Visiting an Inmate in the Anchorage Jail in Alaska

There are few locations in the world more desolate or barren looking than Alaska, which makes being incarcerated there even more depressing than normal. That may be just one of the reasons why visitation time is among the most popular times at the Anchorage, Alaska jail, although seeing friends, family, and loved ones is perhaps a bigger reason.

Visitation is very much a part of life in jail, especially since those times spent with loved ones can somewhat cushion the blow of being incarcerated. What everyone has to remember, though, is that visitation is a perk which can very easily be removed if the participants do not adhere to the rules in place. Read on to see what those specific rules are for the Anchorage, Alaska jail.

Visiting Rules

Every jail across the country has a very specific set of rules that need to be followed, not only by the inmates, but also by the people that come to visit. Failure to follow those rules can mean that the visit will be cut short by jail staff, with extreme cases resulting in the visitor being prohibited from future visits. The rules are in place for the safety of everyone, and are actually very easy to follow. If you can acquaint yourself with these rules and make sure to obey them every time, the visitation process will be pleasant for everyone. Here are some of the rules in place:

• A valid picture ID must be presented before you will be allowed access to the visitation area
• Minors must be in the care of a parent or legal guardian at all times, and ID must be shown for them, too
• Failure to monitor children, or unruly behavior on their part, will result in the visit being terminated
• A strict dress code must be adhered to by all visitors, which includes: men must wear pants or slacks and a shirt with sleeves; women are required to wear pants/slacks, or a dress that is no higher than 4 inches above the knees. Their shirts must also have sleeves. Anyone wearing shorts, cutoffs, tank tops, hoodies, or headwear of any kind will not be granted access to the jail
• No food or drinks are allowed in the visitation area
• The use of cell phones, cameras, or recording equipment must first be approved by the jail. If you are caught using them without permission, you may be prohibited from returning
• No person who was incarcerated in Alaska in the previous 60 days will be admitted

Visiting Hours

The Anchorage jail is split up into a pair of different wings, with each one having very specific visitation times. It is important that you know which wing your loved one is housed in, as you will not be allowed to see them if you show up at the wrong time. Visitation hours are as follows:

East Wing (arrive at least 5 minutes before scheduled times)

• Daily - 9:00 AM; 10:00 AM; 1:00 PM; 2:00 PM; 6:30 PM; and 7:30 PM

West Wing (arrive at least 10 minutes before scheduled times)

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday - 9 AM, 10 AM, 1 PM, 2 PM, 7 PM, 8 PM
• Thursday - 1 PM, 2 PM, No evening visit
• Saturday & Sunday - 8 AM, 9 AM, 10 AM, 1 PM, 2 PM, 7 PM, 8 PM

There may be no better feeling than getting to see a loved one who has been incarcerated, so make sure that experience is as pleasant as possible by making sure to follow all the rules outlined above.

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How to use the Inmate Search for Anchorage Jail in Alaska

It seems that everything that all the information we seek nowadays can be tracked down in minutes with a few simple mouse clicks. There is no denying that computers and the internet have made life much easier, and that includes tracking down someone that has been put in jail. Most counties across the United States now have an inmate search tool on their website, but there are some that haven't done so yet. One of those is the Anchorage jail in Alaska, which has a site brimming with information, but no way to search for a list of current inmates.

All is not lost, though, as there are independent sites that are in place to help you find whoever you are looking for. A simple Google search for ‘inmate search' will give you a number of sites that do the job, but let's just take a look at one as an example of what you can expect. Jail Exchange is one site that provides this service, so let's assume you are trying to track down an inmate at the jail in Anchorage, Alaska; here is how you would do it:

• On the main page, select "City & County Jail Inmates" on the inmate search box
• Select Alaska from the drop down menu
• Choose Anchorage from the list of Alaska cities
• You will then be given a list of places where you can continue your search, most of which take you to the VineLink system

VineLink is incredibly effective, but it also requires you to sign up to receive a PIN number, which has to be entered before you can perform any type of search. Another option is to click on the "Anchorage County Recent Arrests" link, but this will require you to put a little bit of work in.

Once you arrive on the new page you will see a list of Trooper dispatches, listed chronologically, that will give you basic arrest information for each person picked up that day. If you know which date your loved one was arrested on, you might be able to get some basic information from there. It is certainly not the easiest way to find the person you are looking for, but with a little bit of homework and persistence, you might just be able to do so.

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Communicating with an Inmate Housed at the Anchorage Jail in Alaska

The communication possibilities and guidelines; writing, phone calls, visitation.

Most of us have grown accustomed to keeping in touch via text or e-mail, where the delivery of our messages is almost instantaneous. Things move a little slower in the jail system, and since no technology is allowed, inmates are forced to rely on good old-fashioned letters in order to keep in touch with loved ones. This is a privilege that is available at every single jail across the country, but each jail has their own set of rules when it comes to mail, as well as with other forms of communication. Read on to get an idea of what is involved with each available form of communication at the Anchorage jail, and how you can be sure your messages will be received.

Mail

Anchorage jail is actually one of the more lax systems in terms of what they will allow you to send to an inmate. There are some jails that do not even allow photos to be sent, but here is a list of what CAN go in a letter to an Anchorage jail inmate:

• Mail correspondence
• Photos
• Money orders, cashier's checks, or certified checks in the amount of $500 or less

The following is a list of items that CANNOT be included in your letters to an inmate:

• Threats of physical violence or criminal activity
• Code words or unreadable language
• Materials or information that could lead to possible escape
• Contraband of any kind
• Gifts that have not been pre-approved by the Superintendent

All mail is subject to search and will remain undelivered if it is found to contain any of the above items. There are two different wings at the Anchorage jail and mail must be sent to the correct one in order for it to reach its intended recipient. Here are the addresses:

• East wing - Prisoner's full name, Anchorage Correctional Complex, 1400 East 4th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99501
• West wing - Prisoner's full name, Anchorage Correctional Complex, 1300 East 4th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99501

Telephone

Things are a little tighter when it comes to using the telephone, as incoming calls to inmates will not be accepted. They are allowed to call out at certain times of the day, with calling cards available for them. If they do not have a card, they will be able to place collect calls to you. It's worth noting that neither option is particularly inexpensive.

Visitation

The Anchorage jail has a pretty decent visitation schedule that is actually quite a bit better than many other facilities found across the country. You will need to be aware of which of the two wings your loves one is housed in, as the visitation schedules for each are different. Here are the current schedules for each facility:

East Wing (arrive at least 5 minutes before scheduled times)

• Daily - 9:00 AM; 10:00 AM; 1:00 PM; 2:00 PM; 6:30 PM; and 7:30 PM

West Wing (arrive at least 10 minutes before scheduled times)

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday - 9 AM, 10 AM, 1 PM, 2 PM, 7 PM, 8 PM
• Thursday - 1 PM, 2 PM, No evening visit
• Saturday & Sunday - 8 AM, 9 AM, 10 AM, 1 PM, 2 PM, 7 PM, 8 PM

RELATED: Anchorage Jail Inmate Search

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