Why Is Writing Criminal Justice Reports Important?

Criminal justice reports form a legal foundation for prosecutors.

A wide variety of people read all types of criminal justice reports, from Joe Citizen to judges to law enforcement personnel to other community professionals. Well-written reports offer clear information so there will be no misconceptions regarding the facts of a criminal case.

Types

Although most people usually think of police reports when hearing of criminal justice reports, that is just the most obvious type. Other types of criminal justice reports include parole, probation, substance abuse, domestic violence, sex offender, mental health and juvenile.

Information

A clear criminal justice report must have a minimum of information in it. Data such as name, date of birth, Social Security number, tattoos or scars, height and weight serve to identify individuals. A summary of events, background information, case circumstances, mental condition and clinical observations also provide relevant information.

Purpose

Criminal justice reports serve to communicate the behavior or actions of the defendant. They allow the reader to determine the facts and make an informed decision about the case. Judges use such reports when sentencing offenders, so the reports must be clear and factual.

References

• University of Massachusetts Medical School: Criminal Responsibility Report Writing Guidelines