Los Angeles Police Records

The Los Angeles Police Department keeps records for the city's nearly four million residents. Police records in Los Angeles include crime reports, traffic collision files, and arrest summaries. You can request copies through the LAPD Records and Identification Division. The main office is downtown at PO Box 30158, Los Angeles, CA 90030. Most requests take several weeks to process. The LAPD does not release arrest reports to the arrested person. You can get crime reports if you were the victim. Traffic reports are available to drivers and other parties involved in a crash. The department uses an online portal for public records requests.

LAPD Records Division

The LAPD Records and Identification Division is the central office for all police reports in Los Angeles. Call them at (213) 486-8130 for questions about records requests. The mailing address is P.O. Box 30158, Los Angeles, CA 90030. This is not a walk-in location. You must submit requests by mail or through the online portal. The division handles thousands of requests each month, so processing takes time.

The Records Division does not provide arrest reports to suspects. It does not give crime or traffic reports at the public counter. You can get reports by mail after submitting a written request. Include your name, contact info, report number or case number, date of incident, and location. If you do not have the report number, provide as much detail as you can. The division will search for the record and respond within the timeframe allowed by California law.

For public records requests, use the online portal at recordsrequest.lacity.org. This is the NextRequest system used by the City of Los Angeles. You create an account, submit your request, and track its status online. You get an email when your records are ready or if the city needs more information. This system covers requests to the LAPD and other city departments in Los Angeles.

Police Reports Available in Los Angeles

Crime reports cost $27. This includes incident reports for theft, burglary, assault, vandalism, and other crimes. You can get a copy if you were the victim or a named party in the report. The LAPD keeps crime reports for many years. Older reports may take longer to locate. Processing times vary based on current workload and whether the case is still under investigation in Los Angeles.

Traffic collision reports cost $18. These show the date, time, location, vehicles, drivers, and injuries from a crash. California Vehicle Code Section 20012 requires release of traffic reports to involved parties. This includes drivers, passengers, vehicle owners, and insurance companies with a claim number. Most traffic reports are ready within two to three weeks. Some complex cases take longer if investigators need more time to complete the file.

Arrest summaries cost $25. This is a document showing your arrest record with the LAPD. It does not include the full arrest report or investigation details. Booking photos cost $5 per image. These are available if you were arrested or if you need them for legal purposes. The LAPD will not release someone else's arrest photo without a court order or legal authorization.

Note: The LAPD does not give arrest reports to the person arrested, as investigation records are exempt under California law.

Fees and Wait Times for Los Angeles Police Records

LAPD fees are set by city policy. Crime reports are $27. Traffic reports are $18. Photos are $5 each. An arrest summary is $25. Payment is required before the records are released. The city accepts checks and money orders. Credit cards are accepted through the online portal. Make checks payable to the Los Angeles Police Department. Include the report number and your name on the check.

Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking can get free reports. This is required by California law. You must show proof that you were the victim. Contact the Records Division at (213) 486-8130 to ask about the fee waiver. Most agencies provide these reports within five days at no charge. The LAPD follows this state requirement for crime victim reports in Los Angeles.

Processing times depend on the type of request and current backlog. Simple crime reports for victims often take two to four weeks. Complex requests that require legal review can take longer. The California Public Records Act requires an initial response within ten days. This is not the same as delivery of the records. The LAPD may need more time to search, review, and redact exempt information before releasing your police records from Los Angeles.

California Public Records Act Requests

The California Public Records Act applies to all LAPD records. This law is in California Government Code Sections 7920-7931. Any person can make a request. You do not need to live in Los Angeles or California. You do not have to explain why you want the records. The LAPD has ten calendar days to respond. They can take a 14-day extension if more time is needed to search or consult with the city attorney.

Some police records are exempt from release under California law. Active criminal investigations are withheld until the case closes. Personnel files are confidential. Body camera footage is exempt except for critical incidents. The LAPD must cite the specific exemption when denying a request. You can challenge a denial in court or through the city's appeals process. Public interest groups and attorneys often help with appeals for police records in Los Angeles.

California Penal Code Section 832.7 covers peace officer personnel records. SB 1421 and SB 16 changed this law to require disclosure of certain records. These include officer-involved shootings, serious use of force, sexual assault by an officer, and dishonesty findings. The LAPD must release these within 45 days. A delay of up to 180 days is allowed if there is an ongoing investigation. This applies to incidents in Los Angeles and across California.

California Government Code Section 7923.625 covers body camera footage. Agencies must release footage from critical incidents within 45 days. Critical incidents include shootings and use of force causing serious injury or death. The LAPD can take 30-day extensions for certain reasons. Other body cam video is not subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act. You can request this footage, but the department will likely deny it under the investigative records exemption for Los Angeles cases.

Online Records Systems in Los Angeles

The City of Los Angeles uses NextRequest for public records. The portal is at recordsrequest.lacity.org. This system serves the LAPD and other city departments. You submit your request online and get updates by email. You can upload documents and communicate with staff through the portal. This is faster than mailing paper requests. It also gives you a record of all communications about your request for police records in Los Angeles.

Booking information is public under California Government Code Section 7923.610. The LAPD posts some arrest data online as required by law. This includes name, booking date, charges, and bail amount. It does not include the full arrest report or investigation files. You can check the department website for current booking logs. Full arrest records are not available to the arrested person under California law.

For citywide crime statistics and data, visit the LAPD website. They publish crime maps, statistics, and trend reports. This is public information under the California Public Records Act. It helps you understand crime patterns in Los Angeles neighborhoods. For individual case files and reports, you must submit a records request to the Records Division.

Other Police Record Resources

If you need California criminal history, contact the California Department of Justice. You can request your own record for a $25 fee. This shows all arrests and convictions statewide. It includes Los Angeles cases and records from other jurisdictions. The DOJ requires fingerprints and a completed application form. Mail your request to PO BOX 160207, Sacramento, CA 95816-0207. More information is at oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review.

For traffic collision reports from the California Highway Patrol, use the online system at crashes.chp.ca.gov. CHP handles crashes on state highways and freeways in Los Angeles. If your crash was on a city street, the LAPD has the report. The responding agency depends on where the crash happened. Check your insurance documents or call the Records Division to confirm which agency has your report.

Legal aid services in Los Angeles can help with records requests and appeals. Contact the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles at (800) 399-4529. They serve low-income residents across the county. They can advise you on your rights under the California Public Records Act. They also help with expungements and record sealing if you qualify. The Los Angeles Public Defender also has resources for people with criminal records who need legal help.

Police Records in Nearby Cities

Other large cities near Los Angeles have their own police departments with records divisions. Each city has its own procedures and fees for public records requests.

You can also view Los Angeles County Police Records for information about the Sheriff's Department, which serves unincorporated areas and contract cities in the county.