1. Report Writing
Law Enforcement I

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3. Observation An important skill in law enforcement
Keen observation allows for effective description
A report might begin in the squad car and end in the Supreme Court

4. Purpose of Reports
They provide a source of information while police carry out an investigation
Allows passing of the case from one officer to another
Provides factual record eliminating duplication
Is a requisite for the proper preparation and presentation of a case to the district attorney and to the court

5. Purpose of Reports (continued)
Help a department stay organized
The memory system of a department
Written, permanent record of all department business
Are an administrative necessity; most official forms of communication are completed using reports

6. Purpose of Reports (continued)
Other purposes
The basis for maintenance of identification and criminal records in Austin
Aid in recovery of lost or stolen property
Contain information used to apprehend criminals
Used in civil suits
Provide factual data to combat ill-advised or unreasonable demands on police
Furnish information to the news media

7. Initial Reports Arrest reports Incident reports Offense reports
For documentation purposes only
Offense reports
Begin the investigation of criminal matters
Initial reports
Written by the assigned officer covering the initial investigation, which lay the foundation for the whole case

8. Supplemental Reports All reports other than the initial report
Written by an officer, other than the one assigned, about his or her participation in a particular case
Concerned with follow-up work performed by inspectors, detectives, or investigators
Submitted in connection with the investigation by specialists such as fingerprint technicians, photographers, drug lab analysts, etc.

9. Attachments Crime scene photos/sketches Notes
Other documents filed with the case report

10. Styles of Reports Narrative Chronological Specialized Most widely used
Written in a logical manner or sequence
Chronological
Events written in order of occurrence
Time element is of prime importance
Specialized
Summary of reports about specialized law enforcement and police problems
May be either narrative, chronological, or both

11. Essential Report Qualities
Clear and complete sentences
Proper grammar
Detailed descriptions

12. Rules for Description Describe things without assuming
Use vivid language
Look for distinguishing marks, color, size, shape, texture, location, type, etc.
Paint a picture of a place with words

13. Rules for Description (continued)
Describe people
From top to bottom
Include characteristics
Manner of speaking, walking, moving, etc.
Items they are carrying
Four Corners Rule
“If it's not on the page
then it did not happen.”

14. Four Requisites Factual – detailed correctness
Clear – distinct and unconfused
Complete – having no deficiency
Concise – expressing much in a few words

15. Questions to Ask and Answer
Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
How?

16. Essential Components Date Time Location Kind of call
Description of surroundings
Description of vehicle
Description of suspect
Chronological order

17. Preparation Organize your evidence and information
Check with dispatch for updated data
Log in the evidence
Begin the report

18. Writing Type of call Case number Date and time of the report
Date and time of the offense
Type of report (offense or incident)

19. Writing Caller information Name Date of birth Race Sex
Hair and eye color
Height
Weight
Driver’s license number

20. Writing The victim/complainant’s complete address and phone number
The victim/complainant’s employer
The employer’s phone number
Location of offense
Who it was reported by (complete information)

21. Writing
Employer contact information
Number of witnesses, number of suspects, etc.
The incident or offense
Probable cause or “MO”
The report writer, time, and date
Supervisor’s approval
Stolen property entered by dispatch into the computer (over $2000 value only, or stolen vehicles)

22. Vehicle/Evidence Information
Listing (stolen, recovered, abandoned, etc.)
Type (make, model, year, license plate, state of registration, VIN)
Value
Condition
Other Remarks

23. Weapons Description Quantity Appearance Caliber Serial Number Model
Value

24. Burglary Information How the suspect entered the home
Home Accessible (unlocked)
Forced Entry
Inside Job
How the suspect left the home

25. Summary Restate “MO” (see example) State dispatched or on view
Describe the crime scene
Tell the story
Identify yourself as the reporting officer (R/O) (not your name)
Use R/O in the rest of the report
Identify victim, suspect, witnesses in the report
Pictures of everything taken
No pronouns used

26. Resources
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
The Calendar for Law Enforcement Training