(a) The commissioner shall notify the victim if the offender
(1) escapes from custody;
(2) is discharged from parole under AS 33.16; or
(3) is released to the community on a furlough, on an early release program, or for any other reason.
(b) The commissioner is required to give notice of a change in the status of an offender under this section only if the victim has requested notice of the change, except that the commissioner is required to give notice, mailed to the last known address of the victim, in every case of a crime involving domestic violence.
(c) A victim who has requested notice under (b) of this section shall maintain a current, valid mailing address on file with the commissioner. The commissioner shall send the notice from the department required by this section to the victim's last known address. The victim's address may not be disclosed to the offender or the offender's attorney.
(d) The state may not be held liable in damages for the failure of the commissioner to comply with the requirements of this section.
(e) As part of the notice under this section, the commissioner shall send the victim a photograph of the offender if the victim has specifically requested in writing that a photograph be sent. The photograph must have been taken within three weeks of the offender's release or, if the offender escapes from custody, must be the most recent photograph in the commissioner's possession. The photograph is for the victim's personal use, and the victim may not make copies of the photograph for distribution to others. An offender who is released under (a) of this section shall be notified that a photograph has been sent to the victim under this subsection.
(f) The commissioner's duty under (a) - (c) of this section to notify a victim of a change in the status of an offender is satisfied by the notice provided by an automated victim notification system established under AS 12.61.050.