Field Note Taking and Report Writing

Question 1

What are the three purposes of the officer’s field notes?

Answer 1

(1) Report writing.
(2) References.
(3) Evidence.

Question 2

_______ _______: is essential to investigations. Often, ______ _______ will serve you better than your own memory. It also serves as a permanent record documenting everything about your investigation. It is the foundation to your report.

Answer 2

Report writing.

Question 3

____________: Your field notes are vital because they can serve as evidence. Eventually, all your notes will be turned into the district attorney for criminal prosecution.

Answer 3

Evidence.

Question 4

What are the six (6) “one-word” questions that should be answered when developing field notes?

Answer 4

Who, what, when, where, how, and why?

Question 5

What are the four (4) uses of law enforcement reports?

Answer 5

Permanent record to report to your agency, statistics, intelligence, and to assist with prosecution.

Question 6

Law enforcement records hat are open to the public:

Answer 6

Time, dates, location, nature of report, names, sex, address, and arrest circumstances.

Question 7

Law enforcement records that are ONLY private:

Answer 7

Juvenile records, traffic accident reports (traffic reports are open to the public, but information such as phone numbers, addresses, etc. are private), and recordings from body worn cameras or other law enforcement are private.