.alaska.gov)
- AS 12.55.085 – Suspended Imposition of Sentence(akleg.gov)
- AS 12.62.180 – Sealing of Criminal Justice Records(akleg.gov)
- Alaska Court System, CourtView Online Information and Administrative Rule 40(courts.alaska.gov).gov