Documentation Report Writing

Question 1

Notes that can be more than the written word; include photographs, audio/video records, computer records, phone records, computer or any electronic device

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 1

LAW ENFORCEMENT NOTES

Question 2

Aid in memory when preparing narrative reports and to prepare for court testimony

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 2

PRIMARY USE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT NOTES

Question 3

Notes taken during an investigation and reports written based on notes taken during an investigation may be used while the investigator is on the witness stand if notes notes aid in the investigator’s memory. The witness and the prosector will request that the agent be allowed to review his/her notes, and it will be up to the discretion of the president judge whether to allow the witness to review the notes

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 3

USE OF NOTES

Question 4

Investigators notes must be maintained until all court actions, including appeals

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 4

HAVE BEEN COMPLETED

Question 5

Date and time entry, location the notes were made, the people present, page of item number, and body of facts (who, what when, where, why, and how)

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 5

ELEMENTS OF COMMONLY RECORDED LAW ENFORCEMENT NOTES

Question 6

When a direct quote is included in notes or a formal report, it should be identified as such with

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 6

QUOTATION MARKS

Question 7

The date and time the interview ______ and ______ should be recorded

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 7

STARTED; ENDED

Question 8

If a break in the interview occurs details as to the ______ and ______ of the break should be recorded.

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 8

LENGTH; PURPOSE;

Question 9

If a potential defendant is given ______ warnings, the advice of rights and waiver must be recorded as well

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 9

MIRANDA

Question 10

In both original note taking and narrative reports, investigators should describe evidence of ______________, not investigative techniques such as what type of monitoring device they used in an undercover transaction

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 10

POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS

Question 11

Each incident, such as information obtained via law enforcement records/intelligence, interviews, statements and enforcement actions are documented in individual reports

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 11

INCIDENT DRIVEN REPORTING

Question 12

The central purpose of all law enforcement writing is to ________ information to the reader

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 12

COMMUNICATE

Question 13

Accurate, Complete, Concise, Clear, Objective (Fairness)

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 13

5 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT NARRATIVE REPORT

Question 14

Requires correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and record of facts and details

Essential Element of a Law Enforcement Narrative Report

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 14

ACCURATE

Question 15

Contains all the information necessary to accomplish its purpose

Expect for confidential informants - should not be mentioned if possible

Essential Element of a Law Enforcement Narrative Report

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 15

COMPLETE

Question 16

Write in active voice which adds clarity to writing

When the doer of the action in the particular sentence is identified

Essential Element of a Law Enforcement Narrative Report

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 16

CONCISE

Question 17

Reports should be arranged logically, which gives readers a more clear impression of what is being reported, without requiring the reader to go back and forth in a report

Essential Element of a Law Enforcement Narrative Report

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 17

CLEAR

Question 18

Reports must be fair, objective, impartial, unbiased and unemotional, and language should be used which demonstrate the objectivity of the write.

Opinions, conclusions and rumors of the write should not be included in reports, but if they are relevant and material, they should never be included as facts

If hearsay is included, the writer must identify the source of the information and fully detail the content of any statement

Essential Element of a Law Enforcement Narrative Report

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 18

OBJECTIVE (FAIRNESS)

Question 19

A document prepared by the investigator to record the specifics of an investigative interview in which facts elected from an interviewee are presented in a logical, concise manner

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 19

MEMORANDUM OF INTERVIEW (MOI)

Question 20

Case name and number, name and address of interviewee, date and time of interview, location of interview, others present, name and title of interviewer

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 20

COMMON ELEMENTS OF MOI

Question 21

Hearsay, opinions, conclusions or inferences should be avoid in MOIs

They may be included only if they are noted as such and only those of the interviewee

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 21

AVOIDED IN MOI

Question 22

Narrative documents are frequently utilized to memorialize other types of law enforcement activities, including enforcement activity (search warrants, arrest warrants, undercover operations), records or law enforcement checks, and intelligence received

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 22

MEMORANDUMS OF ACTIVITY (MOA)

Question 23

Declarations of fact put into a formal form (typed, written, or printed) by an investigator or the person actually making the statement

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 23

WRITTEN STATEMENTS

Question 24

Preserve factual information and probable testimony, discourage changes of testimony, impeach the testimony of an untruth witness, elect testimony from reluctant or hostile witnesses, refresh memory of witness at trial, prosecute a witness who lies on the witness stand (false statements or perjury)

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 24

PURPOSE OF WRITTEN STATEMENTS

Question 25

A written statement of fact made voluntarily and confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the parking making it, before a Federal judge or a Federal investigator having authority to administer the oath

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 25

SWORN STATEMENT OR AFFIDAVIT

Question 26

Each page of a written statement should be numbered and the subject should

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 26

SIGN OR INITIAL EACH PAGE

Question 27

The subject should initial and date any ________ made in the statement

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 27

CORRECTIONS

Question 28

If the witness or suspect refuses to sign the statement

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 28

INVESTIGATOR SHOULD MAKE THE NOTATION OF “ACCURATE” STATEMENT ON THE STATEMENT

Question 29

Reporting all potential violations enhances the prosecutor’s ability to _______ a possible plea agreement with defense counsel

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 29

NEGOTIATE

Question 30

Synopsis, Statutes Violated, Body of Report, List of Exhibits

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 30

BASIC CONTENT OF COMPLETED CASE INVESTIGATIONS

Question 31

Major elements of the case, 5 W’s, names of all defendants, a short summary of violations, date/location of violations

Content of Report

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 31

SYNOPSIS

Question 32

Listed by reference to the title/section and narrative description of violations

Content of Report

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 32

STATUES VIOLATED

Question 33

Information that demonstrates the evidence, chronological order, reference to each item of evidence and each proposed defendant, facts/information could have a significant impact to include monetary amounts of loss or restitution, victim impact statements

Content of Report

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 33

BODY OF REPORT

Question 34

Source documents/evidence referenced, physical evidence such as narcotics/firearms full description along with names who introduced these items in trial

Content of Report

Documentation Report Writing

Answer 34

LIST OF EXHIBITS