Petersburg Community Jail

The Petersburg Community Jail in Alaska is a facility with a capacity of 189 beds, which has been operational since 1995 and hosts an average of 2591 bookings per year. It is supervised by 10 staff members and utilizes more than 94 prisoners in its in-house work lines to provide services for its kitchen, clothing, and other activities. The contact details for the jail are 907-772-4425 (main number) and 907-772-3759 (fax). The Sheriff of Petersburg Borough is James Kerr and he can be contacted on the main number. Inmates can be searched for online or by calling (907) 772-3838 (907) 772-3504. The Petersburg Community Jail allows two 45-minute onsite video visits each week with additional visits for those with special privileges. Visitors must bring a valid Alaska ID and sign the guest log. Inmates are allowed one to two mails per week, which will be checked by the jail staff. In addition, inmates can speak to their attorneys and family members for up to 29 minutes per call. The jail has a classification system to decide where an inmate will serve time based on security and levels of custody. Inmates may lose their good time if they fail to follow prison rules or do not complete court-ordered treatment. The Department of Corrections (DOC) provides prison programs such as educational, vocational, and therapeutic services as well as halfway houses and work release centers. The parole board screens offenders and looks at risk factors before granting parole with conditions to reduce risk to the public and increase the parolee’s chance for success. Victims have the right to comment in writing at parole hearings. The Petersburg Community Jail is unique in that it is comprised of three different jails located in the fastest-growing and most populous county in Alaska. It houses offenders convicted of misdemeanor and felony offenses who cannot post bond, as well as individuals sentenced for serious crimes such as homicides. The jail also has an inmate roster available online with information about inmates such as their full name, date of birth, address, race, IDN, case, document type. Inmates are also allowed to make calls between 9:00 am to 8:30 pm. In comparison to other jails such as Anchorage Correctional Complex, Petersburg Community Jail stands out due to its unique features.

How do I find out if someone has been arrested and booked into the Petersburg Community Jail?

To find out if someone you know has been recently arrested and booked into the Petersburg Community Jail, call the jail’s booking line at 907-772-3838.

There may be an automated method of looking them up by their name over the phone, or you may be directed to speak to someone at the jail. Sometimes the jail staff may ask you the offender’s date of birth to ensure privacy of the offender’s status.

Keep in mind that after an arrest, the information on an offender may not be publicly available for several hours.

If you don’t want to check up on an offender by calling the jail, you can also try looking up people recently booked online.

Petersburg Community Jail Booking Roster

What happens during booking in Wrangell City and Borough?

After being arrested and taken into custody, and after being read their Miranda Rights, an offender will next be transported to the local police or department or the Sheriff’s Department in Wrangell City and Borough for booking.

Booking is very involved and requires multiple steps in the process, however, keep in mind that most attorneys will advise that an offender remain silent and not offer any additional information about the crime they have been arrested for because anything they do say may be recorded and may very well be used against them in court.

What is the booking process like at the Petersburg Community Jail?

Booking includes having their photo (mugshot) and fingerprints taken, as well as being asked a lot of questions about their personal history and state of mind. If it’s a serious felony, their DNA may also be taken. They will also be checked for warrants in Wrangell City and Borough and other Alaska and USA jurisdictions.

If the offender was arrested for a DUI offense, and has refused a breathalyzer test, they may also be forced to have blood drawn by a doctor or nurse.

It is also very likely that the offender will undergo a humiliating full body search while in the nude. This includes bending over, spreading their cheeks in the direction of an officer, and coughing. They will also be walked through a metal detector or x-ray machine, like those used at an airport.

What kind of questions are asked during booking?

The arresting jurisdiction will ask about gang affiliations, tattoos, medical conditions, prescribed medication they are taking, recreational drugs they are on or addicted to, allergies, if they are suicidal, and other relevant information that will help with determining their cell assignment and special needs.

What happens to an offender’s personal property during booking?

During the arrest and booking process an offender will also have all their personal property confiscated and held for either their release from jail, or with the offender’s approval, released to a friend or family member.

Personal property includes the clothing they are wearing, money, wallets, purses, cell phones, jewelry, body rings, earrings, watches, and even glasses if they are deemed a security risk. If they are allowed to keep their shoes or sneakers, the laces are removed.

What happens after booking?

At this point the offender will be allowed to make a free phone call to a person of their choice to notify them of their arrest, and/or arrange a bond or bail for their release.

If the offender is being detained and housed while awaiting arraignment, the Petersburg Community Jail will provide a jail garment and slip-on shoes, a blanket, sheets, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a towel.

Often, before they are dressed in the jail outfit and brought to their housing location, they will be forced to take a shower and undergo a disinfectant treatment for body and hair lice, scabies or other pests that may be residing on their person.

How long does the Petersburg Community Jail Booking process take?

Booking can take anywhere from an hour to 24 hours or more. It all depends on the number of people that are awaiting processing, the number of staff on duty at the time, and the behavior of the offender.

If the offender is heavily intoxicated and/or violent, the Booking Officer may decide to stick the offender in a holding cell for several hours until they become more manageable.