North Slope Borough Criminal History Records
Criminal history records in North Slope Borough are kept by the North Slope Borough Police Department in Utqiagvik and through the Alaska Court System's CourtView database. The borough stretches across the entire Arctic slope of Alaska, covering a vast area with a small, spread-out population. If you need to search criminal history for someone in the North Slope Borough, you can use CourtView online, request records from the borough police directly, or submit a background check request through the Alaska Department of Public Safety. This guide covers each path and what to expect from each one.
North Slope Borough Overview
North Slope Borough Police Department
The North Slope Borough Police Department (NSBPD) is the main local law enforcement agency for the borough. Headquarters sits at 1068 Kiogak Street in Utqiagvik, also known as Barrow. The department runs a 24-hour dispatch line for all police, fire, and ambulance calls. For emergencies, call 911. For non-emergency matters, reach dispatch at (907) 852-6111. The administrative line can cause delays, so the department asks that people call dispatch directly when a quicker response is needed.
Chief of Police Jeffrey Brown leads the department, with Deputy Chief Phillip Brymer serving as second in command. The Central Office handles training, hiring, contracts, grants, police records, accounting, citizen complaints, and budget matters. Three divisions make up the full department: Central Office, Field Operations, and Support Services. The department runs offices not just in Utqiagvik but also in seven outlying villages across the North Slope and at Prudhoe Bay. That kind of spread is necessary given how far apart communities sit in this part of Alaska.
Lobby hours at the main office are Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from 9:00 AM to 11:45 AM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
| Address | 1068 Kiogak Street, Utqiagvik (Barrow), AK 99723 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 470, Barrow, AK 99723 |
| Phone | (907) 852-0311 |
| Central / Dispatch | (907) 852-6111 |
| Fax | (907) 852-0318 |
| Records Email | police_records@north-slope.org |
| Lobby Hours | Mon-Fri (except holidays), 9:00 AM-11:45 AM and 1:00 PM-4:00 PM |
| Chief of Police | Jeffrey Brown |
The North Slope Borough Police Department website has the latest contact information and forms. For evidence requests, a separate Evidence Request Form is available; completed forms go by mail, in-person delivery, or email to police.evidence@north-slope.org.
Requesting Police Records in North Slope Borough
To get a copy of a police report from the North Slope Borough Police Department, you fill out a Records Request Form. The form asks for your name, organization if any, address, contact numbers, and email. You also provide details about the report: the date and time of the incident, the place it occurred, and the type of incident. You can include comments if you need to add anything. Once the department processes your request, they contact you when the report is ready. Delivery comes either by pick-up or through encrypted email.
The fee is $0.50 per page. That is a low cost compared to many other jurisdictions in Alaska. You can submit your request by mail to P.O. Box 470, Barrow, AK 99723. You can also go in person to any North Slope Borough Police Station. Or you can email the request to police_records@north-slope.org. If you have questions about the process, call (907) 852-0311 and ask for extension 2047 or 840100. Under AS 12.62.160, certain criminal justice records may be restricted from general public disclosure, so not every report will be released in full.
Note: The North Slope Borough Police Department records unit processes requests during lobby hours. Email requests sent outside those hours will be handled the next business day.
The Alaska Department of Public Safety maintains a statewide criminal history database that covers North Slope Borough. DPS background checks pull from fingerprint-based records and are more complete than local police report requests. Use the DPS system when you need a full criminal history rather than a single report.
Alaska State Troopers in North Slope Borough
The Alaska State Troopers maintain a post in Utqiagvik to support law enforcement in the North Slope Borough. The Utqiagvik Post handles major crime investigations and works alongside the borough police. Reach them at (907) 852-3783. State Troopers are the primary agency for investigations that go beyond what the borough police handle locally, and they have jurisdiction across the entire state.
Village Public Safety Officers (VPSOs) serve outlying communities where full police presence is not practical. They cover Point Hope, Wainwright, Atqasuk, Nuiqsut, and other villages. VPSOs work under Alaska State Trooper supervision. In an emergency in one of those communities, contact North Slope Borough Dispatch at (907) 852-6111. The Atqasuk Clinic can be reached at (907) 633-6711 for medical emergencies. State Trooper investigators can be called in from Utqiagvik for serious cases anywhere on the slope.
North Slope Borough Court Records
The Alaska Court System handles criminal cases from North Slope Borough. The North Slope Borough Courthouse sits at 1049 Kiogak Street in Utqiagvik. The Clerk of Court can be reached at (907) 852-4800. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Criminal cases filed in this court are accessible through the CourtView public search portal.
CourtView is the Alaska Court System's online public access tool. You can search North Slope Borough criminal history cases by name, case number, or citation number at courts.alaska.gov/main/search-cases.htm. Results show case status, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. CourtView does not show sealed records or records expunged under Alaska law. Most open and closed criminal cases are visible to the public. The system is free to use and does not require an account.
Under AS 12.62.180, Alaska has rules about what criminal history information can be shared and how. Court records accessible through CourtView are considered public under AS 40.25.100, the Alaska Public Records Act. If a record does not appear online, you can contact the court clerk directly for assistance.
DPS Background Checks for North Slope Borough
The Alaska Department of Public Safety runs the state's centralized criminal history database. This covers all boroughs and census areas including North Slope Borough. A DPS background check gives you a more complete picture of a person's criminal history across Alaska. You can request a name-based check or a fingerprint-based check. Fingerprint-based checks are more accurate because they rely on biometric data rather than name matching alone.
To request a criminal history background check, visit the DPS Background Check Unit page. For a self-check, use the DPS Self-Service Email Request tool. Under AS 12.62.110, the state sets rules for who can access criminal history records and for what purpose. Individuals checking their own records have the right to review and challenge any errors they find. If you have questions about the background check process, the DPS background check FAQ is a useful resource.
Sex Offender Registry
Alaska maintains a public sex offender registry under AS 18.65.087. Registered sex offenders living in North Slope Borough are listed in the statewide database. You can search the registry at sor.dps.alaska.gov. The registry shows name, address, offense, and photo when available. Searches can be done by name or by location. This is a public tool and no account is needed to search it.
Registration is mandatory for anyone convicted of a sex offense in Alaska. Failure to register or update registration is itself a criminal offense under state law. If you believe a registered offender is not complying with their registration requirements in North Slope Borough, contact the North Slope Borough Police Department or the Alaska State Troopers Utqiagvik Post.
North Slope Borough Jail and Inmate Records
The North Slope Borough Jail is located at the Public Safety Building in Utqiagvik. This is a state-contracted facility that houses arrestees and short-term inmates. Correctional officers manage care and custody. Inmates who need longer-term housing are transferred to facilities elsewhere in Alaska. For inmate information statewide, search the Alaska inmate search tool which compiles data from state correctional facilities.
If you need to locate someone arrested in North Slope Borough, start with the NSBPD at (907) 852-6111. The North Slope Borough Jail does not maintain a public online roster. Calling directly is the most reliable way to confirm custody status for recent arrests.
Note: Inmates held beyond short-term detention in North Slope Borough are typically transferred to Hiland Mountain or another state facility, so check the statewide inmate search if local inquiries return no results.
Alaska Public Records Act Rights
Alaska's Public Records Act, codified at AS 40.25.100, gives the public the right to inspect and copy public records held by state and local government agencies. This applies to criminal records, court filings, police reports, and related documents in North Slope Borough. Agencies must respond to records requests in a reasonable time. They can charge fees to cover the cost of search, copying, and supervision, but those fees must be reasonable.
Not all records are open. Law enforcement agencies can withhold records that are part of active investigations. Records that would identify a confidential informant are exempt. Personal information like Social Security numbers is redacted. Juvenile records have stricter privacy protections under Alaska law. But in general, completed criminal cases, court judgments, and arrest records are public information available to anyone who asks.
If an agency denies your request, they must tell you why. You have the right to appeal that denial through administrative and legal channels. The Alaska Department of Law publishes guidance on the Public Records Act at law.alaska.gov.
Nearby Boroughs and Census Areas
North Slope Borough borders these areas of Alaska. Criminal history records for each are maintained through their respective law enforcement agencies and the statewide court system.