(a) An employer may not penalize or threaten to penalize a victim of an offense because the victim

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Terms Used In Alaska Statutes 12.61.017

  • action: includes any matter or proceeding in a court, civil or criminal. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • 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
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
(1) is subpoenaed or requested by the prosecuting attorney to attend a court proceeding for the purpose of giving testimony; or
(2) reports the offense to a law enforcement agency or participates in the investigation of the offense by a law enforcement agency.
(b) A person who violates (a) of this section is guilty of a violation.
(c) A victim who suffers a pecuniary loss as a result of an employer’s act prohibited by this section may bring a civil action to recover actual damages and punitive damages of three times the actual damages sustained.
(d) In this section, “penalize” means to take action affecting the employment status, wages, and benefits payable to the victim, including

(1) demotion or suspension;
(2) dismissal from employment; and
(3) loss of pay or benefits, except pay and benefits that are directly attributable to the victim’s absence from employment to

(A) attend the court proceeding;
(B) report the offense to a law enforcement agency;
(C) participate in a law enforcement agency investigation of the offense.