1. Chapter 22
Crime & Punishment

2. Access To previous criminal records Internet has improved access
Sex offender registries
Court records databases
Public records of court cases
Background check websites

3. University records
Juvenile offender records
Crime scene access

4. Guidelines for reporting crime stories
Victims
Suspects
Cause of fatalities/injuries

5. Location of incident
Time of incident
What happened

6. Arrests & Charges filed
Eyewitness accounts
Role play

7. Play detective
Gather graphics
Use the telephone

8. Specific types of crimes
Motor vehicle accidents
Speed, destination & direction of vehicles
Location at the time of accident
Cause of accident, arrests, citations/damages
Victims use of required equipment
Seatbelts, helmets, lights, etc
Weather related info (if relevant)
Rescue attempts/Acts of heroism
Customary to lead with fatalities & injuries

9. Specific types of crimes
Burglaries/Robberies
What was taken & it’s value
Types of weapons used (robberies)
How entry was made
Similar circumstances
(frequency of crime/odd conditions)

10. Specific types of crimes
Homicides
Weapon (Specific description)
Clues and motives (from police)
Specific wounds
Official cause of death (from coroner or police)
Circumstances of suspect’s arrest
Lots of details
From relatives, neighbors, friends, officials, eyewitnesses, etc

11. Specific types of crimes
Fires
Time fire started
Fireman response time, time fire was under control
Number of fireman responding, number of trucks
Evacuations & where people were taken (if applicable)
Injuries & fatalities
Cause

12. When fatalities or injuries occur in a fire
Who discovered the fire
Description of building
Estimated cost of damages
Presence & condition of smoke detectors
Fire inspection record
When fatalities or injuries occur in a fire
They should be mentioned in your lead

13. Court Stories Review the details for Court stories – Pg 427
Criminal court process – Pg 429
Terms used in court reporting – Pg 432