Step 1: To obtain a police report, it is recommended that you first send an inquiry email to the Records Unit at [email protected] to confirm if the report is eligible for release. A report may be exempt from release pursuant to California Government Codes §7923.600. Additionally, if the case involves an arrest, the report may not be eligible for release until the matter has been fully adjudicated by the court.

Your email must include your full name, date of birth, case number, if known, and a brief description of the incident. By completing this initial step, we are able to confirm if the requested report is available and/or eligible for release while also avoiding unnecessary charges and refund processing.

What is the process?

If you complete Step 1, you will be notified via email if your report is available and eligible for release. If it is available and eligible, you may now proceed to the next steps. If you did not complete Step 1, please begin with Step 2. 

Step 2: Complete the Report Request Application Form and pay the required $25 processing fee. This form may be submitted via mail, email, or fax and must be accompanied by proof of payment and a notarized signature verification or a copy of  the front and back of a valid government-issued identification to confirm the identity of the requester. 

After processing, we will respond to your request via your preferred receiving method; by mail, email, or fax.          

Please send requests via one of the following options:

Mail:  University Police, Records
5500 Campanile Dr.
San Diego, CA 92182
 
Email: [email protected] 
 
Fax:  619-594-8208

How long will it take to process my request? 

Please allow up to 10 days for processing. 

Can I come in-person to drop-off or pick-up my report request?

In-person drop-offs or pick-ups are only available by appointment during the hours of 10:00 a.m and 2:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. We follow a strict 10-minute grace period for late arrivals. If you are more than 10 minutes late, your appointment will need to be rescheduled. Please email [email protected] to cancel or reschedule your appointment, or to change your method of delivery.

Please note that in-person requests follow the same 10 day processing timeframe as requests submitted by mail, email, or fax.

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Records will not be shared with parents of students or individuals who are 18 or older without proper legal authorization.

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Notice to Parents and Legal Guardians: 

Police and traffic accident reports are only released under specific conditions in accordance with applicable laws. To be eligible to receive a copy of a report, you must be an involved party or the parent/legal guardian of a minor who was directly involved in the incident. 

An “involved party” refers to individuals such as the victim, reporting party, mentioned party, driver, or registered owner. If none of the aforementioned categories apply to you, your request will be denied unless there are legal exemptions that qualify you to request the report on behalf of the involved party. 

Note that all report requests must be accompanied by valid government-issued identification to verify your identity and eligibility, proof of payment, and a notarized signature verification of applicable proper legal documentation. Reports will only be released if they are deemed eligible for release and requested with proof of legal authority. 

If you believe you qualify for a legal exemption and are able to provide proof of such exemption, please refer to the “I have filed a police report and would like a copy” FAQ of this Police Reports section. 

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Police and traffic accident reports are only released under specific conditions in accordance with applicable laws. To be eligible to receive a copy of a report, you must be an involved party, the parent/legal guardian of a minor, or legal representative of someone who was directly involved in the incident.

An “involved party” refers to individuals such as the victim, reporting party, mentioned party, driver, or registered owner. If none of the aforementioned categories apply to you, your request will be denied unless there are legal exemptions that qualify you to request the report on behalf of the involved party.

Note that all report requests must be accompanied by valid government-issued identification to verify your identity and eligibility, proof of payment, and a notarized signature verification of applicable proper legal documentation. Reports will only be released if they are deemed eligible for release and requested with proof of legal authority. 

If you believe you qualify for a legal exemption and are able to provide proof of such exemption, please refer to the “I have filed a police report and would like a copy” FAQ of this Police Reports section. 

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To confirm whether an incident was documented or a case report was taken by the University Police Department, please send an inquiry email to [email protected]. Your email must include your full name, date of birth, date of the incident or date of reporting, and a brief description of what occurred. Our team will review the information provided and respond with confirmation of whether the incident or case was recorded by UPD.

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Please note that a Clearance Letter is not the same as a background request. A Clearance Letter is an official document issued by our agency stating whether an individual has any history of police involvement within our jurisdiction. Students may select this option if they are attempting to study or work internationally. 

To request a Clearance Letter, please complete the Clearance Letter Request Form and submit it with a notarized signature verification or a high-quality photo of the front and back of your government-issued identification. 

After processing, we will respond to your request via your preferred receiving method; by mail, email, or fax. 

Please send requests via one of the following options:

Mail:  University Police, Records
5500 Campanile Dr.
San Diego, CA 92182

Email: [email protected] 
Fax:  619-594-8208

How long will it take to process my request? 

Please allow up to 10 days for processing. 

Can I come in-person to drop-off or pick-up my request?

In-person drop-offs or pick-ups are only available by appointment during the hours of 10:00 a.m and 2:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. We follow a strict 10-minute grace period for late arrivals. If you are more than 10 minutes late, your appointment will need to be rescheduled. Please email [email protected] to cancel or reschedule your appointment, or to change your method of delivery.

Please note that in-person requests follow the same 10 day processing timeframe as requests submitted by mail, email, or fax.

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All law enforcement personnel, background investigators, and backgrounds agencies must complete a Background Request Form and submit it with a Background Check Authorization or Release form. If you have your own Background Request Release form, you may submit it with the applicable candidate’s release form. 

Record check requests can be submitted via mail, email, web form, or fax. Upon receipt, we will process your request and return it via your preferred receiving method; by mail, email, web form, or fax.          

Please send requests via one of the following options:

Mail:  University Police, Records
5500 Campanile Dr.
San Diego, CA 92182

Email: [email protected] 
Fax:  619-594-8208

How long will it take to process my request? 

Please allow up to 10 days for processing. 

Can I come in-person to drop-off or pick-up my report request?

In-person drop-offs or pick-ups are only available by appointment during the hours of 10:00 a.m and 2:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. We follow a strict 10-minute grace period for late arrivals. If you are more than 10 minutes late, your appointment will need to be rescheduled. Please email [email protected] to cancel or reschedule your appointment, or to change your method of delivery.

Please note that in-person requests follow the same 10 day processing timeframe as requests submitted by mail, email, webform, or fax.

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To confirm whether an incident was documented, a case was taken, or a person was contacted by the University Police Department, please send an inquiry email to [email protected]. Your email must include your full name, agency, position, badge number, reason for inquiry (right-to-know), and contact information. If your inquiry is specific to a person of interest, also include the full name, date of birth, and date of contact of the person involved. Our team will review the information provided and respond with confirmation of whether any applicable incidents or cases are found.

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To serve a subpoena, please make an appointment with the Records Supervisor at 619-594-1986 or [email protected].

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Please visit the University Police Department’s Public Information Portal for public safety information.

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To request public records under the California Public Records Act (CPRA), please submit your written request via mail, email, or fax. Requests should be as clear and detailed as possible, and include any helpful information specific to what you are seeking. If there are no responsive records, you will be notified in writing of this information. 

Additionally, please note that not all records are subject to release or may require redaction. Under California Government Codes §§7920.000–7931.000, certain records or specific details therein may be exempt from disclosure for reasons including, but not limited to: protecting personal privacy, maintaining the integrity of an ongoing investigation, or preserving attorney-client privilege. If any portion of your request is denied, we will provide a written explanation citing the applicable code(s) of exemption.

Mail:  University Police, Records
5500 Campanile Dr.
San Diego, CA 92182
 
Email: [email protected] 
Fax:  619-594-8208

For additional California Public Records Act request resources. 

How long do public records requests take to process?

Under the CPRA, UPD has 10 days to evaluate for responsive records, determine whether the records are eligible for release, and respond to the requestor with an estimated date of when the record(s) will be available. Note that the law does not require the records to be released within the initial 10-day period—only the decision. In some cases, this deadline may be extended an additional 14 days if there are “unusual circumstances,” as defined in California Government Code §7922.535. 

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Please visit UPD’s Media Contacts page for our Public Information Officer’s contact details and other resources.

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