Request Police Use of Force Records - New York City

Public Safety New York 3 Minutes Read ยท published February 02, 2026 Flag of New York

In New York City, New York, members of the public can request police use-of-force records through the city’s open records process. This guide explains who enforces access, what records may be available, how to make a request, realistic timelines, and how to appeal denials. It covers official city resources and action steps for requesting incident reports, aggregated datasets, and published use-of-force reports.

What records are covered

Requests commonly seek incident reports, internal use-of-force packages, body-worn camera footage, aggregated datasets, and agency-published reports. Availability depends on exemptions for ongoing investigations, personnel privacy, or active disciplinary processes; check agency guidance when you submit a request.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement of open-records access in New York City generally proceeds through administrative review and, if necessary, judicial enforcement. Remedies, timelines, and fees vary by agency. If a city agency denies a request, requesters may seek review or file a lawsuit in state court to compel disclosure. Where specifics (fines, statutory penalties, or exact time limits) are not published on the agency page cited below, the entry notes that the figure is not specified on the cited page.

  • Enforcer: NYC Department of Records & Information Services (DORIS) administers city open-records guidance; courts may order disclosure.
  • Complaints and appeals: file an internal appeal with the responding agency, then consider judicial review; see official DORIS guidance[1].
  • Fines/penalties: not specified on the cited page.
  • Response timeframes: specific statutory deadlines or escalation schedules are not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: court orders to disclose, injunctions, and records production orders are the typical remedies.
If an agency denies access, you can generally appeal administratively and then seek a court order.

Applications & Forms

Most requests use a FOIL/open-records request form or an email to the agency records unit. The city records office publishes guidance and a recommended submission method; individual agencies may host request forms for records specific to their operations. If a specific, named form or fee is required by the agency for use-of-force records, that information is not specified on the cited page.

How to request police use-of-force records

Follow these steps to make a well-formed request: describe the records (dates, locations, names or internal report numbers), state preferred format, and indicate any expedited need. Include contact information for responses and follow agency instructions on submitting FOIL/open-records requests.

  • Include as much detail as possible: incident date, precinct, report number, and subject names.
  • Request specific formats (PDF, video, dataset) and ask for any redactions to be explained.
  • Be explicit about scope and date range to reduce back-and-forth clarifications.
Clear, narrow requests increase the chances of a timely and complete response.

Records that agencies commonly release

  • Published use-of-force reports and aggregate datasets.
  • Incident and arrest reports, subject to redaction for privacy.
  • Disciplinary outcome information may be limited by personnel rules or ongoing investigations.
Public agencies often publish aggregate use-of-force data separately from individual incident files.

Action steps

  • Prepare a written FOIL/open-records request with incident details and preferred delivery format.
  • Submit the request to the agency records unit; follow the city records guidance for appeals and contacts[1].
  • If denied, file an administrative appeal and consider judicial review in state court.

FAQ

How long will it take to get records?
Response times vary by agency and request complexity; the cited city records page does not specify exact statutory deadlines for these requests.
Are body-worn camera videos available?
They may be available but are often subject to redaction or exemption for investigations; check the agency’s procedures and cite your reason for public interest.
Do I have to pay fees?
Agencies may charge reproduction fees; specific fee schedules are not specified on the cited page and should be confirmed with the responding agency.

How-To

  1. Identify the records you need: date, location, and any report numbers.
  2. Draft a clear FOIL/open-records request describing records and preferred format.
  3. Submit the request to the agency’s records unit by email or portal as listed on the agency page.
  4. Track the agency response and ask for clarification if the scope is limited.
  5. If denied, file an administrative appeal pursuant to the agency guidance, then consider court review.
  6. Pay any lawful reproduction fees or request fee waivers if applicable.

Key Takeaways

  • Specify incident details and format in your request to avoid delays.
  • Expect redactions for privacy or active investigations; appeals and court orders are remedies.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] NYC Department of Records - FOIL & Open Records guidance

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