(a) A defendant convicted of murder in the first degree or murder of an unborn child under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.150 (a)(1) shall be sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of at least 30 years but not more than 99 years. A defendant convicted of murder in the first degree shall be sentenced to a mandatory term of imprisonment of 99 years when

Attorney's Note

Under the Alaska Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class A felonyup to 20 yearsup to $250,000
Class B felonyup to 10 yearsup to $100,000
Class C felonyup to 5 yearsup to $50,000
For details, see Alaska Stat. § 12.55.125(c) and Alaska Stat. § 12.55.125
criminal case

Ask a criminal law question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a criminal defense lawyer and protect your rights.

Terms Used In Alaska Statutes 12.55.125

  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • peace officer: means
    (A) an officer of the state troopers. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
  • person: includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, organization, business trust, or society, as well as a natural person. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • state: means the State of Alaska unless applied to the different parts of the United States and in the latter case it includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Trial jury: A group of citizens who hear the evidence presented by both sides at trial and determine the facts in dispute. Federal criminal juries consist of 12 persons. Federal civil juries consist of six persons.
(1) the defendant is convicted of the murder of a uniformed or otherwise clearly identified peace officer, firefighter, or correctional employee who was engaged in the performance of official duties at the time of the murder;
(2) the defendant has been previously convicted of

(A) murder in the first degree under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.100 or former Alaska Stat. § 11.15.010 or 11.15.020;
(B) murder in the second degree under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.110 or former Alaska Stat. § 11.15.030; or
(C) homicide under the laws of another jurisdiction when the offense of which the defendant was convicted contains elements similar to first degree murder under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.100 or second degree murder under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.110;
(3) the defendant subjected the murder victim to substantial physical torture;
(4) the defendant is convicted of the murder of and personally caused the death of a person, other than a participant, during a robbery; or
(5) the defendant is a peace officer who used the officer’s authority as a peace officer to facilitate the murder.
(b) A defendant convicted of attempted murder in the first degree, solicitation to commit murder in the first degree, conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree, kidnapping, or misconduct involving a controlled substance in the first degree shall be sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of at least five years but not more than 99 years. A defendant convicted of murder in the second degree or murder of an unborn child under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.150 (a)(2) – (4) shall be sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of at least 15 years but not more than 99 years. A defendant convicted of murder in the second degree shall be sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of at least 20 years but not more than 99 years when the defendant is convicted of the murder of a child under 16 years of age and the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant (1) was a natural parent, a stepparent, an adoptive parent, a legal guardian, or a person occupying a position of authority in relation to the child; or (2) caused the death of the child by committing a crime against a person under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.200 – 11.41.530. In this subsection, “legal guardian” and “position of authority” have the meanings given in Alaska Stat. § 11.41.470.
(c) Except as provided in (i) of this section, a defendant convicted of a class A felony may be sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of not more than 20 years, and shall be sentenced to a definite term within the following presumptive ranges, subject to adjustment as provided in Alaska Stat. § 12.55.155 – 12.55.175:

(1) if the offense is a first felony conviction and does not involve circumstances described in (2) of this subsection, four to seven years;
(2) if the offense is a first felony conviction

(A) and the defendant

possessed a firearm, used a dangerous instrument, or caused serious physical injury or death during the commission of the offense, or

knowingly directed the conduct constituting the offense at a uniformed or otherwise clearly identified peace officer, firefighter, correctional employee, emergency medical technician, paramedic, ambulance attendant, or other emergency responder who was engaged in the performance of official duties at the time of the offense, seven to 11 years;

(B) and the conviction is for manufacturing related to methamphetamine under Alaska Stat. § 11.71.021(a)(2)(A) or (B), seven to 11 years if

(i) the manufacturing occurred in a building with reckless disregard that the building was used as a permanent or temporary home or place of lodging for one or more children under 18 years of age or the building was a place frequented by children; or
(ii) in the course of manufacturing or in preparation for manufacturing, the defendant obtained the assistance of one or more children under 18 years of age or one or more children were present;
(3) if the offense is a second felony conviction, 10 to 14 years;
(4) if the offense is a third felony conviction and the defendant is not subject to sentencing under (l) of this section, 15 to 20 years.
(d) Except as provided in (i) of this section, a defendant convicted of a class B felony may be sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of not more than 10 years, and shall be sentenced to a definite term within the following presumptive ranges, subject to adjustment as provided in Alaska Stat. § 12.55.155 – 12.55.175:

(1) if the offense is a first felony conviction and does not involve circumstances described in (2) of this subsection, one to three years; a defendant sentenced under this paragraph may, if the court finds it appropriate, be granted a suspended imposition of sentence under Alaska Stat. § 12.55.085 if, as a condition of probation under Alaska Stat. § 12.55.086, the defendant is required to serve an active term of imprisonment within the range specified in this paragraph, unless the court finds that a mitigation factor under Alaska Stat. § 12.55.155 applies;
(2) if the offense is a first felony conviction,

(A) the defendant violated Alaska Stat. § 11.41.130, and the victim was a child under 16 years of age, two to four years;
(B) two to four years if the conviction is for attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to manufacture related to methamphetamine under Alaska Stat. Chapter 11.31 and Alaska Stat. § 11.71.021(a)(2)(A) or (B), and

(i) the attempted manufacturing occurred, or the solicited or conspired offense was to have occurred, in a building with reckless disregard that the building was used as a permanent or temporary home or place of lodging for one or more children under 18 years of age or the building was a place frequented by children; or
(ii) in the course of an attempt to manufacture, the defendant obtained the assistance of one or more children under 18 years of age or one or more children were present;
(3) if the offense is a second felony conviction, three to seven years;
(4) if the offense is a third felony conviction, six to 10 years.
(e) Except as provided in (i) of this section, a defendant convicted of a class C felony may be sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of not more than five years, and shall be sentenced to a definite term within the following presumptive ranges, subject to adjustment as provided in Alaska Stat. § 12.55.155 – 12.55.175:

(1) if the offense is a first felony conviction and does not involve circumstances described in (4) of this subsection, zero to two years; a defendant sentenced under this paragraph may, if the court finds it appropriate, be granted a suspended imposition of sentence under Alaska Stat. § 12.55.085, and the court may, as a condition of probation under Alaska Stat. § 12.55.086, require the defendant to serve an active term of imprisonment within the range specified in this paragraph;
(2) if the offense is a second felony conviction, two to four years;
(3) if the offense is a third felony conviction, three to five years;
(4) if the offense is a first felony conviction, and the defendant violated Alaska Stat. § 08.54.720 (a)(15), one to two years.
(f) If a defendant is sentenced under (a) or (b) of this section,

(1) imprisonment for the prescribed minimum or mandatory term may not be suspended under Alaska Stat. § 12.55.080;
(2) imposition of sentence may not be suspended under Alaska Stat. § 12.55.085;
(3) imprisonment for the prescribed minimum or mandatory term may not be reduced, except as provided in (j) of this section.
(g) If a defendant is sentenced under (c), (d), (e), or (i) of this section, except to the extent permitted under Alaska Stat. § 12.55.155 – 12.55.175,

(1) imprisonment may not be suspended under Alaska Stat. § 12.55.080 below the low end of the presumptive range;
(2) and except as provided in (d)(1) or (e)(1) of this section, imposition of sentence may not be suspended under Alaska Stat. § 12.55.085;
(3) terms of imprisonment may not be otherwise reduced.
(h) Nothing in this section or Alaska Stat. § 12.55.135 limits the discretion of the sentencing judge except as specifically provided. Nothing in (a) of this section limits the court’s discretion to impose a sentence of 99 years imprisonment, or to limit parole eligibility, for a person convicted of murder in the first or second degree in circumstances other than those enumerated in (a).
(i) A defendant convicted of

(1) sexual assault in the first degree under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.410 (a)(1)(A), (2), (3), or (4), sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree, unlawful exploitation of a minor under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.455 (c)(2), or sex trafficking in the first degree under Alaska Stat. § 11.66.110 (a)(2) may be sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of not more than 99 years and shall be sentenced to a definite term within the following presumptive ranges, subject to adjustment as provided in Alaska Stat. § 12.55.155 – 12.55.175:

(A) if the offense is a first felony conviction, the offense does not involve circumstances described in (B) of this paragraph, and the victim was

(i) less than 13 years of age, 25 to 35 years;
(ii) 13 years of age or older, 20 to 30 years;
(B) if the offense is a first felony conviction and the defendant possessed a firearm, used a dangerous instrument, or caused serious physical injury during the commission of the offense, 25 to 35 years;
(C) if the offense is a second felony conviction and does not involve circumstances described in (D) of this paragraph, 30 to 40 years;
(D) if the offense is a second felony conviction and the defendant has a prior conviction for a sexual felony, 35 to 45 years;
(E) if the offense is a third felony conviction and the defendant is not subject to sentencing under (F) of this paragraph or (l) of this section, 40 to 60 years;
(F) if the offense is a third felony conviction, the defendant is not subject to sentencing under (l) of this section, and the defendant has two prior convictions for sexual felonies, 99 years;
(2) sexual assault in the first degree under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.410 (a)(1)(B), unlawful exploitation of a minor under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.455 (c)(1), enticement of a minor under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.452 (e), or attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit sexual assault in the first degree under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.410 (a)(1)(A), (2), (3), or (4), sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree, or sex trafficking in the first degree under Alaska Stat. § 11.66.110 (a)(2) may be sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of not more than 99 years and shall be sentenced to a definite term within the following presumptive ranges, subject to adjustment as provided in Alaska Stat. § 12.55.155 – 12.55.175:

(A) if the offense is a first felony conviction, the offense does not involve circumstances described in (B) of this paragraph, and the victim was

(i) under 13 years of age, 20 to 30 years;
(ii) 13 years of age or older, 15 to 30 years;
(B) if the offense is a first felony conviction and the defendant possessed a firearm, used a dangerous instrument, or caused serious physical injury during the commission of the offense, 25 to 35 years;
(C) if the offense is a second felony conviction and does not involve circumstances described in (D) of this paragraph, 25 to 35 years;
(D) if the offense is a second felony conviction and the defendant has a prior conviction for a sexual felony, 30 to 40 years;
(E) if the offense is a third felony conviction, the offense does not involve circumstances described in (F) of this paragraph, and the defendant is not subject to sentencing under (l) of this section, 35 to 50 years;
(F) if the offense is a third felony conviction, the defendant is not subject to sentencing under (l) of this section, and the defendant has two prior convictions for sexual felonies, 99 years;
(3) sexual assault in the second degree, sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree, enticement of a minor under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.452 (d), indecent exposure in the first degree under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.458 (b)(2), distribution of child pornography under Alaska Stat. § 11.61.125 (e)(2), or attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit sexual assault in the first degree under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.410 (a)(1)(B) may be sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of not more than 99 years and shall be sentenced to a definite term within the following presumptive ranges, subject to adjustment as provided in Alaska Stat. § 12.55.155 – 12.55.175:

(A) if the offense is a first felony conviction, five to 15 years;
(B) if the offense is a second felony conviction and does not involve circumstances described in (C) of this paragraph, 10 to 25 years;
(C) if the offense is a second felony conviction and the defendant has a prior conviction for a sexual felony, 15 to 30 years;
(D) if the offense is a third felony conviction and does not involve circumstances described in (E) of this paragraph, 20 to 35 years;
(E) if the offense is a third felony conviction and the defendant has two prior convictions for sexual felonies, 99 years;
(4) sexual assault in the third degree, sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.438 (c), incest, indecent exposure in the first degree under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.458 (b)(1), indecent viewing or production of a picture under Alaska Stat. § 11.61.123 (f)(1) or (2), possession of child pornography, distribution of child pornography under Alaska Stat. § 11.61.125 (e)(1), or attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit sexual assault in the second degree, sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree, unlawful exploitation of a minor, or distribution of child pornography, may be sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of not more than 99 years and shall be sentenced to a definite term within the following presumptive ranges, subject to adjustment as provided in Alaska Stat. § 12.55.155 – 12.55.175:

(A) if the offense is a first felony conviction and does not involve the circumstances described in (B) or (C) of this paragraph, two to 12 years;
(B) if the offense is a first felony conviction under Alaska Stat. § 11.61.125 (e)(1) and does not involve circumstances described in (C) of this paragraph, four to 12 years;
(C) if the offense is a first felony conviction under Alaska Stat. § 11.61.125 (e)(1), and the defendant hosted, created, or helped host or create a mechanism for multi-party sharing or distribution of child pornography, or received a financial benefit or had a financial interest in a child pornography sharing or distribution mechanism, six to 14 years;
(D) if the offense is a second felony conviction and does not involve circumstances described in (E) of this paragraph, eight to 15 years;
(E) if the offense is a second felony conviction and the defendant has a prior conviction for a sexual felony, 12 to 20 years;
(F) if the offense is a third felony conviction and does not involve circumstances described in (G) of this paragraph, 15 to 25 years;
(G) if the offense is a third felony conviction and the defendant has two prior convictions for sexual felonies, 99 years.
(j) A defendant sentenced to a (1) mandatory term of imprisonment of 99 years under (a) of this section may apply once for a modification or reduction of sentence under the Alaska Rules of Criminal Procedure after serving one-half of the mandatory term without consideration of good time earned under Alaska Stat. § 33.20.010, or (2) definite term of imprisonment under (l) of this section may apply once for a modification or reduction of sentence under the Alaska Rules of Criminal Procedure after serving one-half of the definite term. A defendant may not file and a court may not entertain more than one motion for modification or reduction of a sentence subject to this subsection, regardless of whether or not the court granted or denied a previous motion.
(k)[Repealed, Sec. 32 ch 2 SLA 2005].
(l) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a defendant convicted of an unclassified or class A felony offense, and not subject to a mandatory 99-year sentence under (a) of this section, shall be sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of 99 years when the defendant has been previously convicted of two or more most serious felonies. If a defendant is sentenced to a definite term under this subsection,

(1) imprisonment for the prescribed definite term may not be suspended under Alaska Stat. § 12.55.080;
(2) imposition of sentence may not be suspended under Alaska Stat. § 12.55.085;
(3) imprisonment for the prescribed definite term may not be reduced, except as provided in (j) of this section.
(m) Notwithstanding (a)(4) and (f) of this section, if a court finds that imposition of a mandatory term of imprisonment of 99 years on a defendant subject to sentencing under (a)(4) of this section would be manifestly unjust, the court may sentence the defendant to a definite term of imprisonment otherwise permissible under (a) of this section.
(n) In imposing a sentence within a presumptive range under (c), (d), (e), or (i) of this section, the total term, made up of the active term of imprisonment plus any suspended term of imprisonment, must fall within the presumptive range, and the active term of imprisonment may not fall below the lower end of the presumptive range.
(o) [Repealed by 2016 amendment.]
(p) If the state seeks either (1) the imposition of a sentence under (a) of this section that would preclude the defendant from being awarded a good time deduction under AS 33.20.010(a) based on a fact other than a prior conviction; or (2) to establish a fact that would increase the presumptive sentencing range under (c)(2), (d)(2), (e)(4), (i)(1)(A) or (B), or (i)(2)(A) or (B) of this section, the factual question required to be decided shall be presented to a trial jury and proven beyond a reasonable doubt under procedures set by the court, unless the defendant waives trial by jury and either stipulates to the existence of the fact or consents to have the fact proven to the court sitting without a jury. Written notice of the intent to establish a fact under this subsection must be served on the defendant and filed with the court as provided for notice under AS 12.55.155(f)(2).
(q) Other than for convictions subject to a mandatory 99-year sentence, the court shall impose, in addition to an active term of imprisonment imposed under (i) of this section, a minimum period of (1) suspended imprisonment of five years and a minimum period of probation supervision of 15 years for conviction of an unclassified felony, (2) suspended imprisonment of three years and a minimum period of probation supervision of 10 years for conviction of a class A or class B felony, or (3) suspended imprisonment of two years and a minimum period of probation supervision of five years for conviction of a class C felony. The period of probation is in addition to any sentence received under (i) of this section and may not be suspended or reduced. Upon a defendant’s release from confinement in a correctional facility, the defendant is subject to the probation requirement under this subsection and shall submit and comply with the terms and requirements of the probation.
  Previous section
Next section  
 Chapter 55 Contents