Basic Report Info
During an officer's report preparation, this future type of testimony should ALWAYS be considered.
What is COURTROOM TESTIMONY?
This is the most common type of small notebook officers carry to capture daily activities.
What is a POCKET NOTEBOOK?
This type of report is an essential element for the officer, the prosecutor, and the jury to have in order to successfully prosecute the criminal.
What is the NARRATIVE CASE REPORT?
These types of crimes can be against people and property. They are typically lower level, non-violent crimes, but can still have significant impact on the victims.
What is a MISDEMEANOR
This type of form is used at a crime scene to document the evidence collected.
What is a CHAIN OF CUSTODY sheet/form?
The writing style of a case report must consider this type of audience
What is WIDE and VARIED
It is important that these are spelled correctly in officer's notebooks.
What are NAMES?
This is the order in which a narrative case report is completed.
What is CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER?
This type of loss to the victim is typically what distinguishes a misdemeanor from a felony property crime.
What is FINANCIAL LOSS?
What is EVIDENCE?
Officer's case reports should include facts and observations, but should never include this/these.
What is an ASSUMPTION?
These two types of note taking should be used with caution due to technical difficulties, be used as a supplement, and are considered to be legal documents that can be subpoenaed into court.
What are AUDIO and VISUAL?
This part of the report documents what happened at the incident and what actions the officer took.
What is the BODY or NARRATIVE?
As opposed to a make and model or color on a stolen TV, a 'Z' Shaped crack on a TV screen would be an example of this type of characteristic.
What is a UNIQUE CHARACTERISTIC
Before the officer provides this, he/she should meet with the prosecutor (District Attorney's Office) informing them about the facts of the case, the strengths and weaknesses of the case, and any other concerns the officer has.
What is TESTIMONY?
This person typically reviews the completed police report.
Who is the first line supervisor?
These types of notes are the first step in completing a professional report. They are comprised of key words and phrases that should be documented, and they are a permanent record that can be subpoenaed into court.
What are HANDWRITTEN notes?
This aspect of the report is determined strictly by the accurate and precise documentation of the incident.
What is the LENGTH of the report?
When an officer considers arresting a person for a misdemeanor crime, these MUST BE MET in accordance with the specific state statute.
What are ELEMENTS OF THE OFFENSE?
Known as the 5 "W's" and one "H"; important to include in all police reports.
What is WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY and HOW?
It is important for officers to follow these two 'P's' when considering individual agency requirements for completing case reports.
What is POLICY and PROCEDURES?
These types of errors may seem insignificant, but they can lead to legal ramifications in court.
What are GRAMMATICAL errors?
These types of reports are used when a follow up report or attachment needs to be added to the original report.
What is a SUPPLEMENT report?
Imprisonment for more than a year may apply to this type of crime.
What is a FELONY crime?
This special section at the beginning of a report may include:
Format: On DATE at TIME, WHO reported WHAT occurred WHERE. WHO stated WHAT
occurred DATE/TIME or DATE/TIMEFRAME.
What is an INTRODUCTORY SECTION?
These should be used sparingly in a police report, such as when a confession is made or when the interviewee is using profanity in order to capture the statement made.
What are QUOTES?
"My favorite pizza topping is mushrooms they are really tasty I also like pizza with olives." This is an example of this common grammatical error.
What is a RUN ON SENTENCE?
This person can provide the best source of information regarding a crime scene.
Who is the FIRST RESPONDING OFFICER?
All states have different statutes that focus on felony vs misdemeanor property crimes. This factor determines if it falls as a misdemeanor or felony.
What is The VALUE of the item taken/damaged?
Clear, Complete, Correct, Concise , Chronological Consistent, Past-tense, 1st Person, and Proofread are all examples of these.
PRINCIPLES OF REPORT WRITING
This type of obligation is required by officers reporting the facts of the case, even when they point away from your prime suspect.
What is an ETHICAL OBLIGATION?
Language used in this type of conversation is recommended for case reports.
What is DAILY CONVERSATION?
At a crime scene when victims, witnesses or suspects may be present, an officer may need to do this in order to gather the most accurate information.
What is SEPARATE the parties?
Identity theft, counterfeiting, and larceny would all be considered this type of crime.
What is a FELONY PROPERTY CRIME?
In police reports, we are always documenting information about events that have already occurred.
As a result, all of our action words (verbs) need to be written in this tense.
What is PAST TENSE?
Several common errors in report writing can include incorrect addresses, omission of the elements of the crime, and more commonly these types of errors.
What are GRAMMATICAL errors?
"The mother was holding her baby." is an example of the use of this kind of 'voice' in report writing.
What is ACTIVE VOICE?
One of the officers first priorities after making sure the scene is safe is to check for these.
What are INJURIES?
When assessing a crime of battery, for instance, this is the distinguishing factor between it being a misdemeanor or a felony crime.
It is always important for officers to tell this during courtroom testimony.
What is the TRUTH?