Alaska Statutes
Alaska Stat. § 12.45.045 (2026)
Evidence of past sexual conduct in trials of certain sexual offenses
✓ current as of July 2026
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Sec. 12.45.045. Evidence of past sexual conduct in trials of certain sexual offenses.
(a) In prosecutions for the crimes of sexual assault in any degree, sexual abuse of a minor in any degree, unlawful exploitation of a minor, or an attempt to commit any of these crimes, evidence of the sexual conduct of the complaining witness, occurring either before or after the offense charged, may not be admitted nor may reference be made to it in the presence of the jury except as provided in this section. When the defendant seeks to admit the evidence for any purpose, the defendant shall apply for an order of the court not later than five days before trial or at a later time as the court may, for good cause, permit. The defendant may, for good cause shown, apply for an order during trial if the request is based on information learned after the deadline or during the trial. After the application is made, the court shall conduct a hearing in camera to determine the admissibility of the evidence. If the court finds that evidence offered by the defendant regarding the sexual conduct of the complaining witness is relevant, and that the probative value of the evidence offered is not outweighed by the probability that its admission will create undue prejudice, confusion of the issues, or unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the complaining witness, the court shall make an order stating what evidence may be introduced and the nature of the questions that may be permitted. The defendant may then offer evidence under the order of the court.
(b) In the absence of a persuasive showing to the contrary, evidence of the complaining witness' sexual conduct occurring more than one year before the date of the offense charged is presumed to be inadmissible under this section.
(c) In this section “complaining witness” means the alleged victim of the crime charged, the prosecution of which is subject to this section.
(a) In prosecutions for the crimes of sexual assault in any degree, sexual abuse of a minor in any degree, unlawful exploitation of a minor, or an attempt to commit any of these crimes, evidence of the sexual conduct of the complaining witness, occurring either before or after the offense charged, may not be admitted nor may reference be made to it in the presence of the jury except as provided in this section. When the defendant seeks to admit the evidence for any purpose, the defendant shall apply for an order of the court not later than five days before trial or at a later time as the court may, for good cause, permit. The defendant may, for good cause shown, apply for an order during trial if the request is based on information learned after the deadline or during the trial. After the application is made, the court shall conduct a hearing in camera to determine the admissibility of the evidence. If the court finds that evidence offered by the defendant regarding the sexual conduct of the complaining witness is relevant, and that the probative value of the evidence offered is not outweighed by the probability that its admission will create undue prejudice, confusion of the issues, or unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the complaining witness, the court shall make an order stating what evidence may be introduced and the nature of the questions that may be permitted. The defendant may then offer evidence under the order of the court.
(b) In the absence of a persuasive showing to the contrary, evidence of the complaining witness' sexual conduct occurring more than one year before the date of the offense charged is presumed to be inadmissible under this section.
(c) In this section “complaining witness” means the alleged victim of the crime charged, the prosecution of which is subject to this section.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 27
cases, 1979–2019 · leading case: Kvasnikoff v. State, 674 P.2d 302 (Alaska Ct. App. 1983).
Kvasnikoff v. State, 674 P.2d 302 (Alaska Ct. App. 1983). “Kvasnikoff asserts that evidence was excluded as a result of an erroneous application of AS 12.45.045. Kvasnikoff also asserts that the exclusion deprived him of his right to confront the complaining witness through effective cross-examination.”
Worthy v. State, 999 P.2d 771 (Alaska 2000). “'s previous sexual conduct, AS 12.45.045(a) and Alaska Evidence Rule 404(a)(2) may affect the admissibility of Dr.”
Jager v. State, 748 P.2d 1172 (Alaska Ct. App. 1988). “’s prior sexual experience was inadmissible under AS 12.45.045, Alaska’s rape shield statute.”
Padgett v. State, 590 P.2d 432 (Alaska 1979). “” AS 12.45.045 governs the admission of evidence concerning past sexual conduct in rape trials.”
Baden v. State, 667 P.2d 1275 (Alaska Ct. App. 1983). “The prosecutor argued that the rape shield statute, AS 12.45.045, 3 banned any reference to a victim’s prior sexual conduct and that other evidence concerning C.”
Collins v. State, 2009 OK CR 32 (Okla. Crim. App. 2009). “, Alaska Stat. § 12.45.045 (a) (2006); Ark.”
Kenneth W. Wood v. State of Alaska, 957 F.2d 1544 (9th Cir. 1992). “Alaska Stat. § 12.45.045 (a) requires the *1547 court to determine, in an in camera hearing, the admissibility of evidence of previous sexual conduct: If the court finds that evidence offered by the defendant regarding the sexual conduct of the complaining witness is relevant,…”
Covington v. State, 703 P.2d 436 (Alaska Ct. App. 1985). “, AS 12.45.045; A.R.E. 404(a)(2). See Commonwealth v.”
Williamson v. State, 692 P.2d 965 (Alaska Ct. App. 1984). “[9] AS 12.45.045 provides, in part: (a) In prosecutions for the crime of sexual assault .”
Patterson v. State, 689 P.2d 146 (Alaska Ct. App. 1984). “’s past sexual conduct, the trial court never really made a determination as to any specific evidence since Patterson never made a proper offer of proof as required by AS 12.45.045. See also A.R.E. 103(2) (no error where court excludes evidence if no offer of proof).”
Moss v. State, 620 P.2d 674 (Alaska 1980). “In light of AS 12.45.045 5 the trial court was understandably skeptical about allowing this theory to be the basis for testimony as to prior sexual conduct of the victim.”
Heath v. State, 849 P.2d 786 (Alaska Ct. App. 1993). “The State opposed Heath’s request, arguing that Heath was asking the court to disregard Alaska’s rape shield statute, AS 12.45.045(a). 1 Superior Court Judge John Reese denied Heath’s request.”
— Alaska Stat. § 12.45.045(a) — 7 cases
Worthy v. State, 999 P.2d 771 (Alaska 2000). “'s previous sexual conduct, AS 12.45.045(a) and Alaska Evidence Rule 404(a)(2) may affect the admissibility of Dr.”
Heath v. State, 849 P.2d 786 (Alaska Ct. App. 1993). “The State opposed Heath’s request, arguing that Heath was asking the court to disregard Alaska’s rape shield statute, AS 12.45.045(a). 1 Superior Court Judge John Reese denied Heath’s request.”
Patterson v. State, 689 P.2d 146 (Alaska Ct. App. 1984). “’s past sexual conduct, the trial court never really made a determination as to any specific evidence since Patterson never made a proper offer of proof as required by AS 12.45.045. See also A.R.E. 103(2) (no error where court excludes evidence if no offer of proof).”
Jager v. State, 748 P.2d 1172 (Alaska Ct. App. 1988). “’s prior sexual experience was inadmissible under AS 12.45.045, Alaska’s rape shield statute.”
Baden v. State, 667 P.2d 1275 (Alaska Ct. App. 1983). “The prosecutor argued that the rape shield statute, AS 12.45.045, 3 banned any reference to a victim’s prior sexual conduct and that other evidence concerning C.”
— Alaska Stat. § 12.45.045(b) — 2 cases
Hersh v. State of Alaska, Attorney Gen. for Alaska (D. Alaska 2019).
Napoka v. State, 996 P.2d 106 (Alaska Ct. App. 2000).
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