NCJ Number
95095
Date Published
1982
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A well-organized, formal report permits an officer to relate facts quickly and easily, aids the prosecutor in the development and evaluation of his strategy, aids the detective in his investigation, and can contribute to public relations.
Abstract
A good report is accurate, clear, complete, concise, self-sufficient, and discusses who, what, where, when, why, and how. Most reports will have an introduction, body, conclusions, and recommendations. The following steps provide an approach to report writing which may be modified as circumstances dictate: analyze and plan the assignment as a whole; form a general, tentative plan for presenting material; gather facts and interpret their significance; revise the tentative plan if needed; write a first draft; revise and rewrite as needed; and reread the report for errors. Among new technologies being used by law enforcement agencies to meet paperwork demands is word processing. Use of word processing equipment can aid law enforcement by speeding the preparation of reports and freeing police from clerical responsibilities, allowing more time for policing. Photographs and sample reports are included.