NCJ Number
66504
Date Published
1979
Length
172 pages
Annotation
THIS MANUAL USES NUMEROUS EXAMPLES TO SHOW LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HOW TO WRITE A POLICE REPORT THAT COMMUNICATES ACCURATELY, COMPLETELY, AND CONVINCINGLY.
Abstract
USE OF EVERYDAY SPEECH AND NAMES, RATHER THAN LABELS, ARE TWO APPROACHES THAT SHOULD SIMPLIFY POLICE REPORT WRITING. THE READER SHOULD BE TOLD WHO DID WHAT, AND HOW, WRITERS SHOULD USE A COMMON VOCABULARY RATHER THAN POMPOUS EXPRESSIONS AND SHOULD REARRANGE WORD ORDER TO ELIMINATE SENTENCE AMBIGUITIES. WHEN DESCRIBING THE ACTUAL CRIME SCENE AND THE IMPORTANT EVENTS, THE WRITER SHOULD SET ITEMS DOWN IN PROPER ORDER, IN PLAIN LANGUAGE, AND TELL THE READER THE SOURCE OF THE INFORMATION. OFFICERS SHOULD KNOW WHEN AND HOW TO USE QUOTATIONS IN THEIR REPORTS AND SHOULD NOT ALLOW LEGAL TERMINOLOGY OR VAGUE WORDS TO TAKE THE PLACE OF FACTS. UNSUPPORTED STATEMENTS ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE'S ABILITIES, PERCEPTION, OR STATE OF MIND SHOULD BE AVOIDED. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT OFFICERS SHOW THE FACTS THAT SUPPORT THEIR EVIDENTIARY CONCLUSIONS. FINALLY, REPORTS WILL BE LESS CLUTTERED IF THE WRITER OMITS THE INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT, AVOIDS USING LONG SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS, REPORTS EVENTS IN THE SAME ORDER IN WHICH THEY HAPPENED, AND OMITS NEEDLESS WORDS. WRITING AND REPORT SAMPLES, AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE ATTACHED. (AOP)