Section 3.2 Flashcards
Reports need to be accurate. True or False
True
A gun was found.
not accurate
A gun was found ten feet away in the bushes by the officer at 9:24 PM.
accurate
Did officer Johnson tell me she found the gun or did I observe her finding the gun. What is this an example of?
What you were told vs what you observed
The defendant was sloshed is an example of what kind of language.
Emotionally changed
The victims were pissed. The women were dressed as sluts. These all imply judgements and values. This is an example of what?
emotionally changed language
The defendant showed signs of intoxication because of this reason. The women at the scene were dressed in bad clothing, including a two-piece bathing suit.
Not emotionally changed language
Suddenly making it sound like your story is the only correct one.
Slanting
Example, at a car crash one person claims to be going the speed limit and the other person claims that they were exceeding the speed limit. If you write it down as one person is telling the truth and not the other this is an example of what?
Slanting
You must write down what they told you and then write down all of the evidence you have and do not imply that one or the other was lying. This will keep you from what?
Slanting
If it was not written down, it did not happen.
TRUTH
Anticipate what other people are going to ask you about and what they will want to know. Make sure the answers to these questions are already written down. This is completion of a report. True or False
True
Who, what, when, and where? Shows what?
completion
Person A is currently doing this and person b did this at this time and I was told that person c did this at this time and this place.
Completion
Sometimes you will answer why and how True or false
True
Keep the report concise and do not let it impact the facts. True or False
True
Should you use overly wordy language?
No
Reports need to be clear. True or False
True
Make sure your report has one interpretation only and the it is the one you intend. True or False
True
If your report has more than one interpretation who is going to fight it?
Defense lawyer
Should you include diagrams and sketch in your report?
Yes
Make sure witness statements are clear. True or False
True
Should use use uncommon abbreviations?
No
Should you use short sentences and short paragraphs in your report?
Yes
Your grammar needs to be good on a report. True or False
True
What tense should you write your reports in?
past tense
Is this the correct tense:
“I arrived at the scene it is 8:30 PM?”
No
Is this the correct tense:
“I arrived at the scene, and it was 8:30 PM.”
Yes
Should you use first person on a report?
Yes
Should you avoid the passive voice?
Yes
Lawyers, Judges, Juror, your boss. Write in a way that those people will be able to understand it. What do you achieve by doing this?
Target your audience
What is not so important anymore because the reports are typed at this point?
Legibility
When you are reviewing your reports you should not read what you meant to write but you need to read what you actually wrote. True or False
True
Anticipate attacks on your report and do what?
Fix them before you turn it in
How should you read your reports?
If someone else wrote it
When a police officer testifies the defense is or is not allowed to bring up any previous screw ups?
They are allowed
Example, if an officer lied in a report or something the defense is allowed to use that in every future trial. Based on what case
Brady v. Maryland 1963
