Citizen Services
Victims of Crime
Initial Decision: Filing a Police Report and Seeking Prosecution
- If you decide to pursue a criminal prosecution, you have a choice as to which type of police report to file. The type of report you choose to file is based on the type of crime committed and what you hope to accomplish.
If you intend to pursue criminal charges, the suspect has already been caught, or an arrest is likely, you may file a complaint, or “denuncia,” with the District Attorney’s office. The filing of this complaint formally starts the investigation with the objective of charging a suspect and going forward to trial. For law enforcement to act as quickly as possible, this complaint should be filed in the judicial district where the crime took place. The process of filing a complaint may take several hours. Many police stations will not have an English-speaking officer available to assist you. Although consular personnel may assist you with informal interpretation, they cannot act as official translators. They can assist you in finding an English-speaking attorney. - If you want to trigger an investigation, but pursuit of a criminal trial is not likely, you may still file a report called a “Reporte de Hechos” with the District Attorney’s office. You may need this type of report to pursue an insurance claim or for other purposes. Filing this type of complaint usually takes several hours as well.
If you do decide to file a report or "denuncia" for a serious crime, please provide a copy to the U.S. Embassy or closest U.S. Consulate in Mexico, accompanied by your address, telephone number, and email address in the event we need to communicate with you. While we are not authorized to act as your legal representative, prosecutor, or investigator, our office can help you track the progress of your case and advise you of any developments.