How to look up and obtain a Chicago Police report
The worst happens to all of us. We become involved in or a victim of a traffic accident, a violent crime, or a fire, while trying to live our lives in Chicago. You talk to the police, and now you need to get a police report for insurance or legal purposes. So you pull up your phone and start searching how to get one online. It sounds straightforward, right? Well, not exactly. Obtaining a police report from the Chicago Police Department (CPD) involves a few more steps than one might expect. This article will guide you through the process, emphasizing the simplest path to getting the information you need.
Understanding the Process
Did you know that the Chicago Police Department does not offer a way to look up non-traffic crash police reports online? Yes, you read that right. In today's digital age, accessing a police report directly from your home computer or smartphone for most types of police reports is not an option. This might come as a surprise to many, especially considering how much of our daily tasks have moved online. Here are the online services that the Chicago Police Department does offer.
Did you or an officer file your police report?
If you had an interaction with a police officer, they may have filed a report for you. They should have left you with a Victim Information Report, that contains an R.D. number at the top right. This is the report number you will need to look up your report.
If not, you will need to file your police report with the City of Chicago Police Department. There are multiple ways to do this:
- Call 311, Chicago's non-emergency number. Some types of reports can be filed online. If you aren't sure, they can direct you to the best way to file your report.
- Visit your local police district/police station and file in person. You can find the nearest police district with the helpful lookup tool here. After filing, you should receive a copy of a Victim Information Report, or at least an R.D. number.
- File your police report online. You can learn more about how and where to do this in our resource how to file a police report online.
Whatever means you used to file the police report, you should have been left with an R.D. number. You will need this to look up your police report.
How to request your police report
Once you have an R.D. number, you can get your police report. If you need to obtain a traditional case report (not a traffic crash report), you have two options:
- Mail Your Request: Create a self-addressed stamped envelope and mail it to the following address:
Chicago Police Department
Records Inquiry and Customer Service Section, Unit 163
3510 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60653
Please be sure to include the following information:
1) The victim or reporting person’s name and address,
2) The type of location of incident
3) The RD number, (a report number given by the Police at the time the report was made)
4) Include in the letter:
a) self-addressed stamped envelope;
b) check or money order payable to the “Department of Revenue, City of Chicago” for $0.50 for a Case Report request, with the RD number listed in the memo field. - Visit the Headquarters: You can also choose to visit Records division at Central Police Headquarters, 3510 S. Michigan, 1st Floor, Room 1043, and order your police report in person. However, CPD has limited hours and no free parking. You'll have to take time off of work, pay for parking, find the right entrance, wait in multiple lines, and only then will you get your police report. For those that need the report right away, though, this is the only way to get it quickly.