The Importance of field notes during crash investigations

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe the efficient use of field notes Distinguish between basic and primary investigative questions List the six primary investigative questions Understand formats for basic crash reports Discuss aids to information gathering List elements common to crash reports 5-1

THE IMPORTANCE OF FIELD NOTES Field notes are more reliable than an officer's memory Field notes are the primary information source for the crash report Field notes completed in detail may reduce the need to re-contact the parties involved Field notes can be used to defend the integrity of the crash report 5-2

BASIC INVESTIGATIVE QUESTIONS Asked by the first-responding officer Used to fill in the blank spaces on the face of an incident report Typically includes items such as: Identity of vehicles, drivers, and witnesses How to recontact driver and witnesses Specific information about the crash Descriptions of the suspect if pertinent 5-3

PRIMARY INVESTIGATIVE QUESTIONS Primary questions meet most investigative information needs There are six recognized categories of primary questions: What When Where Who How Why 5-4

INCIDENT REPORT Crash reports in the state of Florida are uniform because they are all sent to and managed by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) Suspects: Additional information about suspects (physical description, description of vehicle, direction of travel, etc.) Witnesses: Information from witnesses, including their descriptions of events and things as they experienced through their four senses. Evidence: Road markings, vehicle damage, vehicle parts left behind, indicators of possible impairment. Interviews: All persons with whom the investigator talked during the course of the investigation should be identified, even if they could not provide information at the initial contact. Investigation: A short description of the crash scene may be given to permit a basic conceptualization of it by persons to whom it is unfamiliar. Reconstruction: The reconstruction is a narration of how the crash occurred based on witness and driver statements. 5-5

COMMON ELEMENTS OF CRASH REPORTS Race, Ethnicity and Sex Age Physical Addresses Telephone/Cell Numbers Occupation Personal Descriptions Vehicle Descriptions Estimated damage amounts Date Time 5-12

WRITING EFFECTIVE CRASH REPORTS If crash reports are going to serve the many uses to which they can be put, they must meet certain standards. Fill in all of the blanks on the crash report Write the narrative in sequence with the crash events Avoid unnecessary technical or legalistic jargon Write short sentences Use shorter paragraphs for the same reason. Support any conclusions you express with details Don’t repeat facts more than once Check your spelling EDIT WHAT YOU WRITE 5-13(a)

SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTS Supplemental reports are written to: Document new or corrected information Document specific acts or accomplishments, such as the issuance of a warrant, arrest of a suspect, or the recovery of evidence Document contact with involved parties after the fact Document drug or alcohol test results Should be written every 10 days 5-14