Many victims want to get a copy of the law enforcement incident report following a crime. Sometimes, they face difficulties, such as being told the report cannot be released, getting only a brief report, or getting a report with information blocked out.

When individuals request a copy of a “police report” or “incident report” or “investigative report” from a law enforcement agency, they are asking for law enforcement data. An individual’s ability to request and obtain law enforcement data is governed by the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA).The section of the MGDPA that governs law enforcement data is section 13.82. The Data Practices Office website is a helpful source of information about the MGDPA.

The following section explains how and when victims can get a copy of their police report.