Simi Valley Police Records
Police records for Simi Valley are maintained by the Simi Valley Police Department. This agency handles all law enforcement within city limits and creates reports for arrests, incidents, and traffic crashes. Simi Valley is in Ventura County. The police department has a records division that processes public requests under California law. You can submit requests by mail, email, or in person. The agency responds within ten days per the California Public Records Act. Most records are ready within two weeks of your request for Simi Valley police records.
Simi Valley Quick Facts
Simi Valley Police Department
The Simi Valley Police Department serves the city with patrol, investigations, and records services. Officers respond to calls throughout Simi Valley and create incident reports for all types of cases. The department handles everything from traffic stops to serious crimes. All reports become part of the records system maintained by the police department in Simi Valley.
The records division processes public records requests. You can contact them by phone or visit in person during business hours. Most people submit written requests by mail or email. The address and contact information are used for records requests. Provide as much detail as you can about the incident to help staff locate your report in Simi Valley.
| Agency | Simi Valley Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 3901 Alamo Street Simi Valley, CA 93063 |
| Phone | (805) 583-6950 |
| Records Division | Contact through main number |
| Website | simivalley.org/police |
Simi Valley is in Ventura County. The Ventura County Sheriff provides law enforcement for unincorporated areas and some smaller cities. If your incident occurred outside Simi Valley city limits, contact the sheriff at 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura, CA 93009. Call them at 805-654-2336 for questions about sheriff records from areas near Simi Valley.
How to Request Police Records
To request police records from Simi Valley, you need to contact the police department records division. Include the date of the incident, location in Simi Valley, names of people involved, and the type of report you need. Case numbers help if you have one. Without a case number, staff can search by name and date to find your records from Simi Valley.
The California Public Records Act in Government Code Sections 7920-7931 gives you the right to request police records. The agency has ten calendar days to respond. They can take a 14-day extension if needed. The initial response tells you if they have the records and when they will be ready. Not all records can be released under state law in Simi Valley.
You cannot get arrest reports if you are the suspect. California law under Government Code Section 6254 exempts these from release to arrested persons. Victims and involved parties can usually get incident reports. Traffic collision reports are available to drivers, passengers, vehicle owners, and insurance companies under Vehicle Code Section 20012. Most collision reports in Simi Valley are ready within seven to ten days.
The Ventura County Sheriff has a records division that handles requests for sheriff reports. Call them at 805-654-2336 or email vcso.publicrecordsrequests@ventura.org. The sheriff charges $20 for reports, photos, and clearance letters. These fees apply to sheriff records from unincorporated areas near Simi Valley. City police may have different fees for their records.
Note: The sheriff may take up to ten calendar days to respond to records requests per state law.
Types of Records Available
Arrest records are created when someone is booked into custody in Simi Valley. The booking log includes the person's name, booking date, charges, and bail amount. These logs are public under California law. Booking information does not prove guilt. Charges may be dropped or dismissed later. You can request arrest information from the police department or the county jail in Simi Valley cases.
Incident reports document crimes and calls for service in Simi Valley. An officer writes a report after investigating an incident. The report shows what happened, who was involved, witness statements, and the officer's actions. You can request a copy if you were a victim or party involved. The department will not release reports to suspects in active investigations. Closed case files may be available depending on the crime type in Simi Valley.
Traffic collision reports are created when officers respond to crashes in Simi Valley. These reports show the date, time, location, vehicles involved, drivers, and injuries. The law requires police to give copies to involved parties. Most reports are ready in one to two weeks. You can request these from the police department records division. Some crashes on state highways may be handled by the California Highway Patrol instead of city police in Simi Valley.
Body camera footage is generally exempt from public disclosure in California. However, critical incident footage must be released under Government Code Section 7923.625. This includes officer-involved shootings and serious use of force. The agency has 45 days to provide the footage. Other body cam video from routine calls is not subject to release under the Public Records Act in Simi Valley.
Record Fees and Timelines
The Simi Valley Police Department may charge fees for police records. Fee amounts depend on the type of record and whether you need a certified copy. Some agencies provide digital copies at no cost. Others charge per page for printed copies. Contact the police department at 805-583-6950 to ask about current fees before you submit a request for Simi Valley police records.
The Ventura County Sheriff charges $20 for reports, photos, and clearance letters. These fees apply to sheriff records from areas outside city limits near Simi Valley. Payment methods and processing times may vary. Call the sheriff records division at 805-654-2336 to confirm costs and payment options for sheriff records.
Processing times vary based on request complexity. Simple incident reports often take one to two weeks. Complex requests with multiple files can take longer. The ten-day response deadline is just the initial response. The agency will tell you when your records will be ready. Follow up if you do not hear back within the time they quoted for Simi Valley police records.
Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking get free copies of their incident reports under California law. The agency must provide these within five days at no charge. You may need to show proof that you were the victim. This applies to both city police and county sheriff records in Simi Valley.
Other Record Sources
The California Department of Justice maintains statewide criminal history records. You can request your own record for $25 through the DOJ Record Review Unit. The process requires fingerprints. Mail your application to PO BOX 160207, Sacramento, CA 95816-0207. Visit oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review for forms. This gives you a complete state record including arrests or convictions from Simi Valley.
The California Highway Patrol handles crash reports for incidents on state highways. You can request reports online at crashes.chp.ca.gov. Only parties of interest can get copies. This includes drivers, passengers, vehicle owners, and insurance companies. The CHP serves Highway 118 and other state routes near Simi Valley. For crashes on city streets, contact the police department instead.
Ventura County Superior Court keeps criminal case files for prosecutions in Simi Valley. You can search cases online through the court website. Court records include filings, hearings, and judgments. These are separate from police reports but may contain related information. Contact the court clerk for copies of documents from Simi Valley criminal cases.
Ventura County Police Records
Simi Valley is in Ventura County. The county sheriff provides law enforcement for unincorporated areas and contract cities. For county records, sheriff services, and fee schedules, visit the Ventura County police records page.