NCJ Number
65831
Date Published
1980
Length
0 pages
Annotation
FOCUSING ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FIELD NOTES TO POLICE, THIS SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION POINTS OUT SOME OF THE TECHNIQUES THAT CAN BE USED TO ASSURE THAT NOTES ARE COMPLETE, ACCURATE, AND CLEAR.
Abstract
THE POLICE NOTEBOOK IS THE MOST USEFUL AND TIME-TESTED LAW ENFORCEMENT TOOL. IT CAN BE USED TO KEEP A RECORD OF WITH WHOM AND ON WHAT SHIFT POLICE WORKED, MONTHLY SCHEDULES, AND OPERATIONAL INFORMATION ON WANTED SUSPECTS, STOLEN VEHICLES AND PROPERTY, AND MISSING PERSONS. IT CAN BE USED FOR RECORDING THE STATEMENTS OF WITNESSES AND SUSPECTS, NOTING EVIDENCE OR MISSING PROPERTY, MAKING SIMPLE CRIME OR ACCIDENT SCENE SKETCHES, AND RECORDING TECHNICAL INFORMATION ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHS. RULES OF NOTETAKING ARE TO GET ALL THE FACTS BY ASKING THE NECESSARY QUESTIONS, ENSURE THAT FACTS ARE ACCURATE BY RECHECKING MEASUREMENTS AND OTHER ITEMS OF INFORMATION, AND MAKE NOTES CLEAR BY WRITING LEGIBLY. SEVERAL KINDS OF NOTEBOOKS ARE AVAILABLE: THE SPIRAL OR WIRE-BOUND NOTEBOOKS AND THE SMALL, POCKET-SIZE RING BINDERS. OFFICERS CAN ALSO CHOOSE FROM A VARIETY OF WRITING INSTRUMENTS. AN INSTRUCTOR'S GUIDE AND STUDY NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)