Question | Answer |
Brief notations concerning specific events and cirucmstances that are recorded while fresh in the officer's mind and used to prepare a report | Field Notes |
Uses of Field Notes | Provides basis for report. Reduces need to re-contact parties involved. Provides greater accuracy relative to time, statements, & events than memory alone. |
The better an officer ___ things, the better the officer can ___ them. | Observes, Describe |
All 5 senses are used in ____. | Observations |
5 senses the PO uses in observation: | Sight, Hearing, Touch, Taste, Smell |
Since all senses must be sharp for peace officer to do their job, they should frequently practice using ___ ___ at various time to ___ each of them. | Different sense, Improve |
The PO must be able to describe ppl, places, and things by using ___, ___, and ___ language. | Specific, Clear, and Vivid |
Describing ___ is the most difficult. | People |
Include all descriptive characteristics of persons, such as their manner of ___ or ___, their ____, or the things they are ____. | Speaking or Walking, their Movements, Carrying |
___ should be described beginning at one point then proceeding in 1 direction, such as ___ ___ ___ or ___ ___ ___, to ensure that the description is ___ and ___. | Places, Left to Right, Top to Bottom, Thorough, Systematic |
When describing ___, look for all ___ ___ and anything that might be compared or related to a commonly known ___ or ___. Look for color, size, shape, texture, location, and type. | Things, Distinguishing Marks, Thing, Idea |
What type of Persons information should you enter into the field notes? | Suspect, Victim, Witness |
What type of information about the suspect/victim should be entered into field notes? | Race/Sex. Ht/Wt. Hair - color, style, type. Hat. Face complexion. Eyes - color, shape. Nose - mouth area, distinguishing marks. Shirt. Pants. Shoes. Other distinguishing marks. Injuries |
What type of information about vehicles should be entered into field notes? | CYMBAL - Color, Year, Make/Model, Body style, License plate - Yr of exp, State. VIN. Value of car. Disting marks. Insured. Financed |
What type of information about other property should be entered into field notes? | Manufacturer. Model name/#. Serial #. Cost/value. Sz. Color. Style. Use. Location found. |
What type of information about other possible information should be entered into field notes? | Contact info. Case #. Assisting officer activity. Location and chain of evidence/custody. Type of incident. |
List the types of information that should be entered into field notes. | Person. Suspects/Victims. Vehicles. Other Property. Date/Time. Exact location of occurrence. Persons involved. Other possible info. |
Questions to be answers in field notes to complete a report. | Who. What. When. Where. Why. How. |
What information should be included when answering the question Who to complete a report? | Correct spelling of name, add, num, work contact info. Aliases. Age/DOB. Involvement (Suspect/Victim). Sex/Race. Job/Student. DL# or official ID. |
What information should be included when answering the question What to complete a report? | Type of offense committed. Type of property involved. Means of transportation. Statements made. Unusual characteristics or actions. |
What information should be included when answering the question When to complete a report? | Offense occurred. Discovered. Reported. Evidence located. Witness/Victims contacted. Arrests made. |
What information should be included when answering the question Where to complete a report? | Exact location of offense and evidence. Reference points. Type of area (residential, business). Location of victims, witnesses, suspects in relation to crime. |
What information should be included when answering the question Why to complete a report? | Any statement or evidence supporting a possible cause or motive (revenge, drug addiction, accident) |
What information should be included when answering the question How to complete a report? | Offense occurred. Suspect approached (gained access/entry) and exited. LE was notified. Officer approached the scene. Scene and persons involved appeared. |
The significant uses of the Police Report include: | Permanent record of Facts. Coordination of follow-up. Basis for prosecution and defense. Performance evaluations of officer. Statistical data. Reference material. |
The 8 essential criteria of a good police report: | Accurate. Clear. Complete. Concise. Correct spelling. Grammatically correct. Legible. Objective |
Common types of police reports: | Arrest. Crash. Incident. Offense. Supplemental. |
Difference bt categorical and chronological ordering in report writing. | Categorical - arrangement of info by category (witnesses, suspects, crime elements)
Chron - arrangement of info in order of occurrence |
3 basic kinds of information necessary in police reports: | Identification - of involved persons, vehicles, etc.
Narrative - descript of the offense or incident
Elements of the offense - or Probable Cause |
Unless required, officers' ___ should not be included in the police report. | Opinions. |
Anything other than ___ must be labeled as such to ___ any possible confusion. | Facts, Avoid |
A victim may choose a ___ to designate his/her identity in all ___ and ___ concerning the offense. | Pseudonym. Public files and Records. |
Identify the components of a sentence: | Adjective. Adverb. Noun. Preposition. Verb. Pronoun. |
A sentence is a group of words that expresses a ___ ___. A sentence typically contains both a ___ and a ___, begins with a capital letter, and ends with a punctuation mark. A sent should be ___, ___, and ___. A sentence should be ___ ___ to the reader. | Complete thought. Subject and a Predicate. Short, Simple, and Concise. Unmistakably clear. |
People often speak in ___ ___. It is often not possible to ask the speaker to clarify with written communication. Therefore, written communication must state ___ ___ to ensure that the reader understands the ___ ___. | Incomplete sentences. Complete thoughts. Author's meaning. |
When someone writes the same way he talks, 2 serious errors occur: ___ ___ and ___ ___ ____. | Sentence fragments and Run-on sentences. |
Your written communication may serve as a ___ ___ for judicial and administrative proceedings. | Source Document |
__ ___ ___ is a group of words that is only a piece of a complete sentence. | Sentence Fragment |
___ __ ___ cause confusion for the reader and can lead to incorrect conclusions about the intent of the writing. | Run-on sentences |
__ __ __ ___ written as 1 results in a run-on-sentence. | 2 or more sentences |
___ is a word or set of words that qualifies or limits another word or set of words. | Modifier |
___ ___ is one that attaches itself to the wrong word or words in the sentence. | Misplaced modifier |
Because a ___ ___ presents the reader with an unintended meaning, or forces him to try to figure out the meaning of the sentence, ___ by the reader often results. | Misplaced modifiers, Misinterpretation |
Place every modifier as close as possible to the word it ____. | Modifies |