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Department of Public Safety
Alaska Criminal Records and Identification
Results Summary | Details | Questions/Comments
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| | Maintain and provide criminal record and identification information.
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| | - Timely, accurate, and complete Alaska criminal records data.
- Current information regarding outstanding warrants, stolen property, missing children, and protective orders for law enforcement use.
- Compliance with interstate and national information sharing policies, e.g. National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, National Crime Information Center, and Interstate Identification Index, so criminal records and non-criminal citations from other jurisdictions are available to Alaska law enforcement agencies.
- Public access to current information regarding sex offenders in Alaska.
- Annual statistics on crime reported in Alaska.
- Fingerprint database for use by law enforcement, employers, licensing agencies, and the public.
- Image repository for use by law enforcement.
- Issuance of permits and licenses for carrying concealed handguns, security guards, and civilian process servers.
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 End Result: |
Strategies to Achieve End Result
| | A: Criminal history records are complete, accurate, and timely. Details > |
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| A1: Request arrest fingerprint cards for all cases involving felony convictions and the collection of DNA samples. Details > | |
| | End Result: |
Strategies to Achieve End Result
| | B: Information regarding statewide sex offenders is available to law enforcement and the public. Details > |
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| B1: Ensure sex offenders known to the Department of Public Safety have provided required information. Details > | |
| | End Result: |
Strategies to Achieve End Result
| | C: State and national criminal justice information is available to state and private entities for use in determining employment or licensing eligibility. Details > |
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| C1: Improve workflow process to include card scan and computerized criminal history interface. Details > | |
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| A:
Result - Criminal history records are complete, accurate, and timely. |
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Target #1: 100% of Alaska criminal history records, disposed within the last year, in the state repository are supported by positive fingerprint identification
Status #1: 69% of criminal history records were supported by positive fingerprint identification in FY2009
Analysis of results and challenges: The table shows the percentage of disposed criminal charges added during the stated fiscal year for which positive fingerprint identification was made. Higher percentages by fiscal year indicate improved compliance with AS 12.80.060 (Fingerprinting). Although compliance with AS 12.80.060 has improved since 2000, 100% compliance has not been met.
The Department of Public Safety continues to encourage and support local law enforcement agencies and the Department of Corrections in the implementation of live scan fingerprint systems. These systems create electronic records of arrestees’ fingerprints and allow for immediate submission to the state central repository and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's fingerprint repository. In FY2009, the Seward Police Department installed a live scan system. During FY2009, the Department of Public Safety applied for a grant through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. If grant funding is approved, eight additional live scan systems will be installed in state and local criminal justice agencies during FY2010.
Increased compliance with AS 12.80.060 will depend on the commitment of the Department of Corrections and local law enforcement to obtain rolled fingerprints of arrested subjects every time an arrest occurs. DPS will work with these agencies to improve compliance with the law.
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Target #2: 100% of arrest/charge information is received by the repository within 5 working days
Status #2: 75% of arrest/charge information was received within 5 working days in FY2009
Analysis of results and challenges: The records and identification bureau monitors and audits the quality and timeliness of fingerprints and demographic data submitted by booking agencies, and provides instruction to those requiring additional training on the proper completion of arrest fingerprint cards. There has been significant improvement in the timely receipt of fingerprint-based arrest/charge information since FY2003 (31% to 75%).
If requested grant funding (from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs) for FY2010 is approved, four additional live scan systems will be installed in state correctional facilities, and four more provided to local law enforcement agencies that have booking facilities. The ability to submit fingerprints electronically has significantly improved the submittal time for fingerprint cards. This allows more rapid identification of arrested subjects.
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| A1:
Strategy - Request arrest fingerprint cards for all cases involving felony convictions and the collection of DNA samples. |
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Target #1: Arrest fingerprint cards are requested for 100% of all cases involving felony convictions and the collection of DNA samples disposed within the last year
Status #1: 23% of arrest fingerprint cards requested were obtained in FY2009, an increase of 7% over the previous year
% of Felony Arrest Fingerprint Cards Requested for which Fingerprints were Obtained (fiscal year)
| Fiscal Year |
YTD Total |
| FY 2009 |
23%
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| FY 2008 |
16%
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| FY 2007 |
62%
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| FY 2006 |
63%
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| FY 2005 |
44%
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Analysis of results and challenges: AS 12.80.060 requires fingerprints of offenders to be obtained and submitted to the repository (records and identification bureau). This requirement ensures the completeness and accuracy of individuals' arrest records, and nationwide availability for criminal justice purposes.
Many arrestees' fingerprints are not obtained on new charges for a variety of reasons (e.g., the arrestee is cited and released, is too intoxicated for fingerprints to be obtained or other reasons). When the repository receives felony dispositions to these cases and it is determined that the fingerprints of the defendant were not taken for that charge, the correctional facility housing the defendant or the probation officer (if the defendant is not in custody) is contacted and fingerprints of the defendant are requested. Without fingerprints on file for each arrest, the information pertaining to that event is not available on a nationwide level. This could result, among other things, in a felon being improperly allowed to transfer a firearm, be hired for a position that he/she should be disqualified from, or for reduced sentencing at subsequent court hearings.
This target ensures that the most serious offenders (felons and those required to submit DNA samples) are more likely to be positively identified based on the submission of their fingerprints. In FY2009, 74 sets of fingerprints were requested from correctional facilities, 17 sets of fingerprints were successfully obtained. Workload continues to impact the section's ability to follow up on requests and obtain a higher percentage of fingerprint records.
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| B:
Result - Information regarding statewide sex offenders is available to law enforcement and the public. |
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Target #1: 100% of sex offender registrations are available on-line
Status #1: 99.76% of registered sex offender registrations were available on-line in FY2009
% of Registered Sex Offender Registrations that are Available On-line (fiscal year)
| Fiscal Year |
Known Sex Offenders |
Requiring Research |
Percentage Total |
Percentage on Website |
| FY 2009 |
2,530
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6
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99.76%
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99.76%
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| FY 2008 |
4,316
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313
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92.75%
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99.95%
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| FY 2007 |
4,260
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266
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93.76%
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99.84%
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| FY 2006 |
4,356
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224
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94.86%
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| FY 2005 |
4,114
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234
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94.31%
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Methodology: This is measured by comparing the total number of known sex offenders in Alaska to the number of offenders whose records require additional research to determine registration duration or other issues.
Analysis of results and challenges: In nearly every case in which an offender moves into Alaska from another state, additional information must be obtained in order to determine the comparable Alaska statute for registration requirements. Program analysis and development has resulted in the more efficient completion of research required to ensure accurate information on the Sex Offender Registration website, and has reduced the number of offenders' convictions requiring research prior to posting on the website.
During FY2009, concentrated efforts were applied to access offenders' records to determine their registration obligations; in consequence, the number of incomplete records was reduced by 98%.
Related links:
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| B1:
Strategy - Ensure sex offenders known to the Department of Public Safety have provided required information. |
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Target #1: 100% of sex offenders known to the department submit required documentation on quarterly or annual basis per AS 12.63 (Registration of Sex Offenders)
Status #1: 94% of known sex offenders were in compliance in FY2009
% of Sex Offenders in Compliance (fiscal year)
| Fiscal Year |
Known Sex Offenders |
Offenders in Compliance |
Percentage Total |
| FY 2009 |
2,530
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2,386
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94.31%
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| FY 2008 |
4,316
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3,788
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88.77%
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| FY 2007 |
4,260
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3,748
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87.98%
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| FY 2006 |
4,356
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3,847
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88.31%
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| FY 2005 |
4,114
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3,636
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88.38%
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Analysis of results and challenges: The Alaska Supreme Court ruled on July 25, 2008 that the requirement to register as a sex offender for people who committed sex crimes prior to the enactment of the sex offender registration law violated Alaska's constitution. The number of offenders required to register under AS 12.63 decreased significantly in consequence. Since the court's ruling, each offender's registration requirement has been re-evaluated.
The department works in coordination with local law enforcement agencies to attempt contact with those sex offenders who are out of compliance. This contact has resulted in a higher compliance rate. During FY2009, various law enforcement officers statewide actively attempted to locate non-compliant sex offenders, with some success. Alaska State Troopers conducted 105 compliance contacts/investigations for failure to register as a sex offender. A change in AS 43.23, effective January 1, 2009, delays payment of Permanent Fund dividends to sex offenders who are out of compliance with registration requirements. This will hopefully improve registration compliance by sex offenders.
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| C:
Result - State and national criminal justice information is available to state and private entities for use in determining employment or licensing eligibility. |
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Target #1: State and national criminal justice information is released to authorized entities within 30 working days of receipt of the request
Status #1: Average number of working days from receipt to dissemination of criminal justice records information in FY2009 was 107, compared to 70.8 in FY2008
Average Number of Working Days from Receipt to Dissemination of Criminal History Information (fiscal year)
| Fiscal Year |
YTD Total |
| FY 2009 |
107
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| FY 2008 |
70.8
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| FY 2007 |
33.1
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| FY 2006 |
47.4
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| FY 2005 |
24.0
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| FY 2004 |
18.8
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| FY 2003 |
11
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| FY 2002 |
18.6
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| FY 2001 |
35.3
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| FY 2000 |
15
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Analysis of results and challenges: Timeliness of record dissemination is dependent on the number of requests received and staffing levels. During the second half of FY2009, the records and identification bureau experienced a staff turnover of 80%. The extended vacancies in these positions along with lengthy necessary training contributed to an increase in turnaround time. This significantly impacted turnaround time for the technical fingerprint identification process. Testing of the automated processing of criminal fingerprint cards stalled due to staffing issues. A new Automated Fingerprint Identification System operator will begin work on September 1, and the section will initiate a second nationwide recruitment for the remaining vacancy.
Related links:
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| C1:
Strategy - Improve workflow process to include card scan and computerized criminal history interface. |
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Target #1: 100% of card scan and computerized criminal history (CCH) interface testing and troubleshooting completed
Status #1: Testing of criminal justice records automated processing remained at 95% complete in FY2009
Analysis of results and challenges: Testing of this new workflow process is dependent on workload and staffing levels in both the criminal records and identification and information systems sections within the Department of Public Safety. Staffing issues and system problems resulted in the inability to continue efforts to complete the card scan and CCH interface testing and troubleshooting. The automated processing of employment background checks was implemented on October 1, 2007. Testing will continue on the automated processing of criminal arrest fingerprint cards in FY2010.
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Current as of Nov 5 2009 11:21:04 |
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