View Northwest Arctic 72 Hour Booking
The Northwest Arctic 72 Hour Booking system runs out of Kotzebue. The city police and the Kotzebue Regional Jail handle most short-term holds for the borough, while the Alaska State Troopers cover the wider area and administer the Village Public Safety Officer program. Use this page to find the right agency, pull an inmate record, and check court files for a Northwest Arctic Borough 72 Hour Booking from Kiana, Noorvik, Selawik, and other villages in the region.
Northwest Arctic 72 Hour Booking Overview
Kotzebue Police and 72 Hour Booking Intake
The Kotzebue Police Department is the main city police force for the borough. It is at 258-B 3rd Avenue, Kotzebue, AK 99752. Phone: 907-442-2500. The department also manages the Kotzebue Regional Jail, which is the main place new bookings land for the borough.
Our image below comes from the Alaska DOC institutions page, which is used as a fallback source for regional jail info tied to a Northwest Arctic 72 Hour Booking. Lead-in link: Alaska DOC Facility Directory.
The DOC directory lists the current facility contacts and visit rules. Use it as a starting point for custody questions, then call the city police for local booking logs.
| Office | Kotzebue Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 258-B 3rd Avenue, Kotzebue, AK 99752 |
| Phone | 907-442-2500 |
Kotzebue Regional Jail
The Kotzebue Regional Jail is managed by the City of Kotzebue. It provides regional detention for Northwest Arctic Borough. Most people arrested in the borough pass through this jail first, whether they were picked up by local officers, VPSOs, or state troopers.
Because the jail is a regional community facility, the 72 hour booking data may not always post to a state database right away. A phone call to the jail is often the quickest way to confirm a booking.
Note: Pretrial holds at Kotzebue Regional Jail may move to a state facility after arraignment, so check VINE and DOC if a name drops off the local list.
Northwest Arctic Borough Government
The Northwest Arctic Borough is at 163 Lagoon Street, Kotzebue, AK 99752. Phone: 907-442-2500. The borough does not operate its own jail, so it relies on the city and state system. Borough records held by the Clerk cover meetings, finance, and administration.
For a Northwest Arctic Borough 72 Hour Booking record, the borough office will usually point you to the city police or DPS.
Alaska State Troopers Kotzebue Post
The Alaska State Troopers Kotzebue Post is on 3rd Avenue, Kotzebue, AK 99752. Phone: 907-442-3222. The post administers the Village Public Safety Officer program for the borough. VPSOs serve villages such as Kiana, Noorvik, and Selawik.
Arrests made without a warrant under AS 12.25.030 still flow through the state inmate system once the person is booked at a regional or state facility.
Kotzebue Courthouse and Court Files
The Kotzebue Courthouse is at 604 3rd Street, Kotzebue, AK 99752. It provides District and Superior Court services for the Northwest Arctic Borough. Use CourtView to pull cases and dockets online.
You can also start at the Alaska Court Search Cases page. The CourtView Public Access portal shows filings, charges, and hearing dates.
Older and closed files may be at the Alaska State Archives.
Inmate Search and VINE Alerts
Use the DOC Offender Search to look up anyone held at a state facility after a Northwest Arctic booking. The tool is free and simple.
For custody alerts, sign up at VINE Link. The Alaska Office of Victims' Rights page has a full walk-through of the notification steps. VINE sends alerts on release, transfer, and re-booking.
Criminal History and DPS Records
The state's criminal history checks are handled by the DPS Records and Identification Bureau. Order through the DPS self-service portal. The central repository is set up under AS 12.62.110, and the release rules come from AS 12.62.160.
For trooper reports and police files from the village safety officer system, use the DPS FOIA portal.
Public Records Requests
The Alaska Public Records Act gives the public the right to request most government records. For a Northwest Arctic 72 Hour Booking record, your first stop should be the Kotzebue Police Department. For trooper reports, send the request to DPS.
Include the full name, a narrow date range, and any case number. The simpler the request, the faster the response.
Fees may apply to large or broad requests. Ask for an estimate before the agency starts the search.
Northwest Arctic 72 Hour Booking Timeline
The 72 hour booking clock in Northwest Arctic Borough starts at the moment of arrest. Under Alaska Statute AS 12.25.030, a peace officer can make a warrantless arrest for a felony, for any misdemeanor committed in the officer's presence, or for a domestic violence offense within 12 hours of the act. The law then requires the person to appear before a judge within 48 to 72 hours, not counting weekends and holidays.
A lot happens during that short window. The arrested person is booked at the Kotzebue Regional Jail or transported to a state facility. The initial appearance gets scheduled. Bail or bond conditions are reviewed. A public defender may be assigned if the person qualifies. Formal charges can be filed or dropped. The sequence creates the 72 hour booking file that later shows up in search tools.
The record subject has the right to see their own complete criminal history under AS 12.62.160. Third parties need a signed consent form or rely on the public reporting portion of the record. The Alaska State Archives keeps older criminal justice files for research use.
Northwest Arctic Court Copy Fees and Forms
Paper copies of court records tied to a Northwest Arctic 72 hour booking can be ordered through the TF-311 request form. The general TF-311 form covers the Kotzebue Courthouse. Certified copies cost $5 per document plus $2.50 per page. Uncertified copies run $2.50 per page. Payment can be sent with the request or paid in person.
The Alaska Court System site has the full form library and a courthouse directory. For online access, CourtView is free and shows most Northwest Arctic trial court cases, including docket entries and hearing dates tied to booking files.
Northwest Arctic DPS Contact Info
For Alaska State Troopers records tied to Northwest Arctic Borough, contact the Criminal Records and Identification Bureau at 5700 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99507. Phone: (907) 269-5767. Email: dps.criminal.records@alaska.gov. Name-based background checks cost $20. Fingerprint-based checks cost $35. Additional copies are $5 each when ordered with the original report. The DPS FOIA Public Portal takes online requests for trooper activity and arrest logs. The VPSO program at dps.alaska.gov/AST/VPSO/ covers remote villages in the borough.
Nearby Alaska Areas
Northwest Arctic shares state and court resources with several other remote regions. Try these nearby pages for more booking and inmate searches.