AK POST cheat sheet

Alaska divides offenses into felonies and misdemeanors; the classification drives arrest authority, charging, and sentencing ranges under AS 11 and AS 12.

Alaska Constitution art. I, sec. 14 guarantees the right to counsel and to be informed of the nature of the accusation, mirroring but textually separate from the federal Bill of Rights.

Search warrants issue on probable cause supported by oath or affirmation; Alaska requires particularity describing the place to be searched and persons or things to be seized.

Warrantless searches are permitted incident to lawful arrest, under exigent circumstances, by consent, and for items in plain view, each analyzed under Alaska case law that can be stricter than federal doctrine.

An arrest requires probable cause that a person committed an offense; a Terry-style investigative stop requires only reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.

Miranda warnings attach to custodial interrogation; Alaska courts examine the totality of circumstances to determine whether a suspect was in custody.

The Alaska exclusionary rule can be broader than the federal rule, with independent state constitutional grounds for suppressing evidence obtained unlawfully.

Juveniles are handled under AS 47.12 delinquency provisions, emphasizing rehabilitation and separate procedures from adult criminal process.

The Alaska Constitution, effective January 3, 1959, is the controlling state charter; statutes must be consistent with it.

Article I contains the Declaration of Rights, including due process, equal protection, privacy, and the right to keep and bear arms.

Alaska's constitutional right to privacy (art. I, sec. 22) has been interpreted to protect personal autonomy in ways beyond federal doctrine.

The Alaska Legislature enacts the Alaska Statutes (AS), organized by title; criminal law is primarily in AS 11 and procedure in AS 12.

Titles 13 and 28 cover traffic and motor vehicle law, including driver licensing, vehicle registration, and rules of the road.

Statutory interpretation in Alaska begins with the plain meaning of the text, then legislative history, then policy considerations.

Local ordinances must not conflict with state law; where they do, state law generally controls.

Officers must know which statutory provisions are infractions, misdemeanors, or felonies because classification affects enforcement options.

Driving while license suspended or revoked is a statutory offense; the class depends on prior convictions and the underlying reason for the suspension.

Driving under the influence requires proof of operating or being in actual physical control of a vehicle while impaired; blood alcohol limits and refusal consequences are statutory.

Implied consent means a driver lawfully arrested for DUI must submit to a chemical test or face license revocation and evidentiary consequences.

Traffic stops are seizures requiring reasonable suspicion of a traffic violation, which may be based on any observed violation of the vehicle code.

An officer may order a driver and passengers out of a vehicle during a lawful stop based on officer safety, consistent with controlling precedent.

Vehicle searches require probable cause, consent, or a recognized exception; inventory searches must follow standardized departmental policy.

Commercial vehicle enforcement involves weight, logbook, and equipment inspections governed by state and federal motor carrier rules.

Accident reporting thresholds and hit-and-run duties depend on injury, death, and property damage amounts defined in statute.

Use a systematic approach to unknown-risk calls: gather information, plan, request backup, and establish contact and cover roles.

The reactionary gap is the distance maintained to allow time to respond to an attack; it shrinks in confined or low-light environments.

High-risk vehicle stops use multiple units, a controlled position behind cover, and clear verbal commands before approach.

Building searches require containment, perimeter control, and coordinated entry; never search alone when backup is available.

Officer-created jeopardy (positioning, tactics that escalate risk) can affect legal justification analysis for force.

Situational awareness includes monitoring hands, demeanor, environment, and escape routes continuously throughout contact.

Radio discipline and accurate location reporting are essential for rapid backup and officer-down response.

Alaska conditions such as extreme cold, ice, remote terrain, and limited cell coverage shape patrol planning and resource requests.

The chain of custody documents every transfer of evidence; gaps can undermine authenticity and admissibility.

Evidence must be relevant and authentic; authentication requires proof the item is what it purports to be.

The best evidence rule requires the original writing, recording, or photograph to prove its content unless an exception applies.

Hearsay is an out-of-court statement offered for its truth; exceptions include excited utterance, present sense impression, and business records.

Alaska's rules of evidence largely track the Federal Rules but state courts may construe them independently.

Interviews should be documented with time, location, questions asked, and verbatim key statements; record electronically when possible.

Physical evidence collection must avoid contamination; use gloves, proper packaging, and sealed, labeled containers.

Eyewitness identification procedures should be documented and non-suggestive to preserve reliability.

Force must be objectively reasonable based on the totality of circumstances known to the officer at the time, judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer.

Graham v. Connor factors: severity of the crime, immediate threat to safety, and active resistance or flight.

Deadly force is force likely to cause death or serious bodily injury; it is justified only to prevent imminent death or serious injury or to apprehend a suspect posing that threat.

The force continuum is a conceptual guide, not a rigid ladder; officers may move to any reasonable level based on threat.

Tennessee v. Garner limits deadly force against fleeing suspects to those posing a significant threat of death or serious injury.

After any force application, render aid, document injuries, and preserve evidence including body camera footage.

Defensive tactics emphasize control, balance, distance management, and de-escalation before escalation.

Duty to intervene: officers must stop and report excessive force by other officers.

Alaska has 229 federally recognized tribes; Alaska Native cultures, languages, and governance structures vary widely by region.

Subsistence hunting and fishing rights are central to many rural Alaska communities and are governed by complex state and federal rules.

Rural Alaska villages often lack road access; travel is by air, boat, snowmachine, or ATV, which shapes response times and logistics.

Cultural humility means recognizing one's own biases and adapting communication to the community being served.

Procedural justice has four elements: voice, neutrality, respect, and trustworthiness.

Language access and interpreter services are required for limited-English-proficient persons and for Alaska Native language speakers where needed.

Community policing builds partnerships through consistent presence, listening, and problem-solving rather than enforcement alone.

Village public safety officers and tribal police may have limited authority; coordination with state troopers is essential in rural areas.

The Alaska Code of Ethics for peace officers prohibits conduct that brings discredit on the profession, including dishonesty and abuse of authority.

Brady v. Maryland requires disclosure of exculpatory evidence to the prosecution and defense.

Giglio obligations require disclosure of officer credibility issues that could impeach testimony.

A conflict of interest exists when an officer's personal interest could improperly influence official action.

Gifts, gratuities, and outside employment are restricted when they create an appearance of impropriety or compromise independence.

Truthfulness in reports is a core ethical duty; false statements can result in decertification and criminal liability.

Confidential information learned during investigations must not be disclosed except for legitimate law enforcement purposes.

Ethical decision-making models weigh legal, policy, and moral dimensions and consider consequences of each option.

Reports should answer who, what, when, where, why, and how, in chronological order and plain language.

Use first person and active voice; quote key statements verbatim in quotation marks.

Record date, time, location, units present, and evidence collected with identifying numbers.

Distinguish observed facts from opinions or inferences; label conclusions clearly.

Document use of force, injuries, and medical aid provided in detail.

Note Miranda warnings given, waivers, and the time they occurred.

Correct errors with a dated supplemental or addendum rather than altering the original.

Reports may be discoverable; write as if the report will be read in court.

Scene safety precedes patient care; assess for hazards including traffic, fire, and hostile persons before approaching.

The emergency medical sequence: check responsiveness, activate EMS, check breathing and pulse, then provide care.

Severe bleeding is controlled with direct pressure, wound packing, and a tourniquet when pressure fails.

CPR compressions should be at least 2 inches deep at 100-120 per minute for adults; use an AED as soon as available.

For suspected overdose, administer naloxone and support breathing; opioids depress respiratory drive.

Hypothermia care in Alaska: remove wet clothing, insulate, and rewarm gradually; avoid rough handling of a severely hypothermic patient.

Document vital signs, interventions, and times for the medical record and later testimony.

Mass casualty triage prioritizes life-saving interventions using simple categories to allocate limited resources.