Federal Sentences in the District of Alaska, FY2016–2025
Only 30% of federal sentences in the District of Alaska in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 fell within the guideline range, compared with 48% for all 94 federal districts. The median prison term in Alaska was 48 months (4 years), higher than the 24-month median nationwide. The district sentenced 1,598 peo
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In brief: Only 30% of federal sentences in the District of Alaska in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 fell within the guideline range, compared with 48% for all 94 federal districts. The median prison term in Alaska was 48 months (4 years), higher than the 24-month median nationwide. The district sentenced 1,598 people over those years.
This post uses the U.S. Sentencing Commission's records of 1,598 people sentenced in federal court in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Acquittals and dismissals come from a second source, the Federal Judicial Center's records of 753,808 federal defendants whose cases ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. It is part of the Federal Prosecution Analysis series, which builds on Military Moves Toward Sentencing Guidelines to Mirror the Federal System. How the numbers were built: How the Federal Comparison Data Was Built.
Where Alaska Sentences Fell Against the Guidelines
The federal sentencing guidelines produce a recommended range of months for each case. Judges must consider the range but may sentence outside it. Guideline position is known for 1,587 of the 1,598 people sentenced in Alaska.
482 of them (30%) were sentenced within the range. The largest group, 565 (36%), received a sentence below the range at the government's request. Another 476 (30%) were sentenced below the range without a government request.
64 people (4%) received a sentence above the range. The data records where the sentence fell, not the reasons the court gave.
Prison Terms Were Longer at the Median
1,428 of the 1,598 (89%) received a prison term, a little lower than the 91% for all districts. 145 (9%) received probation only.
For those sent to prison, the median term was 48 months. A quarter received 95.2 months or more, and a quarter received 24 months or less. 9 people received a life sentence.
A mandatory minimum prison term applied to 607 people, or 38%. A mandatory minimum is a floor set by statute. The records show that one applied, not whether it decided the length of the term.
Drug and Firearms Cases Made Up Most of the Total
Drug trafficking accounted for 572 people (36%), with a median prison term of 60 months. Firearms offenses accounted for 356 (22%), with a median of 36 months.
Fraud, theft, or embezzlement followed with 158 people (10%) and a median of 20 months. Money laundering had 92 (6%). Child pornography (images of child exploitation) had 74 people (5%) and a median of 77.5 months.
Environmental offenses appear among the district's largest groups, with 66 people (4%) and a median of 6 months. Sexual abuse cases numbered 53, with a median of 192 months.
| Offense type | People sentenced | Share of district | Median prison | Pleaded guilty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Trafficking | 572 | 36% | 60 months | 96% |
| Firearms | 356 | 22% | 36 months | 97% |
| Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement | 158 | 10% | 20 months | 97% |
| Money Laundering | 92 | 6% | 61.5 months | 98% |
| Child Pornography | 74 | 5% | 77.5 months | 93% |
| Environmental | 66 | 4% | 6 months | 97% |
| Robbery | 63 | 4% | 72 months | 95% |
| Sexual Abuse | 53 | 3% | 192 months | 87% |
Criminal History of People Sentenced
36% were placed in criminal history category I, the lowest. 15% were in category VI, the highest. Court-martial records contain no field for criminal history, so this measure has no military counterpart.
Pleas and Trial Convictions
1,523 of 1,598 people (95%) pleaded guilty, compared with 97% across all districts. 75 were convicted after a trial.
The median prison term was 48 months after a guilty plea. After a trial it was 121 months, a figure based on 73 people convicted at trial and sent to prison.
90% of guilty pleas included a written plea agreement, and 10% were straight pleas with no agreement.
Supervision, Fines, and Restitution
1,412 people (88%) were ordered to serve supervised release after prison. The median supervised release term was 36 months, and 56 (4%) received supervised release for life.
Fines were ordered for 101 people (6%). Restitution was ordered for 346 (22%).
Changes Across the Fiscal Years
751 people were sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2019, and 847 in fiscal years 2020 to 2025. The fewest in a single year was 108, in 2020.
The yearly median prison term ranged between 36 months in 2020 and 60 months in 2025. The table lists each year's count, median, and guilty plea rate.
| Fiscal year | People sentenced | Median prison | Pleaded guilty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 182 | 51 months | 96% |
| 2017 | 179 | 41 months | 94% |
| 2018 | 197 | 57.5 months | 96% |
| 2019 | 193 | 54 months | 96% |
| 2020 | 108 | 36 months | 94% |
| 2021 | 148 | 38.5 months | 99% |
| 2022 | 140 | 50.5 months | 90% |
| 2023 | 177 | 57 months | 93% |
| 2024 | 136 | 44 months | 98% |
| 2025 | 138 | 60 months | 96% |
Military Installations in the District
Eielson AFB, Fort Wainwright, and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson are in the District of Alaska and appear in this site's court-martial data. Courts-martial are tried in military courts, not in this federal district court.
The federal figures count only people convicted and sentenced, and prison terms are those imposed rather than served. They cannot show the facts of individual cases or explain differences from the national numbers.
How We Counted
Everyone sentenced in federal court in the District of Alaska (U.S. Sentencing Commission district label "Alaska") in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 (1,598). Offense types are the Commission's OFFGUIDE categories.
Federal fiscal years run from October 1 to September 30. No person, judge, or lawyer is identified in any of these records.
What to Keep in Mind
No parole in federal prison; credit for good conduct. Federal prison has no parole for crimes committed on or after November 1, 1987. A federal prisoner can earn up to 54 days of good conduct credit for each year of the sentence the judge imposed, which is about 15%. Some federal prisoners can also earn First Step Act time credits, but many offenses make a person ineligible. The numbers in this post are the sentences judges imposed, not the time people actually served.
Federal supervised release. Most federal prison sentences are followed by a term of supervised release that the judge sets as part of the sentence. A person who violates it can be sent back to prison. A court-martial cannot sentence anyone to supervision after release. Military parole and mandatory supervised release are decided later by a board, not by the judge at trial.
Who decides the sentence, and under what rules. Federal judges sentence every federal case. They must calculate the Sentencing Guidelines range, which is advisory, and must impose any mandatory minimum the statute requires unless an exception applies. In courts-martial, the accused could choose sentencing by members until the rules changed. For cases in which every guilty finding is for an offense committed after December 27, 2023, a military judge sentences alone, within sentencing parameters. Courts-martial tried in 2024 and later include both old-rule and new-rule cases, and the data cannot tell them apart.
Time periods. Federal numbers are by federal fiscal year (October 1 to September 30), based on the sentencing date. The military numbers are by trial date. Neither source has the date of the offense, so a change in law shows up in either data set gradually.
How life sentences and "time served" are counted. In the federal numbers, a life sentence is counted as 470 months, and any other sentence longer than 470 months is counted as just under 470 months. A sentence of "time served" is counted as one day (0.03 months). Averages are affected by these rules; medians much less.
Mandatory minimum sentences. Many federal statutes on drugs, images of child exploitation, child sex abuse, and firearms carry mandatory minimum prison terms. The UCMJ has mandatory minimums only for a few offenses (a dishonorable discharge or dismissal for rape and sexual assault, and life for premeditated murder). Federal sentences for these offenses are partly set by Congress, not by the judge.
Related Analysis
- Military Moves Toward Sentencing Guidelines to Mirror the Federal System (the background article)
- Federal Prosecution Analysis (all federal posts)
- How the Federal Comparison Data Was Built (sources and method)
- How Often Federal Judges Sentence Outside the Guideline Range
- Mandatory Minimums: How Many Federal Sentences Are Set by Congress
- U.S. Sentencing Commission, Individual Offender Datafiles (source)
- Federal Judicial Center, Integrated Database (criminal defendants) (source)
About the author. Jocelyn C. Stewart is a retired Army JAG with more than 24 years of trying courts-martial and more than 200 jury trials. She hosts Where All The Bodies Are Buried and runs the Law Office of Jocelyn C. Stewart. This analysis is for education and information only. It is not legal advice, and every case is different.