Finding The Descriptions Of Crimes For Different Penal Code Sections
Police records usually refer to penal code sections in describing crimes police are investigating.
For example, section 187 of the penal code is for homicides.
How can you find out which crimes the various sections of the state penal code stand for?
The Berkeley Police Department has a list of commonly used penal code sections and which crimes they refer to. Thats at:
At the site check the box next to Penal Code. In the search box type in the number for the penal code section youre interested in .
At the search results page, click on the first listing. That should give you the penal code section youre seeking .
When And How To Make A Police Report
There are many situations in which it is important to know how to make a police report. You should always file one for any incident or disturbance that affects you or your property such as a robbery, vandalism or attack.
When it comes to vehicle property, it is your right and responsibility to inform the police if anything happens to it, especially on public property.
If someone steals any car valuables such as your license plate, registration card or tires, you are advised to file a police report as soon as possible. If you fail to do so, you may be enabling further crime.
Your can become the victim of theft if your car is stolen or broken into and burglarized. You should call your local police department immediately in regards to a stolen vehicle or any personal documents like car registration.
While there is no immediate deadline for these types incidents as there is for car accidents, to get your property back and prevent further crime, you should get a police report as soon as possible.
Request Forms For Ca Family Code 6:
Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, Human Trafficking, or Abuse of an Elder or Dependent Adult
California Family Code § 6228 provides that victims of the alleged crimes, listed above, may receive a copy of their incident report within five days of their request, free of charge. Due to the sensitive information included in the reports, SFPD protocol requires in-person identification verification. Victims or their designated representatives must either submit their request in-person or pick-up their incident report in person at CISU Records Management. For a list of acceptable forms of identification, please refer to Section 2 of the Request for Police Report: Family Code § 6228 form.
You May Like: How Does One Become A Police Officer
James Smith Cree Nation Asking For Donations
The James Smith Cree Nation and sister First Nation communities are asking for food and monetary donations in the wake of the mass stabbing.
In an open letter being shared on social media, the Cree Nation, alongside chiefs and council from Peter Chapman Band and Chakastaypasin Band, have asked for food, money and disposable dishware and cutlery.
The group of First Nation communities declared a state of emergency on noon Sunday.
Donations for the Cree Nation can be delivered to the Bernard Constant Community School gymnasium.
It asked any monetary donations to be given as gift cards, cheques or cash and that donations would be logged.
Indigenous Services Canada said it will be supporting James Smith in a variety of ways identified by the Cree Nation, including mental health counselling, funeral costs for victims and supports for people displaced by the attacks, such as accommodation, meals and other essential needs.
The Saskatoon Tribal Council says there are currently more than 50 people from James Smith being housed at three locations in the city.
A lot of these families had to flee. They came with the clothes on their back, said STC Chief Mark Arcand at a news conference Tuesday.
The organization is supporting them with clothing, food, mental health resources and more.
Shooting Scare Puts Central High School In Phoenix On Lockdown 3 Students Detained
PHOENIX No one was hurt but three students are detained after Central High School in Phoenix was put on lockdown due to a report of a shooting on Friday afternoon. According to Phoenix Union High School District, it started just after 12 p.m. when a fight between two students led to more disruptions at the campus on Central Avenue between Camelback and Indian School roads. Rumors of a firearm and even shots fired led to the school being placed on lockdown, officials said. Police said there were possible popping sounds nearby.
Because of a possible gun or even shots being fired, police went through their active shooter procedures. Officers, including SWAT, searched the entire campus over the next two hours. Every part of the school was searched and police determined it was safe. Police said they found no evidence of a gun on campus or that any shots were fired. Detectives are looking into what led up to the fights and have detained three teen boys. There was a verbal altercation that expanded to a physical altercation that was small in nature and then what I think you had to Dr. Gestsons point, theres just a lot of tension right now related to school shootings and then had its ability to expand and you had some panic go throughout the campus, assistant chief Sean Patrick Connolly with the Phoenix Police Department said.
Read Also: Can Local Police Enforce Immigration Law
Importance Of Police Reports
As previously stated, police departments in every city are there to provide aid to citizens who are responsible for reporting crime by way of filing police reports.
Police reports are a way to document incidents, both large and small. They help identify perpetrators of crimes so that officers can stop them and any further crimes. Reports help keep both citizens and the police department accountable for public safety.
For cases involving vehicles, accident police reports are helpful when filing insurance claims, identifying the party at fault and keeping city roads safe.
Why Police Reports Matter
Police reports are public records and in some states they may be viewable by just about anybody. Usually there are restrictions on how those records can be used, particularly by employers, landlords, and financial institutions. As already mentioned, police reports are particularly usefuland they may even be necessarywhen filing a claim with your insurer. The contents of a police report are important, so you need to make sure that any police report pertaining to you is accurate and does not cast you in an unnecessarily bad light.
Read Also: How To Obtain A Police Report In Florida
Welcome To The Phoenix Police Public Records Request Customer Portal Website
The Phoenix Police Department is committed to providing the citizens of Phoenix with quality and professional law enforcement services. Our vision is to make Phoenix the safest major city in the nation.
On this page youll find links for a variety of services at your fingertips such as submitting records requests, viewing submitted requests, viewing invoices, and information on other services. If you need assistance completing any of the online forms, please call our customer service line at 602-534-1127 or visit the Phoenix Police Department Public Records and Services Unit at 1717 E. Grant St., Suite 100 Phoenix, AZ 85034.
Telephone and in-person appointments may be scheduled by calling 602-262-1885. We strongly recommend scheduled appointments for in-person assistance. Normal business hours are Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm .
All requests for records are submitted and fulfilled in accordance with the Arizona Public Records Law , and state and federal open government public information laws and practices.
Albuquerque Police Department Records Division
Whether you are requesting a final police report written by an APD officer or yourself, or a background check, we offer over the phone requests. Please contact records personnel at 768-2020 for total charges, the payment process and how to obtain reports.
Starting , APD Records will be open with these guidelines:
- You must wear a mask when entering APD records lobby.
- There will only be three people allowed at a time in the records lobby as it is a small area.
- If you request a report via telephone, you will be prompted to send in your payment before receiving the requested report. The cost is $.50 per page
- When requesting a report in person, we only accept cash. We cannot take bills larger than $20.
- Blotter- the blotter will be available between the hours of 9am 11am. Only one person at a time can view it. There is a time limit of 15 minutes to view the blotter for each person.
Recommended Reading: Can I Be A Police Officer At 18
Crimes Are Investigated By Local Police
As a rule, crimes are investigated by local police. Another police unit can also assume responsibility for an investigation. Police reports can be filed at any police station, but the officer who logs the report will forward it to the competent police unit. Most police departments have separate detective teams and units for different kinds of crime.
Before an investigation is opened, the police must determine whether there is reason to suspect that a crime has been committed. Not all police reports that are filed lead to a pre-trial investigation. No investigation is opened if, for example, a report relates to a dispute or another civil matter.
In addition to attending to the pre-trial investigation process, the police conducts other kinds of investigations, such as investigations into the cause of death, investigations into the cause of fire, missing person searches and investigations into the need to impose a business prohibition.
Police Incident Report Copy Request Forms
If you elect NOT to use the portal, requests may still be submitted using U.S. Mail and email using the Incident Report Request Form. However, those requests will be manually entered and tracked in the Incident Report Request Portal by a member of CISU. You do NOT need to complete the Incident Report Request form if you submit your request via the portal.
Our request forms are available in several languages. Select your language, download and fill out the request form in your preferred language. The completed form may be either mailed or emailed to SFPD for processing. Instructions are included on all forms.
Recommended Reading: Can You View Police Reports Online
Should I Fill Out A Police Report
If this is an Emergency or police officer response is needed, please call 911. If this is not an emergency please respond to the prompts below to file an online police report.
Please make sure to turn off your pop-up blocking software before filing the report. Please look at our Frequently Asked Questions section or call 651-291-1111 to have an officer respond. Remember, you must have a valid email address to file an online police report.
Please note: Filing a false police report is a crime. M.S.S 609.505
Victims Report If you meet the guidelines above and want to file an online report.
Supplemental Report If you already filed an ONLINE report and you want to ADD information. You will need your case number
What happens after I submit my report?
- You will receive a temporary tracking number. This is not your police case number.
- Your report will be reviewed and assigned to an investigator.
- If your report is approved, a permanent police case number will be assigned. This is the number to report to your insurance company, bank, etc. if needed.
- A copy of your police report will be emailed in a printable PDF format.
- Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be contacted by an investigator.
Please check your e-mail regularly, including the spam or junk e-mail file.
Please note: This system is NOT monitored 24/7.
If you have questions about the status of your report, please call the Online Reporting Unit at 651-266-5701.
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.
Read Also: How To Become A Police Officer In Wichita Ks
Police Department Request Form
If you cannot submit a police report request online or through the mail, then you will have to visit the police department in person and file a request there. Call beforehand since some departments only allow in-person requests on certain days. You can find your local police department here. Then you can find out about filling out a Police Department Request Form in person and how to get the information you need. Typically these police department request forms can be fulfilled that day.
A request will typically require you to provide your personal and contact information as well as details about the incident, including the type of incident, date, and who else was involved. Be aware that if the report pertains to an ongoing investigation then your request could be denied. If you are unclear about why your request was denied you should talk to an attorney.
Myles May No Longer Be In Regina: Police Chief
Earlier in the investigation, police believed the suspect might have been in Regina.
Police had received a report Sunday that the vehicle the suspect was believed to be driving a black Nissan Rogue with licence plate 119 MPI had been spotted in Regina.
RCMP shared a new photo of Sanderson wearing glasses but say he might not be wearing them and that his current appearance may not exactly resemble the photo.
Rhonda Blackmore, commanding officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP, told CBC News Tuesday afternoon that the RCMP doesnt know if hes still in Regina, calling that information quite stale.
Regina Police Chief Evan Bray confirmed police received information that led them to believe Myles may no longer be in the city.
Although we dont know his whereabouts, we are still looking not only within the city of Regina but expanded into the province as well, Bray said in a video posted to social media Tuesday shortly before 6 p.m. CST.
RPS continues to support the RCMP investigation and search for Myles Sanderson. Today, police received information that is leading us to believe that he may no longer be in Regina.< br> < br> The situation is dynamic & amp our Service is committed to joint work with our < a href=https://twitter.com/RCMPSK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw> @RCMPSK< /a> partners. < a href=https://t.co/qmothriIcL> pic.twitter.com/qmothriIcL< /a>
& mdash @reginapolice
Also Check: How Much Do Police Officers Make An Hour
Third Parties Obtaining Reports
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’s In A Police Report
At the scene of the car accident, if you pay close attention you may notice the investigating officer inspecting vehicles, talking to people, measuring distances, writing notes, and taking photographs. The officer is taking some or all of these steps in preparation for drafting the police report. In short, the police report is a summary of the police officer’s investigation of the accident. The report will often contain some or all of the following information:
- approximate date, time, and location of the collision
- identifying information for parties involved in the car accident, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and insurance information
- identifying information for witnesses
- statements from the parties and witnesses
- citations and/or violations of law, and
- opinions as to cause of the collision and/or a fault determination.
Read Also: How To Become A Police Officer In Michigan
How To Obtain A Copy Of A Police Report:
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Central Records and Reporting Unit is open Monday Friday, 8 a.m. 3:30 p.m. The address is 660 First Avenue, 3rd floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. All police reports are $15 – check or money order only. You can request a report in person or through the mail. If requesting a report through the mail, make sure you include what type of incident, a report number, a photo copy of your ID, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The phone number is 412-255-2920 if you’d like to call ahead or if you have any additional questions.