Just the Facts

QUESTION

Assignment Details

You are tasked with discussing report writing. The topic is the characteristics of a report and why those characteristics are important. Make sure that you demonstrate the importance of writing clear and concise reports.

Please answer the following questions to guide you in the composition of your Discussion Board post. Please justify all answers with academic or real-life, practical criminal justice examples.
What are examples common reports that are used by law enforcement agencies?
What are examples of common reports that are used by correctional facilities?
Why is writing reports in law enforcement and corrections so important? Provide examples to support your answer.
Is it important to provide the opinion of the reporting police officer in a report? Why?
What are some examples of writing reports incorrectly in the law enforcement and corrections field?
Supplemental reading for this assignment: Police Report Writing (http://www.careerpoliceofficer.com/PoliceandVictims/police_report_writing.html)

ANSWER

Examples of Reports used by Law Enforcement

Law enforcement agencies, which are mostly the police, are involved in the preparation of various reports in the fulfillment of their daily duties. When a crime is reported to the police, it is the responsibility of the police to document and investigate the crime incident (The Importance of Professional Writing Skills in Law Enforcement, 2017). The process of police investigation begins with the preparation of a preliminary report, which provides in-depth details on the incident and enables the law enforcement agencies to conduct further investigations. Law enforcement agencies also prepare other forms of reports, including arrest reports, evidence collection reports, juvenile custody reports, rape reports, follow up reports, and miscellaneous incident reports.

Examples of Reports used by Corrections

Correctional facilities also prepare various reports in the fulfillment of their day to day operations. These reports document the actions of officers and staff in response to incidents and assist in the documentation and adherence to standards. Some of the common reports prepared by correctional facilities include certificates for adherence to standards, records of the inmates and juveniles in the correctional facility, follow up reports, and misconduct reports detailing actions of people held at the correctional facility.

Importance of Reports in Law Enforcement and Corrections

Report writing in corrections and law enforcement is important for various reasons. The preparation of preliminary and incident reports in law enforcement assists in the investigation of crime incidents (The Importance of Professional Writing Skills in Law Enforcement, 2017). Reports prepared by corrections provide important information on individuals arrested and the crimes that they committed, making it easy to follow up during lawsuits and prosecution. Reports prepared by law enforcement and corrections also assist in the documentation of compliance with standards and provide information that is important for administrators.

Provision of Personal Opinion in Law Enforcement and Corrections Reports

It is important that the reporting officer provides their opinion on a reported incident, as it may provide other officers with a clearer understanding of the incident. Law enforcement officers are trained to weigh the facts of a crime incident and determine the important facts. Providing an opinion on an incident helps other officers and administrators with a better understanding of the details of a crime incident.

Incorrect Report Writing in Law Enforcement and Corrections

There are various errors that law enforcement and corrections can make in the preparation of reports. For instance, failure to properly describe the type of incident being reported is an error that can occur. A preliminary report should separate property crimes from personal crimes (Adams, 1990). It should also provide labels for each crime type, for instance, theft, burglary, or domestic violence. The reports prepared should also have case numbers to ease the process of searching and tracking. Failure to provide case or record numbers is an error in reporting.

References

Adams, T. F. (1990). Police field operations. Prentice-Hall.

The Importance of Professional Writing Skills in Law Enforcement. (2017, February 09). Retrieved May 25, 2019, from https://online.sju.edu/graduate/masters-criminal-justice/resources/articles/the-importance-of-professional-writing-skills-in-law-enforcement