Brooklyn, NY asked in Civil Rights and Constitutional Law for California

Q: How do I obtain a police report in California?

1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered
  • Consumer Law Lawyer
  • Sacramento, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: To obtain a police report in California, you will need to follow these steps:

Determine which agency has the report: Contact the law enforcement agency that responded to the incident or was involved in the investigation to determine which agency has the report you need.

Request the report: You can request the report in person, by mail, or online. To request in person or by mail, you will need to complete a Request for Public Records form. To request online, visit the law enforcement agency's website and follow their instructions for requesting police reports.

Provide identification and payment: You will need to provide identification, such as a driver's license or passport, to verify your identity. You may also need to pay a fee for the report. The fee varies depending on the agency and the type of report requested.

Wait for the report: Once your request has been processed, you will receive a copy of the report. The time it takes to receive the report varies depending on the agency and the complexity of the request.

Note that some reports may be restricted or confidential and may not be available to the general public. In these cases, you may need to obtain a court order or have a valid reason for requesting the report.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.