The US police records are considered public property and are accessible by the public. Police records contain vital information such as the case filed against the party, the party's name, the officer who reported the incident as well as some other information. The records are divided into 3 categories - Criminal case, administrative and Traffic/incident report. Criminal cases or reports include those reports that are categorized to be criminal or felony in nature. Records are available to the public once the judge has rendered his decision or the case reaches conviction. Access to on-going criminal cases is restricted especially if the case involves juveniles or is a sexual offense. Some parts of the record, which are tagged as "public information", are public records. The report includes the summary of the case as well as the suspects if an arrest has been made.
Administrative records, on the other hand, are reports that deal with violations and crimes committed by the police department or those in the government that might be guilty of misconduct or where the officer has committed violation(s) of the department's policies. Traffic reports on the other hand deal with incident reports, traffic altercations and citations. Traffic reports contain the infraction or case, the driver's name and license number as well as the license plate of the vehicle.
To obtain a copy of the police report, it is important that one knows the case number or file number of the case. A person named as defendant can get a copy from the police department where the case was filed. Third party individuals who are interested in obtaining a copy of the police record can only do so once the case has already reached a decision or the case was closed. Different ways to obtain police reports include going to the Police department record division, email request, and walk in or through accessing the police records online.
Those who want to obtain a copy of the records in Austin can do so by first checking the APD incident reports database. Reports that are less than seven pages are free; however, charges will apply for more than 10 pages. Each page costs about $.10. All requests should be directed to the Austin Report Sales unit. The Sales unit is not open daily and as such, one should call first if one intends to visit the office.
On the other hand, those who want a copy of the reports in Houston can obtain copies in several ways. They can email the Houston police open records division, in person request and through fax. One can obtain a copy of an open case by submitting an ''open records request" to the Attorney General's office. Processing time would take about 60 days. To obtain public copies of the report, one can send in a request through mail, attach a US$6 with a self-stamped envelope. For walk in persons, crash reports cost about$6 and are payable through cash, money order or cashier cheques only.
For a more convenient approach of extracting police records and other public records, one can check out online commercial public search sites that offer free public searches. This is the fastest and most convenient way to retrieve information without having to wait for longer periods.
Administrative records, on the other hand, are reports that deal with violations and crimes committed by the police department or those in the government that might be guilty of misconduct or where the officer has committed violation(s) of the department's policies. Traffic reports on the other hand deal with incident reports, traffic altercations and citations. Traffic reports contain the infraction or case, the driver's name and license number as well as the license plate of the vehicle.
To obtain a copy of the police report, it is important that one knows the case number or file number of the case. A person named as defendant can get a copy from the police department where the case was filed. Third party individuals who are interested in obtaining a copy of the police record can only do so once the case has already reached a decision or the case was closed. Different ways to obtain police reports include going to the Police department record division, email request, and walk in or through accessing the police records online.
Those who want to obtain a copy of the records in Austin can do so by first checking the APD incident reports database. Reports that are less than seven pages are free; however, charges will apply for more than 10 pages. Each page costs about $.10. All requests should be directed to the Austin Report Sales unit. The Sales unit is not open daily and as such, one should call first if one intends to visit the office.
On the other hand, those who want a copy of the reports in Houston can obtain copies in several ways. They can email the Houston police open records division, in person request and through fax. One can obtain a copy of an open case by submitting an ''open records request" to the Attorney General's office. Processing time would take about 60 days. To obtain public copies of the report, one can send in a request through mail, attach a US$6 with a self-stamped envelope. For walk in persons, crash reports cost about$6 and are payable through cash, money order or cashier cheques only.
For a more convenient approach of extracting police records and other public records, one can check out online commercial public search sites that offer free public searches. This is the fastest and most convenient way to retrieve information without having to wait for longer periods.
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