NCJ Number
29117
Date Published
1974
Length
0 pages
Annotation
POLICE TRAINING FILM WHICH DEMONSTRATES THE IMPORTANCE OF WRITING CLEAR, ACCURATE AFTER-ACTION REPORTS AND TEACHES OFFICERS HOW TO DO SO EFFECTIVELY AND INTERESTINGLY.
Abstract
MANY FIELD OFFICERS CONSIDER WRITING REPORTS TO BE THE DULLEST, MOST FRUSTRATING PART OF POLICE WORK. YET EVEN A SOLIDLY MADE ARREST, COMPLETE WITH SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF GUILT, POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE ACCUSED AND EYEWITNESSES WILLING TO TESTIFY, CAN SOMETIMES FAIL TO LEAD TO A SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION IF THE ARRESTING OFFICER'S REPORT IS INCOMPLETE, INACCURATE, OR AMBIGUOUS. THIS FILM BEGINS WITH AN EXAMPLE OF SUCH A SITUATION IN WHICH AN ARMED ROBBERY IS EFFECTIVELY HANDLED IN THE STREET BUT BUNGLED IN THE REPORT. THE VIEWER OBSERVES THE MISCONCEPTIONS CREATED IN THE MIND OF THE PROSECUTOR BY THE POOR REPORTING AND THEN SEES THE TRUE PICTURE CREATED AFTER THE ARRESTING OFFICER REWRITES THE REPORT PROPERLY. USING STRAIGHTFORWARD, REALISTIC LANGUAGE AND EXAMPLES, THE FILM STRIVES TO MOTIVATE OFFICERS TO WRITE CLEAR AND ACCURATE REPORTS AND DEMONSTRATES HOW TO DO SO IN AN EFFECTIVE YET INTERESTING WAY. IN THE FINAL PORTION, A CRIME SITUATION IS PORTRAYED FROM WHICH THE VIEWER MUST DEVELOP HIS OWN REPORT AS A CLASSROOM EXERCISE. AN INSTRUCTOR GUIDE AND STUDENT WORKBOOK ARE INCLUDED WITH THE FILM. (SNI ABSTRACT)