Know Your Rights: Alaska Public Records and Information Primer

Here’s how to be a citizen sleuth. Alaska favors citizen involvement in — and oversight of — its government. State laws give citizens rights to a lot of information. But to get it, you need to know where to find it, and who to talk to. As lawyer John McKay points out, “The legislature has…

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Municipality launches new data website for Anchorage

The city of Anchorage on Wednesday launched a new website aimed at making important data more accessible to residents, businesses and public officials.

So far the site includes data on crime, homelessness and property appraisal as well as inspection results for restaurants and childcare facilities. Brendan Babb, the city’s Chief Innovation Officer, says the project is still a work in progress and will likely have new features added in the future.

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Short on staff, Anchorage police records division falls behind on report requests

Requests for reports at the Anchorage Police Department have stacked up due to a shortage of staff and a continuous flow of work.

A police report requested online typically takes four to five days to fulfill, said APD records supervisor Jennifer York. However, the records division currently is behind on requests by about three to four weeks, she said.

There were 431 pending requests as of last week, according to the police department.

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Anchorage Police Department participating in national police data initiative

The Anchorage Police Department is joining 100 other police departments around the country to provide more data and information to their respective communities.

APD announced Friday it’s participating in the White House Police Data Initiative.

Lieutenant Jack Carson says the aim is to increase transparency within the Anchorage Police Department.

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Alaska Senate Passes Bill To Limit Access To Certain Court Records

Sen. Fred Dyson’s bill would make it so all criminal cases that result in a dismissal or an acquittal are considered confidential. They won’t appear on the Internet, and you won’t be able to access them at the courthouse unless you are a state worker who deals with child welfare.

The Eagle River Republican presented it on the Senate floor as a justice issue. “This one is about Amendments Four and Five: privacy and due process,” said Dyson, referencing the United States Constitution.

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