Alaska Statutes

Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015 (2026)

Authorized sentences; forfeiture

✓ current as of July 2026

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Sec. 12.55.015. Authorized sentences; forfeiture.
(a) Except as limited by AS 12.55.125 — 12.55.175, the court, in imposing sentence on a defendant convicted of an offense, may singly or in combination
     (1) impose a fine when authorized by law and as provided in AS 12.55.035;

     (2) order the defendant to be placed on probation under conditions specified by the court that may include provision for active supervision;

     (3) impose a definite term of periodic imprisonment, but only if an employment obligation of the defendant preexisted sentencing and the defendant receives a composite sentence of not more than two years to serve;

     (4) impose a definite term of continuous imprisonment;

     (5) order the defendant to make restitution under AS 12.55.045;

     (6) order the defendant to carry out a continuous or periodic program of community work under AS 12.55.055;

     (7) suspend execution of all or a portion of the sentence imposed under AS 12.55.080;

     (8) suspend entry of judgment under AS 12.55.078 or suspend imposition of sentence under AS 12.55.085;

     (9) order the forfeiture to the commissioner of public safety or a municipal law enforcement agency of a deadly weapon that was in the actual possession of or used by the defendant during the commission of an offense described in AS 11.41, AS 11.46, AS 11.56, or AS 11.61;

     (10) order the defendant, while incarcerated, to participate in or comply with the treatment plan of a rehabilitation program that is related to the defendant's offense or to the defendant's rehabilitation if the program is made available to the defendant by the Department of Corrections;

     (11) order the forfeiture to the state of a motor vehicle, weapon, electronic communication device, or money or other valuables, used in or obtained through an offense that was committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal street gang;

     (12) order the defendant to have no contact, either directly or indirectly, with a victim or witness of the offense until the defendant is unconditionally discharged;

     (13) order the defendant to refrain from consuming alcoholic beverages for a period of time.

(b) The court, in exercising sentencing discretion as provided in this chapter, shall impose a sentence involving imprisonment when
     (1) the defendant deserves to be imprisoned, considering the seriousness of the present offense and the defendant's prior criminal history, and imprisonment is equitable considering sentences imposed for other offenses and other defendants under similar circumstances;

     (2) imprisonment is necessary to protect the public from further harm by the defendant; or

     (3) sentences of lesser severity have been repeatedly imposed for substantially similar offenses in the past and have proven ineffective in deterring the defendant from further criminal conduct.

(c) In addition to the penalties authorized by this section, the court may invoke any authority conferred by law to order a forfeiture of property, suspend or revoke a license, remove a person from office, or impose any other civil penalty. When forfeiting property under this subsection, a court may award to a municipal law enforcement agency that participated in the arrest or conviction of the defendant, the seizure of property, or the identification of property for seizure, (1) the property if the property is worth $5,000 or less and is not money or some other thing that is divisible, or (2) up to 75 percent of the property or the value of the property if the property is worth more than $5,000 or is money or some other thing that is divisible. In determining the percentage a municipal law enforcement agency may receive under this subsection, the court shall consider the municipal law enforcement agency's total involvement in the case relative to the involvement of the state.

(d) [Repealed, § 12 ch 188 SLA 1990.]
(e) If the defendant is ordered to serve a definite term of imprisonment, the court may recommend that the defendant serve all or part of the term
     (1) in a correctional restitution center;

     (2) by electronic monitoring.

(f) Notwithstanding (a) of this section, the court shall order the forfeiture to the commissioner of public safety or a municipal law enforcement agency of a deadly weapon that was in the actual possession of or used by the defendant during the commission of a crime involving domestic violence.

(g) Unless a defendant is ineligible for a deduction under AS 33.20, when a defendant is sentenced to a term of imprisonment of two years or more, the sentence consists of two parts: (1) a minimum term of imprisonment that is equal to not less than two-thirds of the total term of imprisonment; and (2) a maximum term of supervised release on mandatory parole that is equal to not more than one-third of the total term of imprisonment; the amount of time that the inmate actually serves in imprisonment and on supervised release is subject to the provisions of AS 33.20.010 — 33.20.060.

(h) In addition to penalties authorized by this section, the court shall order a person convicted of an offense requiring the state to collect a blood sample, oral sample, or both, for the deoxyribonucleic acid identification registration system under AS 44.41.035 to submit to the collection of
     (1) the sample or samples when requested by a health care professional acting on behalf of the state to provide the sample or samples; or

     (2) an oral sample when requested by a juvenile or adult correctional, probation, or parole officer, or a peace officer.

(i) In addition to penalties authorized by this section, the court may order a defendant convicted of a violation of AS 11.41.410 or 11.41.434 where the victim of the offense was under 13 years of age to be subject to electronic monitoring up to the maximum length of probation on the person's release from a correctional facility.

(j) Nothing in (a)(13) of this section limits or restricts the authority of a court to order a person to refrain from the consumption of alcohol as a condition of sentence or probation.

(k) In making a determination under (a)(12) of this section for a defendant convicted of a crime involving a sex offense as defined in AS 12.63.100 or a crime involving domestic violence as defined in AS 18.66.990, there is a presumption that, unless the court finds on the record that contact between a defendant and the victim of the offense is necessary, the court shall order the defendant to have no contact, either directly or indirectly, with the victim until the defendant is unconditionally discharged.

(l) In this section “deadly weapon” has the meaning given in AS 11.81.900.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 50 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1980–2025 · leading case: State v. Bassett, 428 P.3d 343 (Wash. 2018).

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State v. Bassett, 428 P.3d 343 (Wash. 2018). · cites it 2× “Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015 (g) ; Ark. Code Ann.”

Rocky N. Seaman v. State of Alaska, 499 P.3d 1028 (Alaska Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 17× “Seaman, asserts that the term “active term of imprisonment” includes the deduction for statutory good time credit, and Seaman argues that Alaska’s truth-in-sentencing statute, AS 12.55.015(g), requires the Department of Corrections to subtract a defendant’s statutory good time…”

Thompson v. Oklahoma, 487 U.S. 815 (1988). · cites it 2× “In sum, we believe that the more appropriate measures for determining how the States view the issue of minimum age for the death penalty are those discussed in the text and in n. 29, infra.”

Graham v. Florida, 176 L. Ed. 2d 825 (2010). · cites it 2× “JURISDICTIONS THAT FORBID LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS Alaska Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015 (g) (2008) Colorado Colo.”

Leuch v. State, 633 P.2d 1006 (Alaska 1981). · cites it 2× “AS 12.55.015(b) reads: The court, in exercising sentencing discretion as provided in this chapter, shall impose a sentence involving imprisonment when (1) the defendant deserves to be imprisoned, considering the seriousness of his present offense and his prior criminal history,…”

Lacquement v. State, 644 P.2d 856 (Alaska Ct. App. 1982). · cites it 2× “See AS 12.55.015(a) and 12.55.080. It is obvious that AS 12.”

State of Alaska v. Kai Davidson Meyers, 479 P.3d 840 (Alaska Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 10× “”17 Meyers argues that the statutory authority for a court to impose probation and to suspend imposition of sentence for an infraction is found in AS 12.55.015, a general statute that sets out a list of “authorized sentences” that courts may impose when a defendant is convicted…”

State v. Felix, 50 P.3d 807 (Alaska Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 9× “AS 12.55.015, the statute which authorizes sentencing courts to impose periodic imprisonment, distinguishes between sentences of "continuous" imprisonment and sentences of "periodic" imprisonment.”

Williams v. State, 924 P.2d 104 (Alaska Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 8× “Williams separately contends, however, that AS 12.55.015 is itself unconstitutionally vague; he professes to be uncertain as to the meaning of the words “participate in or comply with.”

Austin v. State, 627 P.2d 657 (Alaska Ct. App. 1981). “AS 12.55.015(b)(3) provides: (b) The court, in exercising sentencing discretion as provided in this chapter, shall impose a sentence involving imprisonment when .”

Juneby v. State, 641 P.2d 823 (Alaska Ct. App. 1982). “, AS 12.55.015(b) (establishing circumstances under which incarceration is required for a first offender); Austin v.”

State Of Washington v. Brian M. Bassett, 394 P.3d 430 (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). “11 See Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015 (g) (banned in 1997); Ark.”

Show all 50 citing cases →

— Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015(D) — 1 case

Bates v. State, 258 P.3d 851 (Alaska Ct. App. 2011).

— Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015(a) — 3 cases

Lacquement v. State, 644 P.2d 856 (Alaska Ct. App. 1982). “See AS 12.55.015(a) and 12.55.080. It is obvious that AS 12.”

State, Dept. of Corr. v. Lundy, 188 P.3d 692 (Alaska Ct. App. 2008).

State of Alaska v. Kai Davidson Meyers, 479 P.3d 840 (Alaska Ct. App. 2020). “”17 Meyers argues that the statutory authority for a court to impose probation and to suspend imposition of sentence for an infraction is found in AS 12.55.015, a general statute that sets out a list of “authorized sentences” that courts may impose when a defendant is convicted…”

— Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015(a)(1)(A) — 1 case

Hazelwood v. State, 962 P.2d 196 (Alaska Ct. App. 1998).

— Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015(a)(10) — 5 cases

Williams v. State, 924 P.2d 104 (Alaska Ct. App. 1996). “Williams separately contends, however, that AS 12.55.015 is itself unconstitutionally vague; he professes to be uncertain as to the meaning of the words “participate in or comply with.”

Scott v. State, 928 P.2d 1234 (Alaska Ct. App. 1996).

Alexander v. State, 38 P.3d 543 (Alaska Ct. App. 2001).

Webb v. Alaska Dep't of Corr., 963 P.2d 1074 (Alaska Ct. App. 1998).

Gwalthney v. State, 964 P.2d 1285 (Alaska Ct. App. 1998).

— Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015(a)(12) — 1 case

Hicks v. State, 377 P.3d 976 (Alaska Ct. App. 2016).

— Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015(a)(2) — 4 cases

Lacquement v. State, 644 P.2d 856 (Alaska Ct. App. 1982). “See AS 12.55.015(a) and 12.55.080. It is obvious that AS 12.”

State of Alaska v. Kai Davidson Meyers, 479 P.3d 840 (Alaska Ct. App. 2020). “”17 Meyers argues that the statutory authority for a court to impose probation and to suspend imposition of sentence for an infraction is found in AS 12.55.015, a general statute that sets out a list of “authorized sentences” that courts may impose when a defendant is convicted…”

State of Alaska v. Falealo Manuele Pulusila, 467 P.3d 211 (Alaska 2020).

Gwalthney v. State, 964 P.2d 1285 (Alaska Ct. App. 1998).

— Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015(a)(3) — 3 cases

Whittlesey v. State, 626 P.2d 1066 (Alaska 1980).

State v. Felix, 50 P.3d 807 (Alaska Ct. App. 2002). “AS 12.55.015, the statute which authorizes sentencing courts to impose periodic imprisonment, distinguishes between sentences of "continuous" imprisonment and sentences of "periodic" imprisonment.”

State v. Brueggeman, 24 P.3d 583 (Alaska Ct. App. 2001).

— Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015(a)(5) — 2 cases

Reyes v. State, 978 P.2d 635 (Alaska Ct. App. 1999).

Haynes v. State, 15 P.3d 1088 (Alaska Ct. App. 2001).

— Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015(a)(6) — 1 case

Booth v. State, 903 P.2d 1079 (Alaska Ct. App. 1995).

— Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015(a)(7) — 2 cases

Curtis v. State, 831 P.2d 359 (Alaska Ct. App. 1992).

Trumbly v. State, 379 P.3d 996 (Alaska Ct. App. 2016).

— Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015(a)(8) — 3 cases

State v. Felix, 50 P.3d 807 (Alaska Ct. App. 2002). “AS 12.55.015, the statute which authorizes sentencing courts to impose periodic imprisonment, distinguishes between sentences of "continuous" imprisonment and sentences of "periodic" imprisonment.”

State of Alaska v. Kai Davidson Meyers, 479 P.3d 840 (Alaska Ct. App. 2020). “”17 Meyers argues that the statutory authority for a court to impose probation and to suspend imposition of sentence for an infraction is found in AS 12.55.015, a general statute that sets out a list of “authorized sentences” that courts may impose when a defendant is convicted…”

State v. Brueggeman, 24 P.3d 583 (Alaska Ct. App. 2001).

— Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015(b) — 6 cases

Leuch v. State, 633 P.2d 1006 (Alaska 1981). “AS 12.55.015(b) reads: The court, in exercising sentencing discretion as provided in this chapter, shall impose a sentence involving imprisonment when (1) the defendant deserves to be imprisoned, considering the seriousness of his present offense and his prior criminal history,…”

Juneby v. State, 641 P.2d 823 (Alaska Ct. App. 1982). “, AS 12.55.015(b) (establishing circumstances under which incarceration is required for a first offender); Austin v.”

Schnecker v. State, 739 P.2d 1310 (Alaska Ct. App. 1987).

Erhart v. State, 656 P.2d 1199 (Alaska Ct. App. 1982).

Hancock v. State, 706 P.2d 1164 (Alaska Ct. App. 1985).

— Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015(b)(3) — 1 case

Austin v. State, 627 P.2d 657 (Alaska Ct. App. 1981). “AS 12.55.015(b)(3) provides: (b) The court, in exercising sentencing discretion as provided in this chapter, shall impose a sentence involving imprisonment when .”

— Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015(e)(2) — 1 case

Degrate v. State, 117 P.3d 769 (Alaska Ct. App. 2005).

— Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015(g) — 1 case

Rocky N. Seaman v. State of Alaska, 499 P.3d 1028 (Alaska Ct. App. 2021). “Seaman, asserts that the term “active term of imprisonment” includes the deduction for statutory good time credit, and Seaman argues that Alaska’s truth-in-sentencing statute, AS 12.55.015(g), requires the Department of Corrections to subtract a defendant’s statutory good time…”

— Alaska Stat. § 12.55.015(h) — 1 case

Osborne v. State, 110 P.3d 986 (Alaska Ct. App. 2005).

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