How it works in Alaska

  1. Get Fingerprinted

    Visit your local police or sheriff's station and have your fingerprints taken.

    Cost: $30.00 to $50.00 — depending on the provider

  2. Request your Record

    Complete and submit your application to request an official copy of your criminal history record from the Alaska Department of Public Safety.

    Record request fee: $35.00

  3. Review your Record

    Confirm there is no disqualifying information in your history. If there is something incorrect, follow the process to challenge the issue. If everything is accurate, make a copy for your file and keep the original somewhere safe.

  4. Request Certified Documents

    Collect certified copies of relevant documents. These include a copy of the disposition of the case from the clerk of court that handled the original case and the arrest record from the arresting agency. If you had probation or parole, had to take classes, had to pay fees, or had any other obligations, you also need certified proof that you completed those requirements.

    Certified copy fee: $10.00 to certify; $5.00 first page; $3.00 each subsequent page

  5. Verify the Final Documents

    Review each document for accuracy. Confirm each one is certified and clearly shows you completed your obligations. Make copies of every original.

  6. Prepare your Petition

    Complete the petition based on the type of charge and outcome you are seeking, and obtain a verification from the police, the state attorney's office, and the court. There are no timing restrictions to note — you can submit as soon as you can prove the mistaken identity or false accusation.

  7. Finalize your Petition

    Take the completed petition from Step 6, the documents collected in Step 4, and the background check from Step 2, and put them together in a complete package. Double-check every file in the package is the original and ensure you have a copy of the complete package for your personal file.

  8. File your Expeal Request

    Once you have confirmed you have everything, file the petition with the Alaska Department of Public Safety.

  9. Work with the Department

    After the Alaska Department of Public Safety confirms it has received your filing, watch for the next instructions — typically a request for additional information or documentation. Respond promptly to anything the Department asks for.

  10. Receive the Department's Decision

    Once the Alaska Department of Public Safety rules on your petition, it issues a written decision either granting or denying the request to seal. Review the decision's terms carefully — they spell out which records are covered. Keep a certified copy for your own files.

  11. Verify the Record is Sealed

    Under Alaska Stat. § 12.62.180, the Alaska Department of Public Safety updates or restricts the criminal justice information covered by the order. If a background-check provider later produces an outdated report, your certified copy of the Department's decision is your authoritative reference. Confirm with the original arresting agency that its records reflect the sealing as well.

If you have to mail anything, remember to keep a copy of whatever you send and to use a method with a tracking number like the USPS Flat Rate Envelope.

Official agencies

Court forms

Alaska record-clearing statutes

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