Complying With Emergency Orders
Under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act , there are consequences for businesses and individuals who choose to defy the Act while emergency orders are in force. The OPP encourages everyone to voluntarily comply with all of these short-term restrictions.
If you wish to file a report regarding non-compliance under the Quarantine Act, call 1 888 310-1122 or your .
Why Are Some Things Blacked Out On The Page
This is called redacting and it is done to protect the privacy of the people involved in the incident.
The Department redacts the names of all victims, all non-involved parties, all juveniles/minors and all suspects unless they have been booked into jail. This is a major reason why it takes time to prepare crime reports for online posting.
Once a suspect has been booked into jail, their name is no longer private. If they were booked into King County Jail you can view suspect information online at the King County Jail Register.
When Should I Expect A Response
The law requires that an agency respond to any Public Record Act request in 10 days, acknowledging the request, giving a timeline for a full response and informing the requestor if they are claiming any exemptions.11 An agency can ask for a 14-day extension to respond to the request. The more extensive the request, or if it may require a lot of redactions to keep certain information confidential, the longer it may take to respond. While agencies are supposed to respond promptly, many agencies often take a long time. If you haven’t heard from them, follow-up reminding them that you are still awaiting a response, and document every contact with the agency.
Also, if you are seeking information about a relatively-recent serious use of force, an agency has the right but is not required to temporarily withhold the relevant documents if there is an ongoing criminal or administrative investigation that could be harmed by the release of these documents.12 How long the agency can withhold depends on whether investigation is criminal or just administrative, but in most cases it cannot withhold longer than 18 months after the incident occurred. If criminal charges are filed, the material can be withheld until the criminal case has ended.13
Don’t Miss: How Long To File A Police Report For Car Accident
What Is The Description Of These Crime Types
PART I CRIMES: The four crime types currently posted here Burglaries, Robberies, Aggravated Assaults and Homicides are among those known as Part I or Major Crimes. These terms refer to seven crimes designated by the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting System as a basis for charting crime trends across the United States. The seven crimes chosen by the FBI as Part I crimes are: homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, which comprise Violent Crimes and burglary, larceny/theft and vehicle theft, which comprise Property Crimes.
People sometimes confuse the criminal behavior involved in a burglary versus a robbery. They may also not realize there is a difference between aggravated assaults and less serious assaults. The official FBI definitions of the crime types posted here are, as follows:
BURGLARY: the unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or theft.
ROBBERY: taking or attempting to take anything of value from another person by force, threat or force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear.
AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS: an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of assault is usually accompanied by the use of a weapon or by other means likely to produce death or great bodily harm.
What Do I Do If The Law Enforcement Agency Does Not Respond
Every agency is required by law to respond and produce relevant, non-confidential documents that they do not otherwise have the right to withhold. If they have records that they need to disclose and do not, they are in violation of the law. You should first follow-up with the agency in writing and continue to request the documents. If they still do not respond, you can enforce your right to this information by bringing a lawsuit in Superior Court. If you win your challenge the agency can be required to pay your attorneys’ fees.14 So, you may be able to find a lawyer to represent you on contingency, who will get paid only if you collect the fees from your lawsuit.
1. Cal. Penal Code §832.7-.
2. Cal. Penal Code §832.7-.
3. Cal. Penal Code §832.7.
4. Cal. Penal Code §832.7 832.8.
5. Cal. Penal Code §832.7-.
6. See Cal. Penal Code §832.7 for the full list of example documents that you can access under this law.
7. Cal. Gov’t Code §6253.1.
8. Cal. Gov’t Code §6253.9, .
9. Govt Code § 6253.
11. Cal. Gov’t Code §6253.
12. Cal. Gov’t Code §832.7.
13. Cal. Gov’t Code §832.7.
14. Cal. Gov’t Code §6259.
Don’t Miss: How Long To Become A Police Officer
How To Obtain Police Reports
Record keeping is one of the most important functions of law enforcement agencies across the United States. Police officers are trained to document their observations and actions whenever they are called upon to perform their duties, and they do so on police reports. These reports become official records, and they are carefully kept for the benefit of the public.
Police reports are generated just about every time a law enforcement officer responds to call. This includes motor vehicle accidents, arrests, investigations, and several other situations. Police reports are entered in criminal court proceedings, and they are also used by insurance companies when they investigate claims. Although police reports are rarely admitted in civil court cases, they can help attorneys in identifying witnesses and getting a better sense of how a situation developed into a lawsuit.
Exemptions From Ontarios Police Record Check Reform Act
Certain police record checks have been exempted from the Police Record Checks Reform Act, or parts of the act. A full list of exemptions are outlined in legislation and regulation. Examples of police record check exemptions include, but is not limited to, certain situations such as:
- applying for child custody or adoptions
- providing residential care or foster care for children and youth
- applying for a legal name change
- requirements for a firearms license application
- screening for certain roles and purposes in the education, early years, child care, and justice sectors, and in relation to certain roles within the Ontario Public Service
- screening for certain roles in electricity generation facilities
- certain contexts related to securities markets
You May Like: What Degree Do I Need To Be A Police Officer
Public Records Request Online Portal
Request and receive San Francisco Police Department records through an online portal. Public records are defined as any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the publics business. These records are prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics. GovQA is a public records system designed to make information accessible to the public. The GovQA portal is designed to enable you to request official data, including statistics, compiled by our department analysts. The SFPD public records request portal button below will link you to the portal to find the documents you need. An account on the SFPD public records portal can be created to track the request online. Additionally, anonymous requests can be made through this public portal.
Powered by GovQA. GovQA is an SFPD authorized third party vendor which provides public records request services. SFPD accepts no liability for the accuracy of content on the linked GovQA webpages.
Where To Obtain Police Reports
Requests for police reports may be made in person or by calling any of the district stations listed below. Written requests may be mailed to the Records and Identification Section, Hawaii Police Department, 349 Kapiolani Street, Hilo, 96720. Requestors will be called when reports are ready, and the reports may be picked up at any of the district stations listed below.
If picking up a report for another person, a letter of authorization from the requesting party is required.
Honokaa Station 775-7533
Lauphoehoe Station 962-2120
Hilo Station 961-2233
Phoa Station 966-5835
Nlehu Station 939-2520
Kona Station 326-4646, Ext. 286
Waimea Station 887-3080
Kapaau Station 889-6540
Recommended Reading: How To File A Police Report For An Accident
Dealing With Redactions And How To Appeal
An agency cannot charge a fee for the time it takes to redact documents, Tadych said.
As the requester, you do not have to pay for their time to unscramble that which is public from that which is confidential, Tadych said. The law is crystal clear. That is on the public agency.
When a requester doesnt get the records he or she wants there are too many redactions, the agency denies the request or the requester believes there are more records the person seeking the records can always ask the agency to reconsider.
Other than asking nicely or bringing the agencys refusal to cooperate to the attention of the news media, the only other recourse in North Carolina is to sue the agency in court.
How To Get A Police Report
By law, certain police records and violation reports prepared and maintained by the Police Department are accessible to the general public.
If you need to get a copy of a police report, do this. First, begin by researching the requirements of the police department responsible for the jurisdiction in which the incident occurred. Then, follow the departments exact protocol for requesting and receiving those records. Start by checking the police departments website. Expand your search to the city website if you dont find anything on the police departments website.
Obtain and Fill Out Request Forms
Some departments may require that you complete a request form, sometimes called a request for public records. This may also be known as a request for open records. When you check the department website, look to see if you can download the request form from their site. If so, fill out the request form and submit it according to the directions.
Most request forms will require you to provide the first and last name of at least one of the involved parties. In addition, youll need the location, date, and time of the incident, and in some cases, the incident or case number.
Submitting the Request Form
Important Notes Regarding Submitting Requests for Police Reports
- It may take a few days or more to obtain the official documents
- Charges for obtaining copies of the documents may vary by city or jurisdiction
- Very few departments allow access to records online
Don’t Miss: How To See Police On Google Maps
Requesting A Police Record Check
When requesting a record check from an individual for reasons such as employment or licensing, the organization is responsible to ensure the screening process is consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Record checks can be used when hiring someone to work or volunteer in positions of trust over vulnerable people who, because of their age, disability or other circumstances, are at greater risk.
California Public Records Act
In 1968, the California Legislature enacted the California Public Records Act under Government Code sections 6250-6270. In its findings and declarations, mindful of the right of individuals privacy, the Legislature declared it was the publics right to access information concerning the peoples business.
Types of records are available?
The law requires law enforcement agencies to provide information the public has the right to know and at the same time, to withhold information if the release would jeopardize an individuals right to privacy.
Certain records or portions of records are subject to privacy laws and/or other exemptions and are rarely ever available for viewing. All agency records not exempted by law are otherwise available.
Records Exempt from Public Requests
Items that are exempt, subject to Government Code 6254, and will likely be redacted are:
Also Check: How To Get In To Police Academy
Does It Cost Money To Make A Request
An agency is only allowed to charge for the “direct costs” of duplicating the records, or the cost to create certain documents if you are asking it to create a document like a list that it does not already have.8 You should always ask the agency to waive costs in your initial request, but they are not required to do so. You also have the option to inspect the records by looking at them at the agency during its regular business hours, which you can do for free. You can always inspect documents for free, and then request copying only of those that you want.
Are Police Reports Public Records
Many types of police records are exempt from public disclosure. There are two main reasons why they arent publicly available. First, disclosing the information could undermine an ongoing investigation. Second, it could jeopardize someones privacy and safety. In some cases, departments will release certain information related to the report, such as to a reporter doing a story. However, they rarely release a full copy.
Also Check: How To Get A Police Report For A Car Accident
I Called About An Incident Why Can’t I Find My Incident Listed Here
There are three possible reasons for this.
The incident may not involve one of the four crime types Burglaries, Robberies, Aggravated Assaults, and Homicides being posted online.
The incident involves one of these four crimes, however, there has not been enough time to prepare it for posting. Please check again a little later.
Not all incidents will result in a Seattle Police Report being filed. For example, the incident may involve a location that cannot be found or verified.
If you would like to request a report that is not listed here, you may complete and submit a Public Disclosure Request.
Find Colorado Police Records
Colorado Police Records contain details on crimes, arrests, and criminal activities in CO. Police records include arrest logs, investigation reports, and criminal records for individuals arrested, detained, and investigated by the Police. The Police Department maintains Police Records on their arrests, searches, investigations, and the actions of police officers. Many Police Records are available to the public to search or use in background checks.
Find Police Records, including:
Also Check: How To Be A Police Officer In Virginia
How To Request Records Contained In A Major Collision File
Major Collision Bureau investigates all Motor Vehicle Collisions resulting in a fatality or serious personal injury that occur in the Region of Peel.
If you are NOTthe Involved Party to the Collision
You must provide proof of relationship to the involved party and a signed consent on behalf of the involved individual.
If the Involved Individual is Deceased
You are required to provide an authorization from the legal representative or power of attorney with supporting documents.
***Do Not Send Payment Until You Have Been Invoiced***
Contact Information
Please contact Martine Renwick, Information and Privacy Unit at or email at for additional assistance.
Are Police Reports Admissible In Court
While police reports are commonly used in car insurance settlement negotiations, admitting a police report as evidence when you file a car accident lawsuit is not quite as clear cut.
In small claims courts, litigants are usually permitted to use police reports as evidence in their car accident case. You will not be expected to know all the rules of evidence, so judges typically will allow plaintiffs and defendants to use the police report in explaining what happened.
If your car accident case goes to trial in your state’s court of general jurisdiction , you should know that parties in these cases are held to the rules of evidence and must contend with whether the police report falls within the rule against “hearsay” evidence, which keeps out many out-of-court statementsby definition, any assertion made in a police report is a statement that was made out of court. In some jurisdictions, the police report may fall within the “public records” or “business records” exception for admissibility. In other jurisdictions, different exceptions to the hearsay rule may apply and allow you to admit some or all of the police report as evidence.
If the police report isn’t helpful to your position, or if there are early signs that the other side is digging in for a fight, having an attorney on your side can be critical. Learn more about how a car accident attorney can help, and get tips on finding the right injury lawyer for you and your case.
Also Check: Can You File A Police Report Online For Identity Theft
I Think I Might Know Something About An Incident Listed On A Report Who Should I Contact About This
If you read an incident report and believe you have knowledge that would help an investigation, please contact the Seattle Police Non-Emergency Number at 625-5011 and provide the General Offense Number located on the top left side of the report.
If you need to remain anonymous, you may contact Crime Stoppers. Mention the General Offense Number and date and time of the incident.
How To Find Arrest Records Across Multiple Jurisdictions
Conducting your investigation can become complicated if you need to do a background search on someone who has lived in multiple jurisdictions. To simplify things, an internet-based specialized investigation company can provide a comprehensive, multi-state search in one easy step. This allows you to search for multiple records from all over the country quickly and easily. And you can avoid the hassle of tracking down individual records from various government entities.
BeenVerified has an online search form for public records. BeenVerifieds automated search aggregates from hundreds of databases and repositories. To search, just go to the online search form and enter the persons first name, last name, and city. The form will search multiple public records databases and provide a list of potential matching names. Scroll through the list and select the person youre looking for, then click Build Report.
Questions and More Information
If you have any questions about how to get a copy of your police report, please leave a comment below. Also, view more Law Enforcement Resources.
Recommended Reading: How To Get A Police Report Of A Car Accident