What to expect when making a police report

How to make a police report and what to expect

Making a police report involves reporting to a law enforcement officer. This could be a local police officer or sheriff’s office. You can call the police department number or walk into a police department. You can expect some of the following when you make a report:

• The law enforcement officer is going to ask you for all the details about what happened to you or what you witnessed.
• The report is not confidential and during the investigation, the people named in the report either as abusers or witnesses can be contacted.
• You can ask to remain anonymous. Be sure to ask what that means for your case.
• You can bring an advocate or support person with you.
• You can ask for language interpretation.
• You can ask questions about the timeline and process and anything else you are concerned about.
• You should get a contact number so that if you remember anything else, you can follow up.
• You can ask about your safety and ask for help if you are in fear of harm.
• If you are asked whether you want to press charges or not. This means they want to know if you want to make this a formal report of a crime, and it implies that you will cooperate with law enforcement during the investigation.
  • Note: You can always change your mind about the level of response you want to provide and work with law enforcement. In some cases, there is not enough evidence to proceed without the victim/survivor/witness giving testimony.
    Law enforcement officers should have access to resources and connections for victim services and victim/witness compensation.
• Law enforcement officers may ask if you want to have a forensic medical exam done, even if time has passed since the abuse. See more here.
• Law enforcement officers may ask to collect evidence for the case. This can include clothing worn or screen shots of text messages on your phone you can share. These forms of evidence can be used to corroborate the testimony provided.

Questions you can ask when you file a police report

You can ask questions and get clarity about the report and investigation process from officers. Here are some sample questions to ask:

• What happens next, and how long will it take?
• Do you take reports on crimes like this?
• Have you had trauma-informed training and what did it entail?
• What options do I have about being unnamed/anonymous in this process?
• Who do I contact if I remember something after reporting?
• What is your name, badge number, and contact number?
• What rights do I have as a victim?
• If I become worried about harm or retaliation, what can I do? Can I obtain a restraining order or other form of protection?

Rights You Might Have as a Victim/Survivor

Many states have protections in their laws for victims. Victims’ rights laws protect victims’ access to justice, provide notice about the proceedings, and support protections for victims, including victim compensation.

In cases of federal law, the Crime Victims Rights Act includes the following protections:

• The right to be reasonably protected from the accused.
• The right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any public court proceeding, or any parole proceeding, involving the crime or of any release or escape of the accused.
• The right not to be excluded from any such public court proceeding, unless the court, after receiving clear and convincing evidence, determines that testimony by the victim would be materially altered if the victim heard other testimony at that proceeding.
• The right to be reasonably heard at any public proceeding in the district court involving release, plea, sentencing, or any parole proceeding.
• The reasonable right to confer with the attorney for the Government in the case.
• The right to full and timely restitution as provided in law.
• The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay.
• The right to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim’s dignity and privacy.
• The right to be informed in a timely manner of any plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement.
• The right to be informed of the rights under this section and the services described in section 503(c) of the Victims’ Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 10607(c)) and provided contact information for the Office of the Victims’ Rights Ombudsman of the Department of Justice. The Victims’ Rights Ombudsman may be contacted at [email protected] if you believe a Department of Justice employee has failed to provide you rights under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act.”
• From US Department of Justice, https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-vns/victim-rights-derechos-de-las-v-ctimas

There are supports available when contacting the police

You can access support with local crime victim law centers. This includes legal support, understanding your state’s laws and processes, and the specific rights you have as a victim.

You can also search for local crime victims’ services on the Office of Victims of Crime Directory created by the US Department of Justice:
https://ovc.ojp.gov/directory-crime-victim-services