Core 1010 Report writing Flashcards
PURPOSE AND USE OF FIELD NOTES CORE. 1 0 1 0 . 1 0 1 The cadet will list the reasons for taking effective field notes and identify the various uses of field notes as an investigative aid. Field notes can help to determine if a crime has been committed.
♦ Field notes often contain information not detailed in a report
♦ Field notes provide a basis for building a report
♦ Field notes may be subpoenaed into court by both defense and prosecution
♦ Field notes must be legible and organized
The cadet will identify the key components of field notes, to include:
♦ Names of suspects, victims, and witnesses
♦ Names of officers and other individuals who assist in the investigation
♦ Important dates and times
♦ Locations
♦ Circumstances of crime or incident
♦ Additional information as necessary
The cadet will recall the purpose of effective investigative reports, define what an investigative report is, and state the legal requirements for filing an accurate investigative report.
♦ The purpose of an investigative report is to accurately record facts establishing each element of a crime and listing the evidence which links a specific suspect to that crime
- An investigative report is a report prepared by a peace officer used to record in detail the officer’s observations and actions as they relate to a specific event or incident
- Legal consequences for failure to report a crime or knowingly submitting a false law enforcement report are established by 76-8-504.6 – False or misleading information
USE OF INVEST IGAT IVE REPORTS CORE. 1 0 1 0 . 1 0 4 The cadet will list the following uses for an investigative report:
♦ Record facts into a permanent record ♦ Provide investigative leads ♦ Provide a source for officer evaluation ♦ Assist officers prior to, or during, court appearances ♦ Provide statistical data ♦ Serve as reference material
The cadet will list the following prospective users of investigative reports:
♦ Immediate supervisors and field training officers ♦ Detectives/investigators ♦ Representatives of other law enforcement agencies ♦ Prosecutors, defense attorneys, and other attorneys ♦ Parole, probation, and corrections personnel ♦ Involved parties ♦ Media representatives ♦ Insurance agencies
COMPONENTS OF INVEST IGATIVE REPORTS CORE. 1 0 1 0 . 1 0 5 The cadet will identify the required components of an investigative report, to include:
♦ Contain the facts needed to establish that a crime has been committed and all actions taken by the peace officer(s) have been appropriate ♦ Identify the six primary questions (who, what, when, where, how, & why) to be answered in an investigative report
♦ Identify the fundamental content elements that are common within effective investigative reports, to include:
• Initial Information • Identification of the crime • Identification of involved parties • Victim/witness statements • Crime scene specifics • Property information • Officers actions and legal basis for actions taken
INVESTIGATI VE REPORTS FORMAT CORE. 1 0 1 0 . 1 0 6 The cadet will understand the format and organization of different styles of reports and identify elements required for producing effective investigative reports to be used in the judicial process.
♦ Mechanics of report writing include: • Proper use of grammar and punctuation • Report should be free of spelling errors • Construct strong, clear, and concise sentences with emphasis on writing in the active voice (first person) • Statements are objective and avoid conclusions • Appropriate use of paragraphs • Proper word selection to clearly convey information to the reader and avoid words that sound alike, but have different meanings
♦ The most common form of an investigative report is a combination of a category and narrative report
• This is the most common format because it encompasses all the advantages of the format styles
STANDARDIZED CITATIONS & REPORTS CORE. 1 0 1 0 . 1 0 7 During practical exercises and scenario training, the cadet will practice completing the following standardized citations and reports (Traffic Citation will be covered in more detail in PTRL.1060 Pedestrian/Vehicle Stop and Approach).
♦ DI-9 Traffic Accident (will be covered in more detail in INV.1100 Traffic Accident Investigation) ♦ DUI Report & Citation (will be covered in more detail in INTX.2010 DUI & Standardized Field Sobriety Testing)
The cadet will list the consequences when false or misleading information is intentionally used in any of the above mentioned law enforcement reports.
♦ Brady vs. Maryland 373 U.S. 83 (1963) • The Brady case was decided in 1963 and requires that all evidence be turned over to the suspect’s defense for examination. During this case, information was withheld from the criminal defendant that the Supreme Court held as material to both guilt and punishment. • This case in recent years has been cited by recent court decisions (Haney v. City of Los Angeles, 2003) to further include officers reports (in this case false daily logs) containing false information and the effect of future credibility when testifying under oath
♦ Giglio vs. United States 405 U.S. 150 (1972)
• The Supreme Court extended the obligation to share exculpatory information with the defendant to include information concerning the credibility of government witnesses
♦ Summary
• Since 1963, a series of U.S. Supreme Court decisions has clarified that, in a criminal case, prosecutors must disclose favorable evidence to the criminal defendant • This includes information that may be used to impeach the credibility of government witnesses, including law enforcement officers. These decisions mean that officers who have documented histories of lying in official matters, falsifying reports, or expressing bias may become even greater liabilities to their agencies because their records may render them unable to testify credibly and, consequently, unable to work effectively as law enforcement officers.
