Sexual Assault Attorneys in Alaska: Your Complete Legal Guide
If you or someone you love has survived sexual assault in Alaska, understanding your legal rights is a critical first step. This guide covers Alaska’s key sexual assault laws, profiles five law firms that handle survivor cases, and answers the most important questions survivors face.
Introduction
Sexual assault is a deeply traumatic experience, and Alaska faces some of the highest rates of sexual violence in the country. Survivors often carry the weight of their experiences for years before feeling ready to come forward legally. Alaska’s laws are significantly more protective of survivors than many other states, particularly when it comes to statutes of limitations, making it possible in many cases to pursue justice even years after the abuse occurred. Both criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits are available paths, each serving different goals.
Alaska Sexual Assault Laws
Definitions and Criminal Offenses
Alaska defines sexual assault offenses under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.410 through § 11.41.460. Sexual assault is broadly defined as sexual contact or sexual penetration that occurs without the consent of the victim.
Sexual Assault in the First Degree is an unclassified felony. It covers non-consensual sexual penetration, attempted penetration causing serious physical injury, penetration of a mentally incapable person in the offender’s care, and penetration by a healthcare worker during treatment. Penalties can reach up to 99 years imprisonment and fines up to $500,000.
Sexual Assault in the Second Degree is a Class B felony. It covers non-consensual sexual contact, sexual contact with a mentally incapable person in the offender’s care, and sexual penetration in correctional or institutional settings.
Sexual Assault in the Third Degree is a Class C felony. It covers certain non-consensual contacts and specific situations involving individuals in positions of authority over victims.
Sexual Assault in the Fourth Degree is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and fines up to $25,000. It covers specific prohibited contact in correctional, probation, and parole relationships.
Sexual Abuse of a Minor offenses are defined separately under Alaska Stat. § 11.41.434 through § 11.41.440 and range from Class B felonies to Class A misdemeanors depending on the ages of the parties and the nature of the contact. Alaska’s age of consent is 16.
Alaska law recognizes that individuals in positions of trust over minors – including teachers, coaches, clergy, counselors, foster parents, and healthcare providers – commit a crime when they engage in sexual activity with a minor under their authority.
Statutes of Limitations
Criminal Deadlines
Under Alaska Stat. § 12.10.010, there is no criminal statute of limitations for sexual assault that is an unclassified, Class A, or Class B felony, or for sexual abuse of a minor. These offenses can be prosecuted at any time, no matter how long ago they occurred. For other sexual offenses, general felony limitations apply, typically five to ten years.
Civil Deadlines
Alaska provides strong civil protections for survivors. Under Alaska Stat. § 09.10.065, a survivor may bring a civil lawsuit at any time for felony sexual abuse of a minor or felony sexual assault – there is no civil statute of limitations for these claims. For lower-level offenses such as misdemeanor sexual assault or misdemeanor sexual abuse of a minor, civil claims must generally be filed within three years of the incident or, for minors, within three years of the victim turning 18 or discovering the connection between the abuse and the injury. Alaska also has a delayed discovery provision for certain claims under Alaska Stat. § 09.10.140.
Top 5 Sexual Assault Attorneys in Alaska
1. Power & Power Law
Address: 10950 O’Malley Centre Drive, Suite C, Anchorage, AK 99515
Phone: (907) 222-9990 | Toll Free: (833) 669-9990
Website: https://akpowerlaw.com
Power & Power Law is an Anchorage firm dedicated to assisting survivors of sexual assault and sexual abuse obtain compensation. The attorneys at Power & Power Law have decades of combined experience representing survivors of childhood sexual abuse throughout Alaska, including those abused by coaches, social workers, priests, teachers, police officers, business owners, and employees. The firm handles cases involving institutional negligence, including situations where a school, religious organization, or employer failed to provide adequate supervision or security. Free consultations are available.
2. Libbey Law Offices, LLC
Address: Anchorage, AK
Phone: (907) 258-1815
Website: https://libbeylaw.com
Libbey Law Offices is an Anchorage firm whose attorneys are passionate about representing survivors of sexual abuse. The firm handles civil claims against perpetrators and third parties including employers and property owners who failed to provide adequate security. Attorneys Daniel Libbey and Colleen Libbey note that civil cases are entirely separate from criminal proceedings and that a civil lawsuit can proceed whether or not the perpetrator has been criminally charged, convicted, or acquitted. Recoverable damages include lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, medical and counseling expenses, and pain and suffering. The firm has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of injured Alaskans.
3. Law Office of Jason Skala, LLC
Address: 800 E Dimond Blvd, Suite 3-305, Anchorage, AK 99515
Phone: (907) 569-6633
Website: https://www.907attorney.com
Attorney Jason Skala is a lifelong Alaskan and Cornell University graduate who earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School. He holds AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been licensed in both Alaska and California. The Law Office of Jason Skala handles sexual abuse and assault civil cases including abuse by persons in positions of trust and rideshare assault claims. Skala serves clients throughout Anchorage as well as Kotzebue, Bethel, and Barrow (Utqiagvik). His site explains Alaska’s age of consent laws and the state’s position-of-trust statute, which governs situations where coaches, teachers, clergy, counselors, and healthcare workers abuse those under their authority. Free consultations available.
4. Shortell Law LLC
Address: 911 W 8th Ave, Suite 204, Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: (907) 272-8181
Website: https://www.shortelllaw.com
Founding attorney Caitlin Shortell is a 2023, 2024, and 2025 Super Lawyer and a National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Civil Plaintiff’s Lawyer in Alaska. She has been litigating on behalf of survivors of sexual violence throughout her career and volunteers legal services for survivors through the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) and the Times Up Legal Defense Fund. Shortell Law handles civil claims on behalf of juvenile and adult survivors of sexual violence, as well as sexual harassment in employment settings. Shortell has won landmark civil rights cases in Alaska courts and has more than 20 years of experience in state and federal proceedings.
5. Power & Power Law (Attorneys Whitney Power Wilson and Michele Power)
Given the concentrated nature of the Alaska legal market, Power & Power Law deserves additional note: the firm’s attorneys Whitney Power Wilson and Michele Power both specialize in sexual abuse civil litigation. Their practice specifically covers cases involving abusers in institutional settings including Boy Scout leaders, camp counselors, clergy, and foster parents. The firm’s website notes that Alaska’s elimination of civil statutes of limitations for felony sexual assault and felony sexual abuse of a minor means that even decades-old cases may still be actionable. The firm can be reached toll-free at 1-833-669-9990.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a civil lawsuit even if the perpetrator was never charged criminally?
Yes. In Alaska, civil and criminal cases are completely separate. You do not need a police report or a criminal conviction to pursue a civil claim. The burden of proof in civil court is lower than in criminal court – you need to show by a preponderance of evidence that the abuse occurred, not proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Many Alaska survivors have obtained civil compensation in cases where criminal charges were never filed.
Is there a time limit to file a civil sexual assault lawsuit in Alaska?
For felony sexual assault and felony sexual abuse of a minor, Alaska law provides no time limit – a survivor can file at any time under Alaska Stat. § 09.10.065. For misdemeanor-level offenses, the deadline is generally three years. For minor survivors, the clock does not start until age 18, and Alaska’s delayed discovery provision may extend the deadline further in cases where survivors did not immediately connect their psychological injuries to the abuse. Given Alaska’s relatively survivor-friendly SOL laws, an attorney consultation can clarify whether your specific claim is still actionable.
What should I do immediately after a sexual assault in Alaska?
Seek medical attention as soon as possible. A sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) can treat injuries, document findings, and collect forensic evidence that may be critical in both criminal prosecution and civil litigation. You are not required to report to law enforcement to receive a medical exam. Contact one of Alaska’s regional sexual violence response programs through the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) at 1-800-478-1090, which operates 23 programs statewide. Preserve all evidence including clothing and communications. Contacting a civil attorney early helps you understand your rights before any applicable deadline passes.
Closing
Alaska’s legal framework provides meaningful protections for survivors, including no statute of limitations for the most serious sexual offenses. The attorneys listed above have experience handling civil sexual assault cases across the state. If you or someone you love has been a victim of sexual assault in Alaska, contact one of these firms for a free, confidential consultation.
For immediate crisis support, contact the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.