When you are seeking a copy of a police report, you may be wondering how to request it. This article will go over the cost, availability, and requirements for obtaining a copy. If you are unable to get your report over the phone, you can also ask for a copy in person. But before you make a request, be sure to check UIPA requirements. This law protects your privacy. Personal information is redacted or blacked out. To request a copy, you will need to provide certain details, such as the name of the complainant, their address, and the type of report you are requesting. A birth certificate for the next of kin is also required. A self-addressed stamped envelope with adequate postage and a large enough size to mail the document back to the police department is also required. Please note that the
Cost
While many governments charge 25 cents per page for copies of public documents, police departments routinely charge more than that. Typically, police departments charge $5 or $10 for incident reports and accident reports. The city of Baltimore charges $15 for a copy of an accident report while the city of Salisbury, Wicomico County, charges $20. In Carroll County, the city of Sykesville charges $25 for a copy of a police report regardless of the number of pages.
You can request a police report by mail or in person. Just be sure to provide proper photo identification and a check for the appropriate fee. Some jurisdictions offer limited hours only for this process. To determine your state's policies, do a Google search for "police department" or "police records". Once you find the police department, click on the link to the records division. You can also ask if you must pick up a copy in person or submit the request by mail. If you are unable to make a visit to the police department in person, you can request the police report electronically.
Availability
The right to access a police report depends on the circumstances surrounding the crime. A court order, a statute, or decisional law may give a person the right to receive a copy of a police report. The need to know requires that the information be necessary for an officer to perform their official responsibilities. Police reports are not made public to those who are arrested or have been charged with a crime, although they may be released after the names of suspects and arrested persons have been redacted. If the report involves theft of property, descriptions of stolen property may be released.
A police report describes everything that law enforcement officers witnessed and experienced during the crime. It describes who was involved, what crime was committed, and what type of evidence was found. It also records the names of witnesses and offenders involved. The police report is a record of all criminal activity and can help a person in determining who committed a crime. It can also help a person get justice for an incident. The police report can be valuable when deciding how to proceed with a civil case.
Requirements
The New York Police Department (NYPD) has an online portal where you can request a police report. This portal is only available to residents of New York. If you live in another state, please contact your local NYPD office. You must have a photo ID with you to make the request. It will take up to 10 days to get the requested police report. For those living in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, contact your local NYPD office to request a copy of the report.
If you cannot make it to the office in person, you can mail in your request. However, you should know that many jurisdictions have different policies regarding how to request police reports. You may want to do some research and find out what the local department's Public Access Request (PAR) procedure is before submitting your request. If your jurisdiction allows you to submit a request by mail, you can find a link to the records division. Usually, you must bring this verification slip with you to the office.
Requesting a copy in person
The first step in requesting a copy of a police report is to visit the appropriate police department. Most agencies require a notarized letter or form of identification to process your request. You may also have to pay a small fee. You should also bring the verification slip you received from the police department indicating that a police report was filed. Once you have your requested documents ready, you can head to the Police Department's Records and Identification Division.
If you do not wish to wait for the police department to process your request, you can request the report through mail. While many jurisdictions require a Public Access Request (PAR) form, some will allow you to write a letter to request the police report in person. When requesting a police report by mail, you must also determine the appropriate address to mail your request. For instance, if you are writing to the Police Department's Records and Identification Division, you should use the records division's address, not the department's general office.
