1. The Importance of field notes during crash investigations

2. 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
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3. 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
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4. 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
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5. PRIMARY INVESTIGATIVE QUESTIONS
Primary questions meet most investigative information needs
There are six recognized categories of primary questions:
What
When
Where
Who
How
Why
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6. 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.
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7. 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
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8. 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
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9. 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
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