Alaska state law enforcement

Alaska Territorial Police officer, circa 1954. Click on the picture to learn more.

Law enforcement is the only justice service in Alaska delivered at least in part through local agencies. However, municipal and borough police departments exist only in those communities with the economic resources to support them (see Alaska local law enforcement). Throughout the rest of the state, law enforcement services are provide chiefly by the Alaska Department of Public Safety, including enforcement of fish and wildlife laws on state lands.

See also:
Law enforcement > Alaska local law enforcement

Law enforcement > Alaska VPSO program

Law enforcement > Law enforcement training and certification in Alaska

Alaska Natives > Alaska Natives & law enforcement

Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS)
The Alaska Department of Public Safety is responsible for law enforcement throughout Alaska through two major divisions. The Alaska State Troopers provide law enforcement services to areas without local law enforcement agencies. The Alaska Division of Fish and Wildlife Protection enforce game laws on state-owned lands. DPS also administers the Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) program, which provides funding for local villages to train and hire their own public safety officers to assist the Alaska State Troopers in handling public safety and law enforcement problems.

• Division of Alaska State Troopers. AST is charged with enforcement of all criminal and traffic laws in Alaska. Troopers provides law enforcement services to areas without local law enforcement agencies. AST's principal tasks are the identification and apprehension of violators and the revention of crimes and traffic violations. Other responsibilities include the management of the Village Public Safety Officer Program (see Alaska VSPO Program), serving of warrants, transportation of prisoners, and search-and-rescue missions. AST also includes the Alaska Bureau of Wildlife Enforcement (formerly the Alaska Division of Fish and Wildlife Protection), which enforces fish and game laws and regulations on Alaska lands and waters.
• Alaska Division of Fire Prevention (State Fire Marshal). The State Fire Marshal conducts fire and life safety inspections, plan reviews, fire investigations, and public fire safety education.
• Alaska Sex Offender Registration, Central Registry. This database provides name, address, date of birth, photograph, and other identifying information, place of employment, conviction information, and sentence length for convicted sex offenders required to register under AS 12.63.010, Alaska's registration of sex offenders law. Links to relevant statutes are provided.

Justice Center articles & reports
(in reverse chronological order)

• Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage. (Summer 2004). "Alaska Justice System Expenditures, 1984-2001." Alaska Justice Forum 21(2): 1-3.
• Alaska Public Safety Statewide Survey: Component Two of Alaska Public Safety Project. Report prepared for the Alaska Department of Public Safety. Anchorage: University of Alaska Anchorage, Justice Center, 1995.
• Public Safety and Policing in Alaska Native Villages: Component Three of Alaska Public Safety Project. Report prepared for the Alaska Department of Public Safety. Anchorage: University of Alaska Anchorage, Justice Center, 1995.
• "Community Problems in Alaska: Public Perceptions". Alaska Justice Forum 12(2), Summer 1995.
• "Public Safety and Quality of Life: Alaska Perceptions". Alaska Justice Forum 12(3), Fall 1995.
• "Public Safety: Shared Responsibility". Alaska Justice Forum 13(1), Spring 1996.
• "Village Alaska: Community Characteristics and Public Safety". Alaska Justice Forum 12(4), Winter 1996.
• Brady Statute Data: Establishing Noncriminal Classifications for the Alaska Department of Public Safety. By Cassie Atwell, Lawrence C. Trostle, and Allan R. Barnes. Report prepared for the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the Alaska Department of Public Safety. Anchorage: University of Alaska Anchorage, Justice Center, 1997, 1998.
• "The Brady Act in Alaska" by Cassie Atwell. Alaska Justice Forum 16(1), Spring 1999.
• "Notes on the Brady Bill (A Viewpoint)" by Lawrence C. Trostle. Alaska Justice Forum 16(1), Spring 1999.

Justice Center projects

• Alaska Department of Public Safety Project (JC 9506). John E. Angell. Alaska Department of Public Safety. 1995.
• Brady Statute Data: Establishing Noncriminal Classifications for the Alaska Department of Public Safety (JC 9615). Lawrence C. Trostle. Bureau of Justice Statistics. 1996-1999.
• The Effect of the DARE Program Upon Rural Alaskan Students' Attitudes, Beliefs, and Understandings About Drug Use and Abuse (JC 9921). Darryl S. Wood. Alaska State Troopers. 1999.
• Turnover Among Alaska Village Public Safety Officers (VPSOs): An Examination of the Factors Associated with Attrition (JC 9901). Darryl S. Wood. National Institute of Justice. 1998-1999.