Seward Community Jail

Seward Community Jail in Alaska is a 14-bed, temporary detention facility owned and operated by the City of Seward and is part of the State Contract Jail Program. The jail provides short term detention for persons held on state criminal charges pending arraignment, bail release or transfer to another Department of Rehabilitation. It is located at 410 Adams Street, PO Box 167 in Seward and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Inmates at Seward Community Jail are allowed to send and receive mails and some packages, as well as have commissary accounts funded by friends and family members. They are also allowed visitors who must be pre-approved for visitation. Inmates at the Seward Community Jail have privileges such as two 45-minute onsite video visits per week which must be scheduled in advance and phone calls between 8AM and 6PM daily. If an individual needs assistance with an inmate at the Seward Community Jail they can call 907-224-4028 to speak to personnel directly. The jail is run by 14 officers and is a medium-security Adult jail. It is also notable for being one of the top employers in Seward, providing steady year-round jobs with good pay to 140 corrections officers, 79 of whom currently live in Seward or Moose Pass area. It also provides electricity, water, and sewer services to Spring Creek Correctional Center, a maximum security prison located nearby. Inmates are allowed to participate in specialized programs such as electronic monitoring, community work service, medical services, and religious functions. In May 2021, there was an incident of 62 inmates rioting in the 'Hotel Mod' housing unit at the prison, but no injuries were reported.

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

To find out if someone you know has been recently arrested and booked into the Seward Community Jail, call the jail’s booking line at 907-224-3645.

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.

Seward Community Jail Booking Roster

What happens during booking in Kenai Peninsula 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 Kenai Peninsula 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 Seward 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 Kenai Peninsula 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 Seward 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 Seward 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.