How to Get a Police Report in California
Reviewed October 2026
You can ask any California police department or sheriff’s office for records under the California Public Records Act. What you get depends on the type of record, because investigative files are treated differently from basic facts about calls and arrests.
Start with the right agency
Ask the agency that responded to the incident. City police handle most incidents inside city limits, sheriff’s offices cover unincorporated areas and jails, and the California Highway Patrol handles many freeway crashes. If you’re not sure, the agency’s records unit can usually tell you.
What to include
- The date, time and location of the incident
- A report or case number, if you have one
- The names of people involved, if you know them
- The specific records you want, such as an incident report or booking record
- How you’d like to receive them
You don’t have to say why you want a record. Under Gov. Code § 7921.300, an agency can’t limit access to a disclosable record because of your reason.
What agencies can withhold
Investigative files are often exempt under Gov. Code § 7923.600 and following sections. Agencies must still release certain basic information about arrests and calls for service, such as the time, place and factual circumstances, unless that would endanger someone’s safety or the investigation (Gov. Code §§ 7923.610, 7923.615). Ask for that as well. If part of a record is exempt, the agency must release the rest when it can reasonably be separated (Gov. Code § 7922.525(b)).
If you were involved in the incident, you may have other ways to get a report. Ask the records unit what applies to you.
How long it takes and what it costs
The agency has 10 days to tell you whether it has records it can release (Gov. Code § 7922.535). It can take up to 14 more days in certain situations. Copy fees are limited to the direct cost of duplication, or a fee set by statute (Gov. Code § 7922.530).
Related guides
- How to Request Body Camera Footage in California
- What to Do If Your Records Request Is Denied in California
General information, not legal advice.