Reporting Crime to Police
Publication date: November 2025
Purpose of this Publication
This guide is for people who are victims of a crime and thinking about whether to report it to the police or not. Some survivors may want to report the crime to the police, and some may not. Reporting is a personal choice — there’s no right or wrong answer.
This guide covers things to think about when deciding whether to report to police. It will help you understand your options, so you can decide what is best for yourself. If you make the decision to report the crime to the police, this guide provides information about going through the reporting process and what to expect.
This publication is not a substitute for legal advice. Federal and state law can change at any time. Contact Disability Rights Oregon or consult with an attorney in your community if you need additional help.
Your Basic Rights
You have the right to be treated in a kind, fair, and respectful way when reporting to police. You also have the right to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations if you need them. You have these rights during the police investigation and if charges are filed by the District Attorney.
If you are in immediate danger …
If possible, remove yourself from the danger and go to a safe location.
If it is an emergency, you may call 911.
You may call a crisis hotline. There are several options depending on where you are located:
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is always available": 24 hours a day, every day of the week. The Lifeline is for people in any type of behavioral health crisis, such as:
Mental health-related distress
Thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or
Substance use crisis
Follow your safety plan, if you have one. If not, you may ask for help creating one. Domestic violence agencies in your area may be able to help.
Should you report to police?
Reporting to the police is a personal and sometimes difficult decision. This section lists some of the good and bad results that can happen when you report a crime to police. Think about each one before deciding what’s best for you.
Good Results
Seeking Justice
Reporting a crime may lead to arrest and prosecution in the criminal system, which can bring comfort and a sense of justice. You may feel stronger and more in control by speaking up and having your experience recognized, even if the criminal system isn't perfect.
Offender Accountability
If you want the person who harmed you to be held legally responsible in the criminal system, reporting to the police is the first step. There is not an alternative way to bring a criminal charge against someone.
Preventing Future Harm
Reporting may stop a perpetrator from hurting others and prevent future abuse.
Accessing Support and Resources
Police may connect you with resources like crisis services, housing support, or victim advocates. In Oregon, you may also qualify for financial help through the Crime Victim Compensation Program.
Our Crime Victim Compensation Program Know Your Rights Guide may answer your questions about what types of compensation are available and whether you are eligible.
Bad Results
Trauma
For some survivors, the justice system feels uncaring or intrusive. It’s not always emotionally safe or supportive, which can lead to feeling more traumatized.
Feeling Misunderstood
When you report to the police, you might feel like they do not understand you. This may be especially true if you are part of a group that often faces bias or unfair treatment. Feeling like you have to explain yourself over and over, or that you're not being taken seriously, can feel exhausting and insulting.
Lack of Control
If the police start investigating or the District Attorney charges someone with a crime, you might not be able to stop the case — even if you change your mind and no longer want the case to go forward. The State decides and you may not have any say in what happens, including what punishment the person who hurt you receives.
Slow Progress
The criminal justice system can be very slow. Investigations can take a long time. If the case goes to the District Attorney and is prosecuted, it might take months — or even years — for the perpetrator to be sentenced.
Safety Considerations
Reporting an abuser to the police can sometimes make things more dangerous, especially if the abuse is still happening. The abuser might become more violent and try to get back at you. If you live with the abuser, this can increase your risk of harm and may also affect your housing situation. Domestic violence agencies can help you make safety plans during and after the reporting process.
Not Getting the Outcome You Hoped For
The police might not act or respond the way you expect them to. If the case goes to court, there’s no promise the person who hurt you will be found guilty or get a punishment that feels fair or like justice.
Who do you report to?
If you decide to report to the police:
Call 911 if there is an immediate threat to your life or safety threat to life or safety.
Non-Emergencies: Find the local police for the area where the crime happened and contact the non-emergency phone number. This is usually easy to find with an online search engine.
Online Reporting: Certain crimes may be reported through an online form in some places. See your local police website for more information.
How should you prepare for talking with the police?
BRING Support People
You have a right to bring a support person when you make a report to police.
A support person can be someone like an advocate, direct support professional, friend, or family member. They can stay with you during the interview, help you feel calm and safe, take notes, and more. (Important: You should tell your story in your own words, and the support person should not speak for you or interrupt during the interview.
REQUEST ACCOMMODATIONS
You also have a right to other ADA accommodations if you need them. You can ask for help because of a disability. Some common types of help include: more time to answer questions, more time to think before responding, a sign language interpreter, or taking breaks often.
Some police agencies in the Portland-metro area have victim advocates to support you through the reporting process. A victim advocate can explain the process, answer questions, and connect you with resources.
PREPARE AND SHARE Important Information
During the interview with police, you will be asked several questions about the crime. It can help to prepare notes and make a list of what happened and when. Police often want to know dates, places, and if there are any witnesses or physical evidence, like photos.
Save Evidence
Keep any digital or physical evidence you have, like pictures, emails, or text messages. To help remember what happened, write it down, record a voice memo, or make a simple timeline of events.
What happens with talking with the police?
What happens when talking with the police varies by department. Talking to the police may feel emotional or intimidating, especially when sharing hard details about the crime. This section explains what to expect so you can feel more prepared.
Location Choice
You might have a choice about where you talk with the police. You can ask if the reporting can be done in person or over the phone.
Information Gathering
The police officer will focus on asking questions related to the crime. They may ask you many questions. Some will be open-ended questions and others will be more specific. Examples include:
“Tell me what happened.”
“What is your relationship with the other person?”
“Did anyone else see or hear anything?”
If you feel overwhelmed, it is OK to ask for a break.
If you don’t know the answer to a question, it is OK to say you don’t know the answer.
Case or Event Number
You can ask for the case or event number. This number can show that you made a report and make it easier to check on your case later. You can also use the number to apply for Crime Victim Compensation.
What happens next?
Sometimes the police take immediate action. However, for crimes that have already happened it is not uncommon to not hear from the police while they are investigating. It may take them longer than you expect to conduct an investigation. This section includes what to expect after making a report.
Crime Survivor Support Services
The police may give you information and resources. Examples include referrals to organizations that provide help with domestic violence and sexual assault, housing support, information about your rights as a victim, Crime Victim Compensation, and other community support services. These can be useful resources to help you move forward after a crime.
Next Steps in the Criminal Process
Investigation
The police may or may not investigate the crime. Investigation may include interviewing witnesses, collecting forensic evidence — such as sexual assault kits, digital evidence, and fingerprints — and getting warrants for more evidence. You should be ready to give a follow-up interview or answer additional questions if there is an investigation.
Arrest
After investigating the crime, the police decide whether they have enough evidence to make an arrest. Police must have “probable cause” that a crime has happened to arrest someone. “Probable cause” is a legal standard that means there is a reasonable basis to believe that a crime has been committed by the suspect.
Legal Process
After collecting information and evidence, police will review the case and decide if it should be sent to the District Attorney’s office. If the police believe there is enough evidence that a crime happened, they will send the case to the District Attorney (also called the prosecutor or the State). There is a District Attorney for each county in Oregon. The District Attorney decides whether or not to bring charges against the perpetrator after receiving a police report from the police.
At this stage, the District Attorney will review your case and decide if they will file charges against the suspect. They may choose not to file charges if they don’t believe they can prove the case “beyond a reasonable doubt,” which is the highest level of proof required in the U.S. justice system.
The District Attorney’s office may decide not to bring charges against the person who harmed you, but that is not a reflection on what happened to you. It is a legal decision and doesn’t mean that they don’t believe you or don’t believe what happened to you. If the District Attorney decides to bring charges, the next step may include bringing the case to a grand jury to officially bring charges in the criminal system.
Our Crime Survivor Rights in Plain Language Guide provides more details about your rights throughout the criminal process.
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NOTICE: This document is not intended as a substitute for legal advice. Federal and state law can change at any time. You may wish to contact Disability Rights Oregon or consult with an attorney in your community if you require further information.
