Find Fullerton Police Records

Fullerton police records are maintained by the Fullerton Police Department Records Bureau. You can request incident reports, arrest logs, and traffic collision reports from this office. Fullerton is in Orange County, so the county sheriff also handles some law enforcement in the area. The police department serves the city limits while the sheriff covers unincorporated areas. Most records requests for incidents within Fullerton go to the city police department. You can submit requests by phone, mail, email, or in person at the station. Fees apply for copies of reports and many records are available through online systems operated by the department or third-party vendors.

Requesting Fullerton Police Reports

Contact the Fullerton Police Department to request police records. The main station handles all records requests for the city. Call their non-emergency line with questions about a specific case. You will need details like the date, location, and type of incident. A report number helps if you have it. The more info you provide, the faster they can locate your file in the system.

Most police reports take seven to ten days to complete. The investigating officer must finish writing the report before it goes to the records system. Simple cases are done faster. Complex investigations take longer. Call back if you do not hear anything within two weeks of your request in Fullerton.

You must be a party of interest to get a copy of a police report. This means you were the victim, a driver in a crash, a property owner, or another involved party. Suspects may not be able to get reports while the case is under investigation. Witnesses are usually not given full reports. The department verifies your identity and connection to the case before releasing records in Fullerton.

Fees vary by report type. Check with the records bureau for current costs. Bring cash, check, or money order when you pick up your report. Some agencies accept credit cards, but call ahead to confirm payment options in Fullerton.

Traffic Collision Reports

Fullerton traffic collision reports are available through LexisNexis at ecrash.lexisnexis.com. This online system has crash reports from many California police agencies. Search by date and location to find your report. You need basic info like when and where the crash happened. The system will tell you if your report is ready and how much it costs.

Only parties of interest can purchase crash reports. This includes drivers, passengers, vehicle owners, and insurance companies with a valid claim or policy number. You may need to provide proof of your connection to the crash. LexisNexis verifies your identity before releasing the report in California.

If your crash is not in the LexisNexis system, contact Fullerton PD directly. Some reports take longer to upload to the online database. The police department can check the status of your report. They can also provide copies if the report is complete but not yet online in Fullerton.

Note: California Highway Patrol handles crashes on state highways. If CHP responded to your collision, use their system at crashes.chp.ca.gov instead.

Orange County Sheriff Records

Fullerton is in Orange County. The Orange County Sheriff handles jail records and arrests in unincorporated areas. If a sheriff's deputy responded instead of Fullerton police, you need to contact the sheriff's records division. They are at 320 North Flower Street in Santa Ana. Call 714-834-6454 for help with sheriff records in Orange County.

The sheriff's department charges 15 cents per page for copies. Domestic violence victims get free reports under California law. Most requests take seven to ten days to process. The sheriff has ten calendar days to respond under the California Public Records Act. Email reportrequest@ocsheriff.gov with questions about sheriff records in Orange County.

For jail records and booking information, check the Orange County Sheriff website. They have an inmate search tool. Current inmates are listed with booking dates, charges, and bail amounts. This information is public under California law. Historical booking records require a formal request to the records division in Orange County.

Types of Police Records

Crime reports cover incidents like theft, assault, vandalism, and burglary. An officer writes the report after investigating the call. The report includes victim and suspect information, a narrative of what happened, and evidence collected. You can request a copy if you were the victim or another involved party. Active investigations may not be released until the case closes in Fullerton.

Arrest records show when someone was booked into custody. These include the person's name, charges, arrest date, and bail information. Orange County runs the jail system, so booking records are held by the county sheriff. You can search current inmates online. For historical arrest information, submit a records request to the sheriff's office in Orange County.

Traffic reports document vehicle collisions investigated by police. The report shows who was driving, what vehicles were involved, how the crash happened, and any citations issued. Drivers and other parties can get copies. Use the LexisNexis system for fast online access to Fullerton crash reports in California.

California Public Records Act

The California Public Records Act governs access to police records. This law is in Government Code Sections 7920-7931. Anyone can request records. You do not have to be a California resident or give a reason for your request. Agencies must respond within ten calendar days. They can take a 14-day extension if they need more time to search or review files.

Some records are exempt from release. Active investigations are usually not disclosed while the case is open. Personnel files and internal affairs records have limited access. Officer misconduct and use of force records must be released under Penal Code Section 832.7. This includes officer-involved shootings and sustained findings of dishonesty or sexual assault by officers. Agencies have 45 days to provide these records in California.

If your request is denied, the agency must cite the specific exemption. You can challenge a denial in court or seek help from a public interest lawyer. Many organizations assist with records appeals in California. The agency must justify why the exemption applies to your specific request in Fullerton.

Body Camera Footage Requests

Body camera footage is generally exempt from release under California law. Government Code Section 7923.625 requires agencies to release footage from critical incidents. This includes officer-involved shootings and use of force causing great bodily injury or death. The agency has 45 days to provide this footage. They can take 30-day extensions for certain reasons.

Other body cam video is not subject to release. This includes traffic stops, witness interviews, and routine patrol activity. If you were involved in an incident, you still cannot get body cam footage unless it falls under the critical incident rule. The agency will deny your request and explain the exemption in Fullerton.

For video evidence from private cameras or business surveillance systems, contact the property owner. Police may have copies as evidence in case files. You can request this through a records request. The agency will review it to make sure release does not violate privacy laws before giving you a copy in California.

Statewide Police Records Systems

The California Department of Justice maintains criminal history records for the state. You can request your own record at oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review. This requires fingerprints and a $25 fee. The DOJ does not release other people's arrest history to the public. Only law enforcement can access those files under Penal Code Section 11105 in California.

For public records requests to the DOJ, use their portal at oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/pra. The DOJ has ten days to respond. Copy fees are 10 cents per page. Some records are exempt from release. Call the Record Review Unit at 916-227-3849 with questions in California.

Timelines for Records Requests

Most police reports in Fullerton are ready within seven to ten business days. This is the time it takes for the officer to complete the report and submit it to records. Simple cases are done faster. Complex investigations with multiple victims or witnesses take longer. The department will give you an estimated date when you make your request in Fullerton.

Public Records Act requests follow the ten-day response rule. The agency has ten calendar days to tell you if they will release the records. This is just the initial response, not the full release. They may need more time to review files, redact exempt information, or gather documents from different units. Large requests can take weeks or months to fulfill in Fullerton.

Traffic collision reports often take longer than crime reports. The investigating officer needs to complete diagrams, measurements, and witness statements. If the crash involved injuries or major damage, the report may take two weeks or more. Check the status with the records bureau if you have not heard back within the expected time frame in Fullerton.

Contact Fullerton Police Department

For police records in Fullerton, contact the main police station. Here is the info you need:

• Fullerton Police Department main line
• Ask for Records Bureau
• Typical processing: 7-10 business days
• Crash reports: ecrash.lexisnexis.com
• Payment: Cash, check, or money order

Call ahead if you plan to visit in person. This ensures someone is available to help you. Bring photo ID and be ready to explain your relationship to the case. The staff needs to verify you are a party of interest before releasing records in Fullerton.

Records in Other Orange County Cities

Other large cities in Orange County have their own police departments. Anaheim is west of Fullerton. Santa Ana is the county seat. Irvine is south in central Orange County. Each city has separate records procedures and fees for police records requests in California.

Garden Grove and Huntington Beach are also nearby. If your incident occurred in a different city, contact that city's police department. Jurisdiction matters for records requests. The wrong agency cannot help you if they did not handle your case in Orange County.