Sccja unit test 3-Questions and Answers
with 100% Scores
List those entities that read and review police reports - -Your first leader,
(supervisor)
Follow up investigators
Attorneys
Judges
Responding officers
victims
civil courts
probation officers
advocates
the media
-Define the term Communication - -the exchange of information or
technique of expressing ideas effectively
-define the term report as it relates to law enforcement - -any written or
electronic communication on a departmental form
1) reports are made at or about the time of an event for invest. purposes
2) the statements of others should also reflect what the officer heard at the
time even though someone else may have heard otherwise or witnesses may
have changed their opinions since giving their statements
3) reports serve as permanent records of events
-List report classifications - -1) operational - taken by individual officers in
reference to crimes and activities
2) administrative - affect the admin of a dept
-Identify when to initiate a report - -1) whenever the policy prescribes
2) whenever police action is taken
-Identify the elements of a good report - -1) Factual - a fact is something
that can be verified
2) Clear - The report must communicate to the reader a clear and
understandable account of events
3) Complete - containing all relevant information
4) Concise - KISS -- keep it simple, stupid.
5) Impartial - dont show favoritism. It is a good practice to report all
information, both positive and negative and focus on facts. Officers should
practice writing reports that are free of bias.
6) Transition words - "first, second, next, and then" set the order of events
, 7) Cardinal Rule - a report that must be supplemented by verbal information
is incomplete and should be rewritten to include all information and relay
pertinent facts surrounding the incident.
-List steps of successful report writing - -1) Prewriting
2) Organizing
3) Revise for clarity
4) Write in first person**
5) Proofread
-Define objective and subjective information - -1) Objective - includes such
verifiable facts as the subject's address, color of a vehicle or the date and
time of an incident. Officers must ensure the accuracy of their reports and
never include information they have not verified.
2) Subjective - is observations an officer makes at the scene of an incident.
They include things such as the demeanor of a DUI suspect or the extent of
injuries to a crime victim.
-Define field notes, list reasons for taking field notes, and identify
characteristics of the field notebooks - -Field notes - personal observations
recorded by the officer at the scene of an event and the time information is
first gathered
reasons - memory aid, key to other records, investigative aid, protection,
evaluation, memorandum or official information.
characteristics - should not include personal info, can be subpoenaed for
evidence. NEVER bring on stand with you.
-identify the elements of the report writing checklist - -1) gather preliminary
information - a. source of call, b. type of incident, c. location, weather
conditions
2) Victim/Witness/Suspect statement - a. state what they told you they
saw,did, and etc. b. use direct quotes.
3) Investigate the scene - a. describe the conditions of the scene. b. list your
actions; arrest, detain, etc. c. take photographs/document evidence. d. use
their words
4) Disposition - a. note the particulars of the arrest if applicable or what
other action was taken. b. note location of the suspect and list appropriate
charges. c. list recovery of any property/contraband. d. record any follow up
activities.
-Identify the usage of the "Incident report - page 1", "Supplementary Report
- page 2", "Supplemental report - page 3" and the NCIC section - -1) incident
report - always page 1 of any ORIGINAL documentation.
with 100% Scores
List those entities that read and review police reports - -Your first leader,
(supervisor)
Follow up investigators
Attorneys
Judges
Responding officers
victims
civil courts
probation officers
advocates
the media
-Define the term Communication - -the exchange of information or
technique of expressing ideas effectively
-define the term report as it relates to law enforcement - -any written or
electronic communication on a departmental form
1) reports are made at or about the time of an event for invest. purposes
2) the statements of others should also reflect what the officer heard at the
time even though someone else may have heard otherwise or witnesses may
have changed their opinions since giving their statements
3) reports serve as permanent records of events
-List report classifications - -1) operational - taken by individual officers in
reference to crimes and activities
2) administrative - affect the admin of a dept
-Identify when to initiate a report - -1) whenever the policy prescribes
2) whenever police action is taken
-Identify the elements of a good report - -1) Factual - a fact is something
that can be verified
2) Clear - The report must communicate to the reader a clear and
understandable account of events
3) Complete - containing all relevant information
4) Concise - KISS -- keep it simple, stupid.
5) Impartial - dont show favoritism. It is a good practice to report all
information, both positive and negative and focus on facts. Officers should
practice writing reports that are free of bias.
6) Transition words - "first, second, next, and then" set the order of events
, 7) Cardinal Rule - a report that must be supplemented by verbal information
is incomplete and should be rewritten to include all information and relay
pertinent facts surrounding the incident.
-List steps of successful report writing - -1) Prewriting
2) Organizing
3) Revise for clarity
4) Write in first person**
5) Proofread
-Define objective and subjective information - -1) Objective - includes such
verifiable facts as the subject's address, color of a vehicle or the date and
time of an incident. Officers must ensure the accuracy of their reports and
never include information they have not verified.
2) Subjective - is observations an officer makes at the scene of an incident.
They include things such as the demeanor of a DUI suspect or the extent of
injuries to a crime victim.
-Define field notes, list reasons for taking field notes, and identify
characteristics of the field notebooks - -Field notes - personal observations
recorded by the officer at the scene of an event and the time information is
first gathered
reasons - memory aid, key to other records, investigative aid, protection,
evaluation, memorandum or official information.
characteristics - should not include personal info, can be subpoenaed for
evidence. NEVER bring on stand with you.
-identify the elements of the report writing checklist - -1) gather preliminary
information - a. source of call, b. type of incident, c. location, weather
conditions
2) Victim/Witness/Suspect statement - a. state what they told you they
saw,did, and etc. b. use direct quotes.
3) Investigate the scene - a. describe the conditions of the scene. b. list your
actions; arrest, detain, etc. c. take photographs/document evidence. d. use
their words
4) Disposition - a. note the particulars of the arrest if applicable or what
other action was taken. b. note location of the suspect and list appropriate
charges. c. list recovery of any property/contraband. d. record any follow up
activities.
-Identify the usage of the "Incident report - page 1", "Supplementary Report
- page 2", "Supplemental report - page 3" and the NCIC section - -1) incident
report - always page 1 of any ORIGINAL documentation.
