Friday, March 28, 2014

California Police Reports

By Ben Kingsley


Found in the west coast of the United States, the state of California is occupied by over 37 million people, making it without question the most populated state in the country. The California police records that are documented in this state are perhaps among the largest in the US. However, even though the wide collection of criminal data is virtually undeniable, the federal and state governments has made it relatively easy for the general public to gain access to such information.

Just like in other states, there are rules and regulations that one must follow when attempting to acquire criminal history profiles. The California Department of Justice is the government agency responsible for the proper maintenance and dissemination of all criminal information for the state. All criminal data coming from the state's courts and law enforcement agencies go through this department for storage and future reference.

Having a direct affiliation to the Attorney General's office, the California Department of Justice makes for an excellent source of police reports and other criminal history information, as it is comprised mostly of the state's court system. All requests that go through the department are processed via a fingerprint-based search to make sure that the results are as accurate as possible. But as part of the procedure, all applicants must have their fingerprints taken as well.

Before you can gain access to your California police records, you must first download a Live Scan Form from the Department of Justice's website. You will then have to specify "Record Review" as the application type by checking the designated space. Afterwards, you must take the form to your local police department so you can have your fingerprints taken. Fingerprinting costs may vary between law enforcement agencies, but a $25 processing fee goes to the DOJ.

The kind of accounts the California Department of Justice is keeping includes documents pertaining to misdemeanor and felony arrests, convictions, detentions and dispositions. All of which are gathered from the state's courts and law enforcement agencies. These records will be kept and maintained in the agency's system until the subject turns 100 years old. Unfortunately, only law enforcement officials and approved employers and licensers are permitted access to third party accounts.

Luckily, because open criminal history accounts and police reports are accessible by the general public, commercial record providers and data search websites will most definitely make excellent search options. Given that such resource is relatively new and perhaps unconventional, government information services are sometimes impractical and inefficient with the rules and requirements they impose. In comparison, data search websites will only require a one-time membership fee in exchange for its services. Users and members can practically run criminal history searches anytime and anywhere without restrictions or delays.




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