Chugach Census Area Criminal Records
Chugach Census Area criminal records are handled through the Third Judicial District of Alaska, with Valdez serving as the primary court location for the region. The census area covers a large stretch of southcentral Alaska coast including Valdez, Cordova, and more remote communities. Criminal cases from Cordova typically rely on the Valdez court for major filings. The Valdez Trial Courts are currently experiencing processing delays of four to six weeks, so submitting requests as early as possible is important. This page covers all the methods for finding and requesting Chugach Census Area criminal records.
Chugach Census Area Overview
Valdez Trial Courts
The Valdez Trial Courts handle criminal case filings for the Chugach Census Area. The courthouse is at 213 Meals Avenue, Valdez, AK 99686, and the phone number is (907) 835-2266. Both Superior Court and District Court matters for the census area are processed here. The Superior Court handles felony cases. The District Court takes on misdemeanors and lesser criminal proceedings. Cordova cases that require Superior Court involvement are directed to Valdez as well.
As of the time of this writing, the Valdez court is experiencing longer-than-usual processing delays of four to six weeks. This affects records requests, document copies, and other court services. If you are under a time constraint for a background check or legal proceeding, account for this when you plan your request. Online searches through CourtView are not affected by this delay and are still available immediately. The delay only applies to physical document requests and court staff processing.
Remote communities in the census area beyond Valdez and Cordova may have limited direct court access. Alaska State Troopers serve those areas, and cases originating there follow the same path to the Valdez court for processing.
| Court Address | 213 Meals Avenue, Valdez, AK 99686 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (907) 835-2266 |
| Judicial District | Third Judicial District |
| Records Form | TF-311 (standard statewide form) |
| Processing Delay | Currently 4-6 weeks - submit requests early |
Searching Chugach Census Area Criminal Records
Start with CourtView Public Access for any Chugach Census Area criminal records search. This free system at records.courts.alaska.gov/eaccess requires no login. You can search by party name, case number, or citation number. Results include charges, filing dates, case status, and dispositions. Cases filed in Valdez and cases transferred to Valdez from Cordova or other communities are all in CourtView. The system covers records from 1990 forward. Pre-1990 paper records require a direct request to the court clerk.
CourtView provides instant, free access to Chugach Census Area criminal court records without any account or login requirement.
CourtView displays charge details, filing information, hearing dates, and case status for all Chugach Census Area criminal matters filed in the Third Judicial District.
To get physical copies of documents, complete form TF-311 and mail or deliver it to the Valdez courthouse. The form is available at courts.alaska.gov/forms. Given the current four-to-six-week processing delay at the Valdez court, submit your request well ahead of any deadline. Standard copy fees apply: $5.00 for the first regular copy, $3.00 for each additional, and $10.00 for the first certified copy. Research fees of $30.00 per hour are charged when no case number is supplied.
Valdez Court Directory Information
The Alaska Court System court directory lists current contact information for the Valdez court and all related courts in the Third Judicial District. Use it to confirm the current mailing address before sending a records request. The directory is also useful for identifying which courts handled cases that originated in the Chugach Census Area but were transferred elsewhere.
The court directory confirms the Valdez courthouse address, phone number, and fax information for submitting Chugach Census Area criminal records requests.
The Alaska trial courts page provides additional detail on the structure and coverage of the Third Judicial District courts. For cases that moved to Anchorage because they required Superior Court resources, this page helps identify the right court to contact. Any case where a defendant was arraigned locally but then transferred for trial may have records split between two courts.
Law Enforcement Records for Chugach Cases
The Valdez Police Department handles law enforcement within the city of Valdez. They are located at 212 Chenega Avenue, Valdez, AK 99686, and can be reached at (907) 835-4560. For police incident reports and arrest records from Valdez, contact the department directly. Their records are separate from the court system and are not available through CourtView.
Alaska State Troopers serve the unincorporated portions of the Chugach Census Area and remote communities. Trooper records, including incident reports and arrest data, are requested through the DPS public records portal. The online portal is at dpsalaska.justfoia.com/publicportal. You can submit requests, monitor status, and download completed responses through the system. This is faster and more reliable than written mail requests for most DPS records.
The DPS JustFOIA portal is the primary method for requesting Alaska State Troopers records covering Chugach Census Area incidents outside Valdez city limits.
JustFOIA submissions fall under AS 40.25.100, which requires DPS to respond to public records requests within 10 business days.
For criminal history background checks, the DPS Criminal Records and Identification Bureau charges $20.00 for name-based checks and $35.00 for fingerprint-based checks. Under AS 12.62.160, individuals can request access to their own criminal history records held by DPS and challenge information they believe is inaccurate.
Warrants and Inmate Lookup
Check active warrants related to Chugach Census Area cases at dps.alaska.gov/ast/warrants. The Alaska State Troopers update this list daily. It includes names, offense categories, and bond amounts for active warrants statewide. Cases originating in Valdez or elsewhere in the census area show up here if a warrant was issued.
Inmate custody status for defendants from Chugach Census Area cases is available through VINELink Alaska. Search by name to find custody status, booking photos, and facility location. You can also register to receive automatic notifications if a person's custody status changes. VINELink is a free service. Defendants held after Valdez or Chugach cases may be at the Anchorage Correctional Complex or another state facility, depending on the case and sentence.
Note: Given the current processing backlog at the Valdez court, submit any records request as far in advance as possible to meet your deadline.
Cities in Chugach Census Area
Valdez is the primary city in the Chugach Census Area and home to the courthouse that serves the region. Criminal records for Valdez cases are processed at the Valdez Trial Courts at 213 Meals Avenue.
Cordova is the other major community in the census area. Cordova does not have its own Superior Court and relies on Valdez for major criminal filings. Cases originating in Cordova are searchable in CourtView under the Valdez court designation.
Nearby Boroughs
These boroughs and census areas border or are near the Chugach Census Area. Use CourtView to confirm which court filed a specific case if the jurisdiction is unclear.