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Part II, Step 5: Try to Obtain Additional Documents to Support your Case
Get a copy of your police report
To get a copy of your police report, you need to ask the police
who investigated the crime. This is the same police department
that signed the Supp-B.
Most police departments ask you to ll out a form to get a
copy of your police report. You might ask someone outside
of detention to check the website of the
police department. It will explain how to
get the form and ll it out, and where to
send it. Or, you or someone helping you
can call the police department and nd
out how to get a form for requesting a
police report.
Some police departments make you send
a stamped envelope, so they can send
the form back to you. Some also charge a
small fee.
If you are unable to get the police
department’s form for requesting records,
then write a letter. In the letter say that
you were the victim of a crime which they
investigated. Explain that you cannot
send them the form because you are in
immigration detention. Give the police
this information:
• your full name, sex, and date of birth
• the time and place that the crime
happened
• the names of any witnesses
• the names of any suspects
• the police report number, if you know it
• anything else you think will help nd the report
Attached at Appendix 7 is a sample letter to the police. You
can use this letter to try to get your police report.
Get a copy of the court records
If the police charged someone with a crime against you, you
can ask the court for records of the case.
The clerk of the court handles the court records. But dierent
clerks have dierent rules. Sometimes they ask you to ll out
a form. Sometimes they ask for a fee. If you have someone
helping you, get them to visit the court’s
website and nd out how to ask for
records.
Often, a rst step in getting the court
records is nding the case number. Once
you have this number, it is much easier to
ask for copies of the court records. Some
court websites let you search for the case
number using the name of the person
who harmed you—called the defendant.
Otherwise, see if you can get help from
someone outside of detention to visit the
court to ask how to nd the case number
and get a copy of the court records.
They should be ready to tell the clerk the
name of the defendant (if you know it),
and around when the charges were led.
They should ask for a copy of all the court
records, including the complaint, the plea,
the disposition, the judgment, and all the
minute orders.
If you do not have anyone to help you, you
can write to the clerk of the court to ask
for a copy of the records. Explain that you
were the victim of the crime. Say that you are in immigration
detention.
Tell the clerk:
• the defendant’s name and date of birth, if you know it
• the case number, if you know it
• the date that charges were led, as nearly as you can
remember
• your detention address
• that you would like a copy of the complaint, the disposition,
and any minute orders that show a conviction.
Call the court to nd out the address to send your letter. Tell
the clerk what you have written, and make sure it is enough for
them to help you.
Often, court records are destroyed after a certain time. Do not
worry if you cannot get a copy of the records: they are very
useful, but they are not essential.
Finding phone numbers
and addresses
In detention, it can be hard to nd phone
numbers and addresses. You could try
asking a deputy if there is a telephone
directory you could use. But often, the
easiest way is to get help from outside.
Make a list of phone numbers you want:
these might include police departments,
courts, and doctors. Then think of a friend
or relative who could look them up for
you. Or ask someone else in detention if
they could phone a friend and nd them
out for you.
When you have the phone numbers, call
and ask for the address yourself. That way,
you can be sure your letter will be sent to
the right place.