Criminal Investigations

1
Criminal Investigations

• Documenting the Scene Note Taking, Photography
  and Sketching
• Chapter 2

2
Objectives

• Why notes are important in an investigation?
• When to take notes?
• What to record in investigative notes?
• How to record the notes?
• What the characteristics of effective notes are?

3
Objectives Cont.

• Where to file notes if they are retained?
• How notes are used in court and what problems can
  arise?
• What steps are involved in writing an
  investigative report?
• What types of investigative reports may be
  required?

4
Objectives Cont.

• Why reports are important to an investigation?
• How the narrative should be structured?
• What the characteristics of effective
  investigative reports are?

5
Introduction

• Most people who go into law enforcement are
  amazed at the amount of paperwork and writing
  that is required. Paperwork can constitute up to
  70 of an investigators job thus typing and
  computer skills are essential.

6
Field Notes

• Note taking is not unique to the police
  profession
• Investigative notes are a permanent written
  record of the facts of a case to be used in
  further investigation, in writing reports and in
  prosecuting the case.
• Accurate notes not only aid later recall but also
  are used for preparing sketches and reports

7
When to Take Notes

• Start to take notes as soon as possible after
  receiving a call to respond
• Continue recording information as it is received
  throughout the investigation
• Most people are willing to give information if
  you are friendly and courteous and you explain
  the importance of the information
• In such no delay in taking notes is required
• Reluctant witnesses and suspects may not talk if
  you record what they say

8
What to Record

• Record all facts, regardless of where they may
  lead
• Information establishing a suspects innocence is
  as important as that establishing guilt
• The time and date of the call
• The location
• Officer assigned
• Arrival time at the scene

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What to Record Cont.

• Record all information that helps to answer the
  questions
• Who are suspects? Accomplices?
• What type of crime was committed?
• When did the incident happen?
• Where did the incident happen?
• How was the crime discovered?
• Why was the crime committed?

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What to Record Cont.

• Complete descriptions would include the following
  information sex, race, coloring, age, height,
  weight, hair, eyes
• Make notes that describe the physical scene,
  including weather and lighting conditions
• Record everything you observe in the overall
  scene
• The amount of notes taken depends on the type of
  offense, the condition of the case, your attitude
  and ability and the number of other officers
  assigned to the case

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Where to Record Notes

• Use a notebook to record all facts observed and
  learned during an investigation
• Notebook remains one of the simplest, most
  economical and most basic investigative tools
• Divide the notebook into sections for easy
  reference

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Where to Record Notes Cont.

• One section might contain frequently used
  telephone numbers
• Opinions vary as to whether it is better to use a
  spiral-bound or loose-leaf notebook
• Number, date, case number on each page or use a
  separate notebook for each case

13
How to Take Notes

• Note taking is an acquired skill
• Write briefly, legible, abbreviated notes that
  others can understand
• Do not include words such as a, and, and the in
  your notes
• Write legible especially when recording names,
  addresses, telephone numbers, license numbers
• Whenever possible use standard abbreviations such
  as mph, DWI, Ave

14
Using a Tape Recorder

• Some police departments use tape recorders
  extensively because of the definite advantage of
  recording exactly what was stated with no danger
  of misinterpreting or misquoting

15
Characteristics of Effective Notes

• Effective notes are complete, accurate, specific,
  factual, clear, well organized, and legible
• Record facts accurately
• Be specific as possible
• Notes are usually taken rapidly, increasing
  chance of errors

16
Filing Notes

• Some officers destroy all their field notes after
  they have written their reports
• They believe that notes simply duplicate what is
  in the report
• If notes are retained, file them in a secure
  location readily accessible to investigators
• Store notes in an official police department case
  file
• No one filing is best

17
Using Notes in Court

• Properly introduced notes made by the testifying
  officer can be used in a criminal proceeding
• Officers may refer to their notes to refresh
  their memories, but if they do so, the defense
  counsel may examine them and read or show them to
  the judge or jury
• Officers should take to court only those that
  pertain to the particular case

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Using Notes in Court Cont.

• Best evidence in the legal sense is the original,
  best and highest evidence the highest available
  degree of proof that can be produced
• Difficulties can arise when original notes are
  not used
• If your notes are original, factual, and
  accurate, you should have them with you, to refer
  to them and to testify from them
• They can help you to discredit evidence, support
  evidence, strengthen the testimony

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Reports

• Steps in report writing
• Gather the facts investigate, interview,
  interrogate
• Record the facts immediately take notes
• Organize the facts
• Write the report
• Evaluate the report edit and proofread revise
  if necessary

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Types of Reports

• Investigators usually complete an
• Initial or preliminary report
• Supplemental or progress reports
• Closing or final report

21
Organizing Information

• First make an informal outline
• List facts of the investigation in chronological
  order beginning with the response to the call and
  concluding with the end of the investigation

22
Writing the ReportStructuring the Narrative

• Definition is essentially a technical report
  structured in chronological order describing a
  sequence of investigative events
• Usually the narrative is structured as follows
• The opening paragraph of a police report states
  the time, date, type of incident and how you
  became involved

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Writing the Report Cont.

• The next paragraph contains what you were told by
  the victim or witness. For each person talked
  to, use a separate paragraph
• Next record what you did based on the information
  you received
• The final paragraph states the disposition of the
  case

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Characteristics of Effective Reports

• An effective report uses paragraphs, the past
  tense, first person and active voice. It is
  factual, accurate, objective, complete, concise,
  clear, mechanically correct, written in standard
  English, legible and reader focused

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Evaluating Your Report

• Once you have written your report, evaluate it
• Ask yourself if the report is accurate, factual,
  organized, objective, complete, concise, clear,
  in past tense and active voice, mechanically
  correct, written in standard English and legible

26
Taping and Dictating Reports

• Taping or dictating reports is common in some
  departments

27
Computerized Report Writing

• Computers have made significant contributions to
  efficiency in report writing
• Pen-based computers also make report writing
  easier
• Pen computing uses a special pen to write on a
  computer screen
• Another advance is Computer-Assisted Report Entry
  (CARE)

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Computerized Report Writing Cont.

• This live-entry system centers around CARE
  operator who leads officers through preformatted
  screens and questions, allowing them to complete
  reports in a matter of minutes

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The End