Inglewood Police Records
Inglewood police records are kept by the Inglewood Police Department Records Division. This includes crime reports, arrest logs, and traffic collision files from incidents within Inglewood city limits. Inglewood is in Los Angeles County, so the county sheriff also maintains records for unincorporated areas and the jail system. The city police department handles law enforcement within Inglewood while the sheriff covers other parts of the county. To request police records, contact the Inglewood PD records office by phone, mail, or in person at the main station. Processing times vary based on case complexity but average about ten business days. Fees apply and you must be a party of interest to receive copies of police records in Inglewood.
Inglewood Records Overview
Request Inglewood Police Reports
Contact the Inglewood Police Department Records Division to request police records. The main station handles all records requests for the city. Call their records line with questions about your specific case. You need details like the date, location, and type of incident. A case number helps if you have it from the officer in Inglewood.
Provide your name and contact information when making the request. Explain your connection to the case. You must be the victim, a driver, a property owner, or another involved party. The department verifies your identity before releasing records. Suspects may not get reports while the case is under investigation. Witnesses are usually not given full copies in Inglewood.
Most reports take about ten business days to complete. The investigating officer must finish writing the report first. Simple cases are done faster. Complex investigations with multiple victims or evidence items take longer. Call the records division if you do not hear back within two weeks of your request in Inglewood.
Fees depend on report type and number of pages. Ask about the cost when you submit your request. Payment is due when you pick up the report. Bring cash, check, or money order. Some agencies accept credit cards, but confirm payment options before you visit the station in Inglewood.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Records
Inglewood is in Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles County Sheriff runs the jail system and patrols unincorporated areas. If a sheriff's deputy responded to your incident instead of Inglewood police, you need to contact the sheriff's records division. They are at 12440 East Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Call 562-345-4441 for help with sheriff records in Los Angeles County.
The sheriff's office operates by appointment only, Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You cannot get copies of your own arrest report under California law. Arrest reports are exempt from release per Government Code Section 6254(f). The sheriff can provide booking information and other documents. Check their FAQ page at lasd.org/records-faq for more details on what records are available in Los Angeles County.
For officer misconduct and transparency records, use the special SB 1421 portal at lasdsb1421.powerappsportals.us. This covers officer-involved shootings and serious misconduct cases. These records must be released within 45 days under California law. The portal lets you search and request these specific types of records in Los Angeles County.
What Records Are Available
Crime reports document incidents like theft, assault, vandalism, and burglary. An officer creates the report after responding to a call and conducting an investigation. The report includes who was involved, what happened, where it occurred, and what evidence was collected. You can request a copy if you were the victim or another party of interest in Inglewood.
Arrest records show when someone was booked into custody by police. These include the person's name, charges, arrest date, and bail information. Los Angeles County runs the jail system, so booking logs are held by the county sheriff. You can search for current inmates on the sheriff's website. Historical arrest records require a formal request to the sheriff's records division in Los Angeles County.
Traffic reports cover 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 of interest can get copies. Check with Inglewood PD about their process for providing traffic collision reports in California.
California Records Access Laws
The California Public Records Act gives you the right to request police records. This law is in Government Code Sections 7920-7931. Anyone can make a request. You do not need to be a resident or give a reason. Agencies must respond within ten calendar days. They can take a 14-day extension if they need more time to search files or consult with other offices in California.
Some police 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. Agencies have 45 days to provide these records in California.
If your request is denied, the agency must cite the specific exemption that applies. You can challenge a denial in court or work with a public interest lawyer. Many groups help with records appeals in California. The agency must explain why the exemption applies to your particular request in Inglewood.
Body Camera Footage Access
Body camera footage is generally exempt from release under California law. Government Code Section 7923.625 makes an exception for critical incidents. This includes officer-involved shootings and use of force causing great bodily injury or death. The agency must release this footage within 45 days. They can take 30-day extensions for certain reasons in California.
Other body cam video is not subject to release. This includes traffic stops, witness interviews, and routine patrol activity. Even if you were involved, you cannot get body cam footage unless it falls under the critical incident rule. The agency will deny your request and explain the exemption in Inglewood.
For video from private cameras or business surveillance systems, contact the property owner. Police may have copies in case files. You can request this through a formal records request. The agency will review it to ensure release does not violate privacy laws before providing a copy in California.
Statewide Records Systems
For criminal history information, use the California Department of Justice system at oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review. You can request your own record for $25. This requires submitting fingerprints. The DOJ does not release other people's records to the public. Only law enforcement can access those files under Penal Code Section 11105 in California.
The California Highway Patrol operates an online crash report system at crashes.chp.ca.gov. Use this if CHP investigated your collision on a state highway. Only parties of interest can order reports. This includes drivers, vehicle owners, passengers, and insurance companies. Fees apply for each report requested through the CHP system in California.
Timelines for Records Requests
Most police reports in Inglewood are ready within ten business days. This is how long 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 Inglewood.
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 Inglewood.
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 Inglewood.
Note: Domestic violence victims can get free copies of their incident reports under California Family Code.
Contact Inglewood Police Department
For police records in Inglewood, contact the police department records division. Here is what you need:
- Inglewood Police Department
- Ask for Records Division
- Have case number or incident details ready
- Typical processing: 10 business days
- 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 connection to the case. Staff must verify you are a party of interest before releasing records in Inglewood.
Records in Other LA County Cities
Other large cities in Los Angeles County have their own police departments and records systems. Los Angeles is the largest city with its own LAPD records division. Long Beach has a separate police department south of LA. Torrance is southwest of Inglewood. Each city has different procedures and fees for police records requests in California.
If your incident occurred in a different city, contact that city's police department directly. Jurisdiction matters for records requests. The wrong agency cannot help you if they did not handle your case in Los Angeles County.