Arrest reports are written by law enforcement officials and detail the circumstances surrounding the making of an arrest. A typical arrest report will describe what events led up to the arrest, the reason for the arrest, statements and actions by the suspect and any other relevant information that could be useful to a prosecutor trying the case. The following are various ways of obtaining the report, starting with the quickest and ending with the slowest.
First, gather all the information you can about the arrest. This includes the name of the suspect, the date and place of the arrest, and the law enforcement agency involved. These facts will be necessary to search for the arrest report itself.
Next, check the website of the law enforcement agency that made the arrest. Many arrest reports are available online. Sometimes an agency's website will detail the proper procedure for obtaining an arrest report. There are several online databases, such as onlinedetective.com, that are also useful for searching public records.
Read More: How to Search for Free Public Arrest Records
Often, however, reports can be obtained only through special written requests. If the records aren't available online, visit the police station or courthouse where the individual was detained or tried. Many agencies make arrest reports available to an individual in person, sometimes for a small fee. You may be allowed to examine the report, or to make a copy for yourself.
If the arrest record is not available at these locations, ask the attorneys involved in the case to give it to you. Both lawyers for the prosecution and for the defense will have access to the report, as they need it to prepare their case. While they may be legally prohibited from giving you the report, in certain areas, the decision may be left up to their discretion.
If possible, ask the individual who was arrested for a copy of the report. This option may be difficult if the suspect is incarcerated and unable to send mail with any frequency or disinclined to give you the report.
Warnings
- Certain arrest reports may be legally barred from being released. In Missouri, for instance, law enforcement agencies can withhold an arrest report if they believe that the information within it is "reasonably likely to pose a clear and present danger to the safety of any victim, witness, undercover officer or other person."
Tips
- If all else fails, grease the wheels. Many police reports are commonly leaked to the media, often because the leakers were paid or because they had a pre-existing relationship with the person to whom they leaked it. Consider what leverage, either personal or financial, that you can bring to bear on people with access to the report.
References
Resources
Tips
- If all else fails, grease the wheels. Many police reports are commonly leaked to the media, often because the leakers were paid or because they had a pre-existing relationship with the person to whom they leaked it. Consider what leverage, either personal or financial, that you can bring to bear on people with access to the report.
Warnings
- Certain arrest reports may be legally barred from being released. In Missouri, for instance, law enforcement agencies can withhold an arrest report if they believe that the information within it is "reasonably likely to pose a clear and present danger to the safety of any victim, witness, undercover officer or other person."
Writer Bio
Michael Wolfe has been writing and editing since 2005, with a background including both business and creative writing. He has worked as a reporter for a community newspaper in New York City and a federal policy newsletter in Washington, D.C. Wolfe holds a B.A. in art history and is a resident of Brooklyn, N.Y.