How to Obtain Local Police Reports
After a crime or incident occurs, a victim, perpetrator or participant in the incident may need the police report. Obtaining a local police report is often as easy as visiting the police station and paying a fee. Sometimes police reports can be mailed or faxed. The police report is helpful to people involved in car accidents, and often is used to obtain insurance settlements. A police report contains identifications and contact information for witnesses and participants, and an account of what happened.
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Instructions
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Determine whether you have a legal right to the police report. Reports on crimes still being investigated may not be available, or may be available with some of the information, such as victims' names, blacked out. Also, reports about crimes involving juveniles are available only to the juvenile's parents or legal representatives. Access to reports involving domestic violence is also limited.
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Obtain the police report request form. Sometimes you can download a form from the police department's website; otherwise, you can get it at the police station. If you go to the police station to fill out the form, bring an official photo ID. A clerk will use the information to make a record of who requested the police report.
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Fill out the form, which asks for information about the parties involved and the type of incident. Other questions include the date and place of the incident. If you know the report ID number, you can put it on the form to speed the process.
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Obtain a money order to pay the fee for the police report. Make the money order out to the police department. Police reports typically cost 25 cents a page.
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Mail the request form to the police station, or deliver it in person. Depending on the police department and the nature and timing of your request, a clerk may be able to provide you with the police report within a few minutes, or may ask you to return in a few hours or a few days.
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Tips & Warnings
Safeguard your copy of the police report carefully so you don't have to pay for a second one.
References
- Photo Credit Police image by Zeno from Fotolia.com
