Alaska Boroughs and Census Areas
Alaska has 30 boroughs and census areas. Each one is served by Alaska Court System courts that handle criminal case filings, and all fall under the Alaska Department of Corrections unified jail and prison system. Use this page to find inmate population records, court access details, and local resources by borough or census area.
About Alaska's Borough System
Alaska uses boroughs instead of counties. It's the same general idea, but with some key differences. Not all of Alaska is inside an organized borough. Large sections of the state are covered by census areas, which are statistical divisions created by the U.S. Census Bureau rather than functioning local governments. Both types are listed on this page.
For inmate population purposes, the distinction between organized boroughs and census areas matters less than it might seem. The Alaska Department of Corrections manages all state jails and prisons through a single unified system. DOC operates 13 facilities that serve the whole state, so a person confined in Fairbanks is under the same state agency as someone held in Ketchikan. Criminal case filings, however, happen at local Alaska Court System superior and district courts, which are organized by judicial district across the state.
The most populous boroughs have their own DOC facilities nearby. Smaller or more remote census areas may rely on regional facilities that serve a wide geographic area. VINE is the fastest way to find out which facility currently holds a specific person in the Alaska inmate population, regardless of the borough or census area where the charges were filed.
Each borough page on this site covers the local court handling criminal filings, nearby correctional facilities, how to search inmate population records for that area, and additional public records resources. Select a borough below to get started.
All Alaska Boroughs and Census Areas
All 30 boroughs and census areas are listed below in alphabetical order. Each links to a page with local court information, DOC facility details, and guidance on accessing inmate population records for that location.