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.
Those who have altercations with government officials especially with police enforcers or want to obtain records pertaining to those similar in nature can do so by checking out administrative record cases. These cases deal with local enforcers who have cases filed against them or have committed violations of police policy. Traffic or incident reports on the other hand contain reports of incidents or accidents that happened in traffic. These also include infractions and police citation reports. Traffic cases include the name of the driver as well as the license plate of the vehicle(s) involved and the driver's license number.
To access the police report, one only has to know the case or file number to make a written request. A defendant or a party has direct access to their police records and a copy is usually sent to the parties involved. For third parties, they can also access public information copy of the report. Reports that are criminal in nature are restricted while ongoing and can only be accessed after a conviction is made. To request for the report, one can walk in person to the office, send an email, a fax or a mail request.
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.
Those who have altercations with government officials especially with police enforcers or want to obtain records pertaining to those similar in nature can do so by checking out administrative record cases. These cases deal with local enforcers who have cases filed against them or have committed violations of police policy. Traffic or incident reports on the other hand contain reports of incidents or accidents that happened in traffic. These also include infractions and police citation reports. Traffic cases include the name of the driver as well as the license plate of the vehicle(s) involved and the driver's license number.
To access the police report, one only has to know the case or file number to make a written request. A defendant or a party has direct access to their police records and a copy is usually sent to the parties involved. For third parties, they can also access public information copy of the report. Reports that are criminal in nature are restricted while ongoing and can only be accessed after a conviction is made. To request for the report, one can walk in person to the office, send an email, a fax or a mail request.
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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