- 1). Delineate the information you have. To look up a police record, you will need to know the date on which the crime was committed or the date the police report (if it was determined that no crime was in fact committed) was filed. Some police stations may have computerized databases that can cross-reference records by keyword or name, but others will not; knowing the date of the record you need will make it easier to find, even if the file is still in paper form.
- 2). Call the police station. Speaking to officers at the police station may be the easiest way to find police records. However, you must be sure which station to call; checking the jurisdictions of various stations before calling can help you narrow down your options. Depending on the station's policies, you may not be able to get the information, particularly if it pertains to an ongoing investigation. However, if you have a valid reason for needing to see the records, the police may allow you to do so.
- 3). Go to the court library. If the case is old, the police no longer have the records, or they simply can't find them, research related court cases that the record pertains to. Most counties have a city hall or a courthouse library where these cases are filed, and these files often contain records of police records, sometimes citing them. These records may be open to the public, but usually require proof of identification and residency before you can have access to them.
- 4). Research on the Internet. As a last resort, you can cross-check information on the Internet. However, it can be difficult to find the exact information you need, especially if you are unsure of the facts of the case that you are looking into. In addition, many services that claim they are free end up charging you a fee to see the records, and can involve lengthy searches with little results for this reason.
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