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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Court and Legal Support

    What Happens After Reporting a Crime

    If you are a victim of a crime, please consider reporting the incident to the police. Victim Advocates can assist you with the reporting process.

    Your Rights as a Victim
    Find Help Near You

    Reporting a Crime 

    Reporting a crime is the best avenue to increase the likelihood that the offender is arrested.

    If you want to speak to someone before you do this, your local Victim Service Agency  can offer you help and support. If you choose not to report the crime, it is still important to talk about the situation with someone you trust. 

    How to Report a Crime

    If this is an emergency, dial 911.

    Tell the police exactly what happened. Something that might seem like a small detail could be important. The more you tell the police, the more help you will be giving them to solve the crime. If you have any concerns, especially about your safety, you should let the police know immediately.

    For non-emergency calls, you may contact your local police department or the Pennsylvania State Police

    State Police Directory

    What Happens After a Crime is Reported

    1. 1

      Police will contact you

      After reporting a crime, police will investigate and may contact you at home, the police station, or the crime scene. If you’re injured and at a hospital, they may visit you there. Typically, a uniformed officer will speak with you first. For sensitive crimes, like sexual offenses, you can request an officer of the same sex.

    2. 2

      You will be asked to provide a statement

      You will be asked to provide a statement, and the police will give you a notification booklet with your incident number and important information. Keep this booklet, as you may need it for insurance, a victims compensation claim, or future police communication.

    3. 3

      To aid their investigation, police will ask for:

      • Descriptions of those involved
      • Witness names or descriptions
      • Vehicle license plate numbers
      • Identifying marks or serial numbers of stolen property
    4. 4

      Police will collect evidence

      They may also collect evidence from the crime scene, such as fingerprints or photos, handled sensitively. If injured, medical evidence may also be gathered.

    5. 5

      Reminder

      While officers are trained to assist victims, interviews can take time. If you feel upset, you can request a break, and police may need to speak with you multiple times.

    What Happens After You Have Been Interviewed?

    After you have been interviewed, you may not hear from the police for some time. If you want to know how your case is going, you can contact the police officer listed on your notification booklet. You will be asked to provide the incident number found in your notification booklet to help the officer easily find your case.

    Not all cases are resolved. Sometimes a suspect is not found or there is not enough evidence for the police to take more action. For some crimes, the police may write a summary citation that is handled at the Magisterial District Judge Court level. If the police think there is enough evidence to take the case to court, they will start the prosecution process.