Are police reports and arrest records public information?
Police reports and arrest records except for confidential information or information that is part of an on-going investigation would be public record. For example, a victim’s name and address or the name of a minor who has been arrested would be blocked out and could not be viewed on the police report or arrest record.
Yes. The vast majority of arrests and incidents handled by police must be entered into a daily blotter that be be viewed by the public. Some agencies even put their’s online. According to state and federal Freedom of Information Laws, public taxpayer-funded agencies are required to share documents that detail their finances and daily activities. There are a few exemptions. For example, an ongoing investigation might not be in the blotter if allowing the public to see information on it would jeopardize the case. There are also provisions for protecting witnesses in certain cases. In some counties or states, police might not disclose the names of minor who are arrested on non-felony charges.
