Report Writing Exam Questions
Verified Complete Solutions
Current Update
What do police reports serve as? - Answers -✔✔ A permanent written record and the
very foundation of a successful prosecution of suspects.
What happens if you document your actions every step of the way in accord with the
department, law, and courts? - Answers -✔✔ Bad guys go to jail
What is one of the basic building blocks of being a good investigator? - Answers -✔✔
Report Writing
What provides the entire criminal justice system with necessary information? - Answers
-✔✔ Accurate and complete police reports are the foundation for a successful
investigation.
What is the purpose of police reports? - Answers -✔✔ Provide pertinent information to
a variety of agencies and individuals
Allow for effective coordination between different people and divisions
Serve as a memory aid for officers involved in a multitude of cases
Strengthen court testimony
Promote rapid apprehension which may prevent further crimes and lead to the recovery
of property
What are the consequences of poor report writing? - Answers -✔✔ Can be detrimental.
What can happen to an excellent investigation if it isn't properly documented? - Answers
-✔✔ Can be undone because of failure to accurately document details
As a sgt what will be required of you? - Answers -✔✔ Review the reports of others and
to write reports that tell the story about follow-up investigations.
Failure to properly complete reports can_____________________. - Answers -✔✔
Have far reaching consequences
,How can you prevent not properly complete reports? - Answers -✔✔ Following
guidelines when documenting cases and completing police reports.
What does the administrative sgt do? - Answers -✔✔ Reviews and assigns cases for
investigation
Name the top ten errors administrative sgts find? - Answers -✔✔ 10. copy and pasting
narratives
9. Police Jargon
8. Supplements aren't timely or in chronological order
7. Personal opinions in report narratives/PC statement
6. PC statements are not clear and concise
5. Sensitive information in report and not is case notes
4. Reports contain inaccurate contact information
3. Report narratives contain vague descriptors
2. Suspects and witnesses are confusing (not clearly refereed to)
1. Miss-classified reports cause delay in investigating
Why do you not copy and paste a field officer's narrative? (10) - Answers -✔✔ If it isnt
accurate then you are putting in-accurate information in your report such as errors and
in-sufficient details.
What is preferred instead of copying and pasting a narrative? (10) - Answers -✔✔
Interview a suspect and victim/witness and put the detailed narrative into your own
words.
Why should you not include jargon and acronyms in your report? (9) - Answers -✔✔
They need to be easily understood by ANY reader. People may be confused because
they are not familiar with terms and acronyms.
What happens if you use jargon and acronyms? (9) - Answers -✔✔ If you do not use
simple and clear wording people will not understand what you are trying to say and your
credibility will be harmed
What happens if supplement information isn't written in a timely and/or chronological
order? (8) - Answers -✔✔ You can lose your memory and your notes.
, How should you document your case? (8) - Answers -✔✔ In chronological order.
Document each piece of information in the order in which you receive it. Example: an
interview should be documented first if you interview a witness Monday and find
property Wednesday
Where do you record information gathered during an investigation? (8) - Answers -✔✔
In a supplement report known as "supplements" and "running resume"
Why should you not include your opinion in probable cause statements and narratives?
(7) - Answers -✔✔ Facts may not support you opinion. Stick with the facts and your
reports will be more reliable and accurate.
What should all statements in narratives be based on? (7) - Answers -✔✔ Facts and
observations. If you write an opinions you may later have to defend facts that do not
exist.
How should the probable cause statement be written? (6) - Answers -✔✔ To the point
and only include the basic elements of the crime.
What should you remember when writing PC statements? (6) - Answers -✔✔ Avoid
including your personal opinions
When should you use case notes? (5) - Answers -✔✔ When the information is
sensitive
Are supplements public? (5) - Answers -✔✔ No. They contain sensitive information
much like "case notes"
What is sensitive information? (5) - Answers -✔✔ Anything that can compromise the
investigation
Examples: rape victim's name, information about the crime only known to the offender
Is a driver's license information reliable? (4) - Answers -✔✔ No. Often address
changes aren't reported
Are phone numbers on reports reliable? (4) - Answers -✔✔ Phone numbers are often
transposed or are inaccurate on reports.
Should you use a stolen cellphone number as contact information? (4) - Answers -✔✔
No. The cell phone should not be used as a contact number
What phone number should be used when a victim is displaced? (4) - Answers -✔✔
Examples: If at hotel, get hotel phone number. If staying with family, get the family
member's phone number. (In the mod exam the answer was the house number of the
Verified Complete Solutions
Current Update
What do police reports serve as? - Answers -✔✔ A permanent written record and the
very foundation of a successful prosecution of suspects.
What happens if you document your actions every step of the way in accord with the
department, law, and courts? - Answers -✔✔ Bad guys go to jail
What is one of the basic building blocks of being a good investigator? - Answers -✔✔
Report Writing
What provides the entire criminal justice system with necessary information? - Answers
-✔✔ Accurate and complete police reports are the foundation for a successful
investigation.
What is the purpose of police reports? - Answers -✔✔ Provide pertinent information to
a variety of agencies and individuals
Allow for effective coordination between different people and divisions
Serve as a memory aid for officers involved in a multitude of cases
Strengthen court testimony
Promote rapid apprehension which may prevent further crimes and lead to the recovery
of property
What are the consequences of poor report writing? - Answers -✔✔ Can be detrimental.
What can happen to an excellent investigation if it isn't properly documented? - Answers
-✔✔ Can be undone because of failure to accurately document details
As a sgt what will be required of you? - Answers -✔✔ Review the reports of others and
to write reports that tell the story about follow-up investigations.
Failure to properly complete reports can_____________________. - Answers -✔✔
Have far reaching consequences
,How can you prevent not properly complete reports? - Answers -✔✔ Following
guidelines when documenting cases and completing police reports.
What does the administrative sgt do? - Answers -✔✔ Reviews and assigns cases for
investigation
Name the top ten errors administrative sgts find? - Answers -✔✔ 10. copy and pasting
narratives
9. Police Jargon
8. Supplements aren't timely or in chronological order
7. Personal opinions in report narratives/PC statement
6. PC statements are not clear and concise
5. Sensitive information in report and not is case notes
4. Reports contain inaccurate contact information
3. Report narratives contain vague descriptors
2. Suspects and witnesses are confusing (not clearly refereed to)
1. Miss-classified reports cause delay in investigating
Why do you not copy and paste a field officer's narrative? (10) - Answers -✔✔ If it isnt
accurate then you are putting in-accurate information in your report such as errors and
in-sufficient details.
What is preferred instead of copying and pasting a narrative? (10) - Answers -✔✔
Interview a suspect and victim/witness and put the detailed narrative into your own
words.
Why should you not include jargon and acronyms in your report? (9) - Answers -✔✔
They need to be easily understood by ANY reader. People may be confused because
they are not familiar with terms and acronyms.
What happens if you use jargon and acronyms? (9) - Answers -✔✔ If you do not use
simple and clear wording people will not understand what you are trying to say and your
credibility will be harmed
What happens if supplement information isn't written in a timely and/or chronological
order? (8) - Answers -✔✔ You can lose your memory and your notes.
, How should you document your case? (8) - Answers -✔✔ In chronological order.
Document each piece of information in the order in which you receive it. Example: an
interview should be documented first if you interview a witness Monday and find
property Wednesday
Where do you record information gathered during an investigation? (8) - Answers -✔✔
In a supplement report known as "supplements" and "running resume"
Why should you not include your opinion in probable cause statements and narratives?
(7) - Answers -✔✔ Facts may not support you opinion. Stick with the facts and your
reports will be more reliable and accurate.
What should all statements in narratives be based on? (7) - Answers -✔✔ Facts and
observations. If you write an opinions you may later have to defend facts that do not
exist.
How should the probable cause statement be written? (6) - Answers -✔✔ To the point
and only include the basic elements of the crime.
What should you remember when writing PC statements? (6) - Answers -✔✔ Avoid
including your personal opinions
When should you use case notes? (5) - Answers -✔✔ When the information is
sensitive
Are supplements public? (5) - Answers -✔✔ No. They contain sensitive information
much like "case notes"
What is sensitive information? (5) - Answers -✔✔ Anything that can compromise the
investigation
Examples: rape victim's name, information about the crime only known to the offender
Is a driver's license information reliable? (4) - Answers -✔✔ No. Often address
changes aren't reported
Are phone numbers on reports reliable? (4) - Answers -✔✔ Phone numbers are often
transposed or are inaccurate on reports.
Should you use a stolen cellphone number as contact information? (4) - Answers -✔✔
No. The cell phone should not be used as a contact number
What phone number should be used when a victim is displaced? (4) - Answers -✔✔
Examples: If at hotel, get hotel phone number. If staying with family, get the family
member's phone number. (In the mod exam the answer was the house number of the
