Find Anaheim Police Records

Police records in Anaheim include arrest logs, crime reports, and traffic crash files. The Anaheim Police Department keeps all reports for the city. You can get copies of incident reports if you were a party in the case. Requests go to the records division at 425 S. Harbor Blvd. The city has over 344,000 people and is in Orange County. Most police record requests are handled within ten days. Some take less time if the report is ready when you ask for it.

Anaheim Police Department Records

The Anaheim Police Department handles all law enforcement in the city. The records division takes requests for police reports under the California Public Records Act. You can ask for copies of incident reports, crash reports, and arrest information. The department is at 425 S. Harbor Blvd in Anaheim. Call (714) 765-1990 to speak with records staff. Office hours are Monday through Friday.

Fees for police records in Anaheim are set by the city. The first page costs 50 cents. Each page after that is 20 cents. This is less than many other cities in California charge. Victims of domestic violence can get copies of their reports at no cost. The department will tell you what the full fee is when your report is ready to pick up in Anaheim.

Police records in Anaheim can be found at the city website. The page has info on how to make a request and what you need to include. You must give your name, the date of the event, and the case number if you have it. The department will search for the report and tell you if it can be released. Some records are exempt from release under state law, such as active case files in Anaheim.

Online Police Records Requests

Anaheim uses the NextRequest system for public records requests. This is an online portal where you can submit a request and track its progress. Go to the portal and create an account. Then fill out the form with details about what records you want. The system sends you an email when there is an update on your request in Anaheim.

The NextRequest portal for Anaheim is at cityofanaheimcapd.nextrequest.com. Many California cities and counties use this same platform. It makes the process easy to track. You can see when the department received your request and when they plan to respond. This is a good option if you do not want to call or visit the police station in person in Anaheim.

Not all police records can be released right away in Anaheim. If a case is still open, the department may deny your request. Under California law, active investigations are exempt from the Public Records Act. The department has ten days to respond to your request. They can take a 14-day extension if they need more time to review the file or consult with other offices in Anaheim.

Types of Police Records

Incident reports are made when police respond to a call. These show what happened, who was there, and what the officer did. You can ask for a copy if you were a victim or involved party. Suspects cannot get arrest reports in most cases under California law. Witnesses also may not get full reports from Anaheim police.

Traffic collision reports are easier to get in Anaheim. California Vehicle Code requires the release of crash reports to drivers, passengers, and vehicle owners. Insurance companies with a claim can also get copies. These reports show when and where the crash happened, who was involved, and if there were injuries. Processing time for crash reports is about seven to ten days in Anaheim.

Arrest records show booking info for people taken into custody in Anaheim. This includes the person's name, the date they were arrested, and the charges. Many of these records are public under California law. Orange County also posts booking logs online. You can search by name or date. Keep in mind that arrest does not mean conviction. Charges may be dropped or reduced later in Anaheim.

Body camera footage is not usually released to the public in Anaheim. State law exempts most body cam video from the Public Records Act. The main exception is for critical incidents like officer-involved shootings. If an officer shoots someone or uses force that causes serious injury, the department must release the footage within 45 days. All other body cam video stays confidential in Anaheim.

California Public Records Laws

The California Public Records Act gives you the right to ask for police records in Anaheim. This law is in Government Code Sections 7920 through 7931. Any person can make a request. You do not need to live in Anaheim or even in California. You do not have to say why you want the records. The agency has ten days to respond. They can extend this by 14 days if needed.

Some records are exempt from release under state law in Anaheim. These include personnel files, ongoing investigations, and confidential legal advice. The department must cite the specific law when they deny a request. You can challenge a denial in court if you think the exemption does not apply. Many people work with lawyers or public interest groups on appeals in California.

SB 1421 and SB 16 changed the rules for officer records in Anaheim. Police must now release records of officer-involved shootings, use of force, sexual assault by an officer, and dishonesty. These are found in Penal Code Section 832.7. The department has 45 days to provide these records. They can delay up to 180 days if there is an active criminal case. This law applies to all police agencies in California, including Anaheim.

Processing Times and Costs

The Anaheim Police Department tries to process most requests within ten days. Simple requests for a single report often take less time. If the report is ready and can be released, you may get it in just a few days. Larger requests that need review of many files take longer. The department will tell you an estimated time when you submit your request in Anaheim.

Copy fees in Anaheim are lower than many other California cities. The first page is 50 cents and extra pages cost 20 cents each. Most police reports are just a few pages long. A typical report might cost a dollar or two. If you need many pages, the fee adds up, but it is still less than what cities like Los Angeles or San Francisco charge for police records in California.

Domestic violence victims do not pay for their police records in Anaheim. California Family Code requires free copies for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. You may need to show that you were the victim in the case. The department usually provides these reports within five days at no cost in Anaheim.

Note: Fees and processing times can change, so check with the Anaheim Police Department for the most current information before submitting your request.

Orange County Sheriff Records

Anaheim is in Orange County. The county sheriff handles unincorporated areas and some contract cities, but not Anaheim. Anaheim has its own police department. If you need records from the Orange County Sheriff, you contact them directly at (714) 834-6454. The sheriff's office is at 320 N. Flower Street in Santa Ana. They have a separate records division for county areas in Orange County.

The Orange County Sheriff uses different fees and procedures than Anaheim. Sheriff records cost 15 cents per page. They also use a different request process. If you are not sure whether your report is from Anaheim Police or the Orange County Sheriff, call the police department first. They can tell you which agency handled the case in Anaheim.

For more on county-level police records, see the full Orange County page. That page has details on the sheriff's records division, county jail booking logs, and other resources. It also covers cities in Orange County that contract with the sheriff for police services, though Anaheim is not one of them.

Other Anaheim Records

The Anaheim Police Department only handles law enforcement records in Anaheim. For other types of public records, contact different city or county offices. Vital records like birth and death certificates go through the Orange County Health Care Agency. Court records are at the Orange County Superior Court. Property records are kept by the Orange County Assessor in Anaheim.

If you need help with a legal matter related to police records in Anaheim, several groups offer low-cost or free legal aid. Legal Aid Society of Orange County serves people with low income. They focus on civil cases, not criminal defense. Call (800) 834-5001 for info on their services. The Orange County Bar Association has a lawyer referral service at (714) 953-0274 if you need to hire an attorney in Anaheim.

For questions about California police records laws, the California Attorney General has resources at oag.ca.gov. The site explains your rights under the Public Records Act. It also has contact info for the DOJ if you need to file a complaint about a denied request. These resources apply to all police agencies in California, including Anaheim.