How do I Report a Crime to the DA?

The procedure for reporting crimes to the district attorney varies greatly by location.

The procedure for reporting a crime to the District Attorney's office varies greatly from location to location. Some district attorneys only accept referrals from law enforcement agencies, while others allow citizens to report crimes to them directly. The website of the District Attorney's office in Dodge County, Wisconsin, states that all criminal activity must be referred to local law agencies. On the other hand the District Attorney's office in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, provides easy-to-complete web forms in English and Spanish. The type of crime citizens can report to the district attorney also varies by location. The District Attorney's office in Orange County, California, only accepts reports about certain types of crimes, such as consumer fraud.

Things You'll Need

• Information about the crime you wish to report

Instructions

1. Gather your facts. Be prepared to explain what happened, when it happened, where it happened and who was involved.

2. Determine whether or not your local District Attorney's office accepts citizen referrals. Not all do. If yours does not, you will need to contact your local law enforcement agency.

   For example, the Dodge County, Wisconsin, District Attorney website states, "Our office cannot charge a person with a crime until we receive a referral from a police agency."

3. Determine whether the crime you want to report is one that can be reported to the District Attorney's office, if your local district attorney accepts direct referrals. Delaware and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania allow for private criminal complaint procedures. In California, San Joaquin and Orange counties allow only for direct referrals of certain types of crimes, such as consumer fraud or unlawful disposal of hazardous waste.

4. Contact your local District Attorney's office and provide the information you have gathered. The best way to find contact information for your District Attorney's office is the Internet. Every District Attorney office has a website with the office's phone number, street address and relevant email contacts.

Tips & Warnings

• This article is not intended to constitute legal advice of any kind. Only an attorney can provide that. It is never a good idea to do your own investigating. You could endanger yourself or others. More likely, you could interfere with the work of law enforcement officials.

References

• Office of the Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, Orange County DA : FAQ
• Dodge County District Attorney : Reporting a Crime in Dodge County
• Office of the District Attorney County of San Joaquin : Frequently Asked Questions
• Montgomery County Pennsylvania Office of the District Attorney : Report Criminal Activity
• Office of the District Attorney Delaware County, PA G. Michael Green : Frequently Asked Questions