Tips on How to Write Police Reports
Police officers must write a report of every incident to which they respond. These reports are detailed descriptions of the event, the time, the place, what happened, witness statements and any suspect descriptions. Different departments will vary on the exact procedure and format of writing a police report. However, the basic information in all police reports will essentially be the same.
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Neutral Tone
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Never take a judgmental tone in your report. Never take sides or report your opinions. A police report must be as objective as possible and should only consist of facts that you have directly observed. It should also consist of witness statements. You can't add your own opinion on the truthfulness of the statements or on the guilt of any of the suspects. Let the actions and words of the witnesses speak for themselves instead. This will give your report more power and authority than a rambling, opinionated report.
Avoid Jargon
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Avoid using police jargon in your report. These terms and phrases aren't common knowledge. Instead, your report should be easily understood, even by a layman who has no experience with law enforcement. Blanketing it with police jargon, insider references and even crime call numbers will make it nearly unreadable. Instead of writing "I responded to a 187" write "I responded to a murder call."
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Descriptive Language
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Use language to make your report as descriptive as possible. For example, don't say, "The pavement was dark. The bloodstains were bright red." Instead, say, "The sidewalk running alongside the house was black. The victim's bloodstains were bright red and appeared to still be damp." This description helps create a stronger image in the mind of the reader. It also highlights important facts, such as the blood still being damp. Detailed descriptions can be vital to investigators after the crime scene is no longer fresh for investigation.
Verbatim Statements
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Make sure that you take your witness statements down verbatim. Any variations in statement can cause a conflict in testimony, which can influence a trial. Don't interpret the statement or summarize it in any way. It must be written down exactly as uttered. This can be difficult if the statement is long or confusing to understand. Bring a tape recorder to the crime scene with you if possible. Never use the tape recorder without getting permission first from the witness.
Get All the Facts
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All important information has to be obtained to make your report complete. Most departments will have a report form to fill out. These details include suspect descriptions, witness contact information, the time the crime was committed, a description of the location as well as the contact information of anybody else affected by the crime. An incomplete report will look unprofessional and may even be discounted in a trial. Forgetting to get contact information can also make contacting important witnesses more difficult later.
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References
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Comments
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its a well written summarized article with t the most important points on writing an incident report.
