How To Obtain A Police Report In Nyc

Third Parties Obtaining Reports

Requesting a NY State Police & Accident Report

Sometimes third parties who were not involved in the actions mentioned in police reports might want copies of them. In these instances, most states will only allow third parties to obtain copies of police reports if the matters enclosed within the reports have already been closed. However, some states may allow third parties to obtain copies of police reports even when the cases are pending. Generally, third parties must know the case number of the reports that they want and must go to the county clerks office where the police report was filed to obtain a copy of the reports. There is usually a fee for the reports to be printed as well.

The process of obtaining copies of police reports is slightly different for different groups of people. However, they typically are not difficult to obtain, no matter who wants them.

What Are New York Vital Records

New York vital records are official documents that comprise recorded information about life events within the city. They include divorce decrees, marriage certificates, birth certificates, and death certificates. These records are maintained by government agencies or departments at the city and state levels. To obtain copies of any of these records, follow the instructions provided by the custodian’s office.

Always Get An Accident Report

The is written by a police officer, generally at the scene of a crash, or upon your request within five days at the precinct station.

The form is self-reportedby drivers or by crash victimsand mailed to the state DMV within 10 days of the crash.

Each type of report is needed in Some attorneys regard the PAR as more authoritative in court, so you should always try to get one. Both have value as statistical evidence, which policymakers are relying on more these days. For advocacy purposes, it is worthwhile to report the incident even if you dont intend to file an insurance claim.

The NYPD use an Aided Report to document incidents in which a police officer helps someone who is injured or sick. It is appropriate only when the crash does not involve a motor vehicle, to document road and other hazards, and/or to make claims related to such hazards.

Be sure to ask for the Aided Report number on the scene, and the identification of the report writer. You can request a copy of the Aided Report by mail using the form linked here. NOTE: If you receive an Aided Report for a motor vehicle crash, you should immediately complain to the precinct that issued it, and re-report the crash.

Where And How To Find New York Birth Records

The New York City Health Department of Health and Mental Hygiene provides copies of New York birth records from 1909 to date. Make in-person or mail requests to get New York birth certificates. A birth record costs $15. A requester should complete and notarize the New York Birth Certificate Application form. Enclose a form of identification , payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope . Submit these documents to:

Office of Vital Records125 Worth Street, CN-4, Room 133New York, NY 10013-4090

Make payments with money order or personal check made payable in U.S. dollars to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Interested persons can order New York birth certificates that are not at the office of the New York City Health Department of Health and Mental Hygiene from the New York City Records and Information Services online order portal. It has historical records of births that mostly happened before 1909.

The New York State Department of Health also provides interested persons with access to New York birth records. It accepts mail and in-person requests. Interested persons should fill out the Birth Record Application Form. Attach the required fees and a government-issued ID to the filled-out form. Submit to:

New York State Department of HealthVital Records Certification Unit

Payment can be made through any of the following means:

What To Do If You Believe The Police Report Is Incorrect

Because the police were likely not there when the accident occurred, the accident report might be incorrect. If so, you can seek to amend the report. Please note, since the report is the product of the responding officers investigation, the decision as to whether or not to amend the report is generally subject to the officers discretion.

We recognize that the Police Accident Report may be wrong. We advocate for you. If your recollection of the accident, the physical evidence or witness statements vary from the account in the police accident report, we will vigorously fight to prove that the accident happened in a manner consistent with your testimony and that the police report is incorrect.

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Note: There May Be Delays In Processing

As part of the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, some or all agency employees may be working off-site. As such, there may be delays in response to FOIL requests.

If a record responsive to a request is only available in hard-copy format, that records availability will be limited until further notice. Thank you for your patience during this extraordinary time.

Picking Up Your Car Accident Police Report In Nyc In Person

Picking up your NYC car accident police report in person can be the most direct and efficient way to get it in hand.

First, locate the precinct that should have a record of your report. If you were handed a copy of an incident report at the scene of an accident, then it should list the appropriate precinct you will need to visit. This incident report also acts as a receipt, helping you prove that you were involved in the accident and that you have permission to see the initial police report.

If you do not have a receipt or incident report copy, then you will have to give the precinct clerk the following information:

Recommended Reading: How To Obtain Car Accident Police Report

Step : Reporting A Case

If someone you know goes missing, you should report a missing person case as soon as possible. Call 911. There is no need to wait 24 hours.

There is a common myth among the public that you have to wait 24 hours before you report someone missing, but thats not the case, said Joseph Giacalone, an adjunct professor of criminal justice at John Jay College and a former sergeant with the NYPD. The No. 1 biggest problem is that family members wait too long to report a missing persons case. You lose valuable time during those 24 hours.

The NYPDs website says that no set amount of time has to pass before you report a missing person case. Use common sense and specific circumstances, it says.

When reporting a case, its extremely important to provide as much information as possible about the missing person, including his or her last seen whereabouts, places that the person frequents and any friends or relatives that the person may have been in touch with, says Mike Nicoletti, a former NYPD lieutenant. Provide a photo and include a full description of the missing person, including if they have any distinguishing marks, such as scars or tattoos.

Parents should keep good records of who has been contacted, what information you get out and which detective youre working with, said Nicoletti. If anybody has information, you should report those findings to the detectives so they can investigate.

What Type Of Information And Data Is Contained In A Police Report

How to get your police report through a Freedom of Information request with Robyn Doolittle

The following are types of data and information that may be included. Please note that there is no universal police report. Information will vary from department to department.

Identifying information for all parties involved in the incident, including full name, address, phone number, date of birth, social security numbers, driver license numbers
Date of the occurrence or incident
Location of the occurrence or incident
The officers name and ID number
The names of other officers who were present
Diagrams or drawings of the scene
The names of witnesses and their statements
Reference number

The law enforcement case file may also contain motor vehicle information, as well as specific details of the incident and any evidence associated with the case.

Examples of police reports may include but are not limited to domestic disputes, traffic accidents, thefts, fraud, assault, burglaries, and stalking incidents. Other information that may be available includes crime surveys, crime statistics, calls for service, weather information, and traffic accident surveys.

Recommended Reading: How To View Police Records Online

New York Crime Statistics

The New York City Police Department provides the statistics of crimes that happened within the city on a weekly to yearly basis. The crime statistics for New York City in 2019 reveals that a total number of 95,606 crimes were reported in the city. This includes 36,143 violent crimes and 59,463 property crimes. The violent crimes consist of 319 murders, 1,755 rapes, 13,371 robberies, and 20,698 aggravated assaults. The property crimes include 10,783 burglaries, 43,250 larcenies, and 5,430 motor vehicle thefts.

These figures, when compared with 2015, show a massive decline in crimes reported in New York City. In 2015, the total number of violent crimes reported were 38,991, including 352 murders , 1,438 rapes , 16,931 robberies , and 20,270 aggravated assaults . While property crimes reported were 66,462, including 15,125 burglaries , 44,005 larcenies , and 7,332 motor vehicle thefts .

What A Police Report Will Show After A Car Accident

It documents that an accident did occur.
It usually includes names, contact information, and insurance carriers for others involved, making it easier to make a claim if necessary.
It records crucial observations like the weather, landmarks relevant to the accident, damage to the vehicles, and whether anyone suffered injuries.
Police reports show whether anyone was cited for a traffic violation, which can be used to establish fault.

What can be a bitconfusing is that even though police reports are official records containingvaluable information, not all of the information is correct or admissible incourt. They might contain hearsay that may only be admitted if you can showexceptions. Some of the facts and conclusions may be wrong. Your lawyer canhelp you navigate these issues so that you present a clear and accurate record.

Recommended Reading: How To Obtain A Car Accident Police Report

Requesting A Police Report In Person

1. Gather the required materials.

Bring with you a form of identification like a drivers license or passport. If you are making the request on behalf of someone else, you will need to have a notarized letter with you. Most agencies require a small request fee. If you were directly involved in the incident whether as a victim, witness, or defendant you may receive a verification slip from the authorities to let you know that a police report has been filed. Bring this slip with you to exchange for the police report.

2. Visit the Records and Identification Division of the police department.

The Records and Identification Division may have exclusive hours throughout the day that are not your typical business hours, so be sure to verify online. They will ask you for your information, as well as basic information about the case. Then, they will take your payment to cover the request fee.

3. Retrieve the copy of your police report.

In some areas, you may have to pick up a copy of the police report in person, but some agencies may mail it directly to you. Either way, expect to pay a per-page fee for the copy of the report. Reports typically cost a total of $50 to $150.

How To Get A Police Report For A Car Accident

After you have been in a car accident, one of the first questions your insurance provider will ask you is do you have a copy of the police report? Obtaining accident reports is a similar process to the one above, but it is generally a bit easier because in most cases, there is no criminal investigation. If you are in a car accident, you will receive a slip with an incident number on it. To obtain your police report, simply visit the police department that the report was filed from and trade the sheet for the actual report. If you do not obtain your police report, your insurance company will have to request a copy via mail, and it will take a bit longer.

There are also resources online that house accident reports, like LexisNexis and Buycrash. However, the safest and quickest option to is visit your local Police Desk as soon as possible after the accident. Accident reports can be ready to pick-up as early as 24 hours after the accident, and up to a week. Another way to get a copy of a police report is through your local Department of Motor Vehicles.

Now that you know about how to get a copy of a police report, check out How To File a Police Report.

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Requesting Your Accident Report From The Police Station

Use the Incident Report provided by the investigating officer at the scene to obtain the report directly from the precinct if the accident took place in the City of New York or to request the report online, at if the accident took place in Nassau County or Suffolk County

In the City of New York there is no fee to obtain a copy of the report. .

Easiest Way To Get A Police Report In Nyc

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How To Obtain New York City Civil Court Case Records

New York Civil Court case records are available at the courthouse where the case was addressed. To request a civil case record, visit the court and provide relevant and specific information about the record. The Clerk of the Court decides the fees and payment methods for each court record. Contact the appropriate court to make inquiries.

The New York County Clerk maintains court records of the Supreme Courts, while the Family Court, Surrogates Court, City Civil Courts, and City Criminal Courts each have their own court clerks. Individuals interested in obtaining these court records should query the Clerks office at:

New York County Courthouse 386-5955

Verifying That Convictions Are Sealed

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You or your lawyer can use these forms to receive verification from DCJS that a court-ordered seal under state Criminal Procedure Law Sections 160.59, 160.55, or 160.50 has been applied to your New York State criminal history record.

â Use this form if you received a court order seal related to a conviction that occurred more than 10 years ago.
â Use this form if you are requesting verification of a seal related to a felony or misdemeanor arrest that resulted in a conviction to either a traffic infraction or violation.
â Use this form if you are requesting verification of a seal related to an arrest that resulted in the termination of the criminal proceedings in their favor .

Note: A copy of the signed court seal order must be mailed with the verification form.

Record Process And Fees

Within five business days of the receipt of a written request for a record reasonably described, we will send you a letter either: making such record available denying such request in writing or furnishing a written acknowledgment of the receipt of such request. If you have not received a letter within five business days, please contact us at .

An acknowledgment letter will provide you with an estimate of when the records you request will be available, which shall be reasonable under the circumstances of the request. This date is determined by the number of documents you request, their format, their availability, the time it takes to redact any information that cannot be disclosed pursuant to FOIL, the time it takes to assemble the documents, and other factors.

If the records you request require a fee to be paid, you will be notified prior to the records being released to you. Unless a different fee is otherwise prescribed by statute, Public Officers Law §87 authorizes an agency to charge a fee of 25¢ per page for copies of records up 9x 14 in size, or the actual cost of reproducing a record. In determining the actual cost of producing a record, an agency may include only:

Accordingly, pursuant to Public Officers Law § 87 , the following fee schedule is in effect for records requested from the State Police:

$15.00 per incident/investigation report

How Can I Get My Nypd Accident Report In Person

If you want to pick up your NYPD accident report in person, you must fill out two copies of a Police Collision Report and drop them off at the precinct where your crash occurred. Keep in mind, NYPD precincts only hold on to accident reports for 30 days after the officer files them. Afterward, they send the report to the New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.