Anchorage Bench Warrants

Anchorage bench warrants are court orders that local judges sign when a person fails to show in court, skips a fine, or breaks a release rule. You can search Anchorage bench warrants through the Anchorage Police Department records office, the Municipality of Anchorage CourtView portal, and the statewide Alaska Court System CourtView site. The Alaska State Troopers also keep a daily list of open warrants tied to AST cases. This page walks you through where to look, who to call, and how to get a copy of an Anchorage bench warrant.

Anchorage Police Bench Warrants

The Anchorage Police Department is the lead agency for bench warrants inside city limits. APD keeps a list of active warrants for cases that started in Anchorage courts. The Records Section sits at 716 West 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501. The non-emergency line is (907) 786-8900. The Records desk is (907) 786-8568. The window is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

APD takes record requests through an online Public Records Center. You can sign in, pick "Police Department Records Request," and put in the case number, date, time, and place. The lead-in to the warrant page below sends you to the APD records portal where Anchorage bench warrants and other reports can be requested.

Visit the APD Public Records Center for the request form.

The records page lists fees for police reports. The first four pages cost $5.00 per report. Each added page is $0.50. A CD or DVD is $15.00. Fees from $40 to $250 need fee acceptance before APD will process the request. Fees over $250 must be prepaid. Personal info on a defendant is redacted unless the requester is the subject of the report.

Note: APD warns that anyone with an active Anchorage bench warrant who walks into headquarters may be arrested on the spot.

Anchorage Bench Warrants and APD Warrant Information

The APD warrant page explains how the department handles arrest warrants, bench warrants for failure to appear, and warrants for breaking the terms of release. The list is updated as new warrants come in and old ones get served or recalled. To get warrant info you can call the Records Section at (907) 786-8568 or send a request through the Public Records Center.

Read the full APD Warrant Information page for details on how Anchorage bench warrants are handled.

APD officers serve warrants for Anchorage-based charges and back up the Alaska State Troopers on state warrants. Bail amounts come from the judge and are listed on the face of the warrant. APD says people who think they have a warrant should talk to a lawyer first. Warrant service can happen any time, even on a routine traffic stop. APD also runs joint warrant sweeps with state and federal partners under AS 12.25.030, which sets the rules for warrantless arrests in Alaska.

Note: A name on the APD warrant list is not proof of guilt, and the case still must be heard by a judge.

Anchorage Trial Courts and Bench Warrants

The Nesbett Courthouse holds the main trial courts for the Third Judicial District. The address is 825 W 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501. The clerk line is (907) 264-0514. The court is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Anchorage Superior Court takes felony cases and civil cases over $100,000. The Anchorage District Court takes misdemeanors, traffic, and small claims.

Bench warrants out of Anchorage are tied to case files in the court's case system. You can look up Anchorage bench warrants through the statewide Alaska CourtView portal. Public access screens are also set up in the courthouse lobby. To get a paper copy of a warrant or case file, fill out Form TF-311 ANCH and turn it in at the clerk's window.

Anchorage court fees are set by rule. A plain copy of the first document is $5.00, with each added document at $3.00. A certified copy is $10.00 for the first and $3.00 for each added copy. Clerk research time is $30.00 per hour.

Under Criminal Rule 4, an Anchorage judge may sign a warrant only if there is probable cause that a crime took place and that the named person did it. The judge must use a summons in place of a warrant unless arrest is needed to make sure the person shows up.

Municipal CourtView for Anchorage Warrant Lookup

The Municipality of Anchorage runs its own CourtView system for city cases. It covers traffic citations, code violations, and municipal warrants. You can search by name, case number, or citation number. Hearing dates, case status, and warrant details show up on the case page. Many minor Anchorage warrants for unpaid fines can be cleared with an online payment.

The municipal system does not show state criminal cases or AST warrants. For those you still need the statewide CourtView and the Alaska DPS active warrants list. The municipal system does not include juvenile cases or sealed files.

Alaska State Troopers in Anchorage

The Alaska State Troopers main office is at 5700 East Tudor Road in Anchorage. The line is (907) 269-5511. AST runs the statewide active warrants database for state cases. The list is updated each day and can be pulled as a PDF or CSV.

The Anchorage AST office covers the Third Judicial District along with Mat-Su and Kenai Peninsula posts. AST works hand in hand with APD on Anchorage bench warrants that cross city lines. You can also check the daily AST hot sheets page. Each entry shows the full name, age, gender code, bail, charge, and warrant type.

Note: AST tells the public not to try to detain anyone listed and to call (907) 269-5511 with any tips on Anchorage bench warrants.

How to Resolve an Anchorage Bench Warrant

If you find your name on an Anchorage bench warrant list, you have a few ways to clear it. The easiest path is to go to court and ask the judge to recall the warrant. You can also pay a small fine online for some traffic and minor cases through the court's payment system. For larger cases, talk to a lawyer first.

The court uses Form CR-330 for a Motion to Quash Warrant and Form CR-331 for the order. A judge can recall a bench warrant if the reason behind it is fixed, such as the fine being paid or the missed hearing being reset. The Alaska Court System has a self-help criminal page with steps for warrant resolution.

Options to clear an Anchorage bench warrant:

• Turn yourself in at APD headquarters or a state trooper post
• Post bail at the Anchorage jail or court
• File a Motion to Quash with the Nesbett Courthouse
• Show up at the next hearing and ask the judge to recall
• Pay the fine online for minor warrants

Alaska Legal Services Corporation may help low-income Anchorage residents with warrant matters. Under AS 12.30.060, a bench warrant can be issued when a person fails to appear or breaks the terms of release. The statute does not put a time limit on warrants. They stay open until served or recalled.

The Alaska Department of Law Criminal Division office in Anchorage handles state-level prosecutions. AS 12.35 covers search warrants, which are different from Anchorage bench warrants but use similar court rules.

APD News and Anchorage Warrant Sweeps

APD posts press releases on warrant sweeps and major arrests on its public news page. You can read about recent multi-agency operations and see safety tips for the public.

Visit the APD News and Press Releases page for updates.

Crime Stoppers Alaska takes anonymous tips on people with open warrants. APD also works with the FBI on federal warrant matters. The press page has crime maps, annual stats, and info on APD's specialty units.

Borough That Handles Anchorage Filings

Anchorage is its own borough. The Municipality of Anchorage handles all filings inside city limits. For full borough info on bench warrants, see the Anchorage Municipality bench warrants page. That page has the full clerk office contact list, judicial circuit info, and links to local resources.

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