Police report writing arrest report headings
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The document outlines the structure and essential headings for police arrest reports, including sections for source of activity, observations, booking, medical treatment, evidence, and statements from suspects, witnesses, and victims. Each section specifies the required details, such as probable cause and descriptions of the arrest and its circumstances. Additionally, it stresses the importance of comprehensive documentation for legal purposes.
Police report writing arrest report headings
- 1. Police Reports Arrest Report Headings © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
- 2. Headings are titles for the different sections of a report. They help organize and standardize the report. © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
- 3. Arrest Report Headings Source of Activity Observations Arrest Booking Medical Treatment Evidence Suspect Statements Witness Statements Victim Statements Evidence Property Taken Injuries Use of Force Supplemental Charges Additional Information © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
- 4. All Arrest Reports Contain the First Four Source of Activity Observations Arrest Booking The others are used based on the circumstance Copyright 2005-2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
- 5. Source of Activity Sets the stage for the reader. Includes: Date/Time Officer’s Name Officer’s Identification Number Officer’s Assignment Description of officer’s assignment such as “on bicycle patrol wearing a bicycle patrol officer’s uniform.” May Include Reasonable suspicion information for the next part of the report. © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
- 6. Observations Must include: Probable Cause Elements of the Crime May include: Reasonable Suspicion © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
- 7. Arrest Includes: only the main charge for which the person was arrested May include: Discovery of evidence incidental to arrest Spontaneous statements by suspect Re-arrest for more serious charge © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
- 8. Booking A simple statement of where the person was booked and for what charge. May Include: Evidence discovered during booking search Spontaneous statements Re-arrest © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
- 9. Medical Treatment Medical treatment given to: Suspects Victims Witnesses Officers At scene by EMS and/or hospital. © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
- 10. Evidence Be Precise and complete! List in this order: Narcotics US Currency Firearms Evidence with serial number Evidence without serial number © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
- 11. Suspect Statements Reference spontaneous statements here so detectives and filing attorney will see them. Use for less formal interviews For more formal interviews use a separate statement sheet. Always record who advised of Miranda Rights. © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
- 12. Witness Statements Use a sub-heading for each witness. Use when statements are too long for Observations section of arrest report, yet too short for a “statement form.” © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
- 13. Victim Statements Use when statements are too long for Observations section of arrest report, yet too short for a “statement form.” © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
- 14. Property Taken Use for combined crime and arrest reports. List property taken in this order: US Currency Firearms Property with serial number Property without serial number Note: Com ned cr i m and ar r est r epor t s cannot be used bi e f or al l cr i m es, such as st ol en vehi cl es. © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
- 15. Use of Force Depending on agency requirements, a separate heading should be used to justify and describe any force used. © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
- 16. Injuries This section is used to describe injuries caused by the suspect Notate, again, medical treatment Notate how documented – photographs, etc. © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
- 17. Supplemental Charges List supplemental charges you are requesting be filed. Make sure the “observations” part of the report contains elements and probable cause © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
- 18. Additional Information Whatever else you need to write! Remember: If it isn’t in the report, for the purposes of court, it didn’t happen! © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
- 19. Arrest Report Headings Source of Activity Observations Arrest Booking Medical Treatment Evidence Suspect Statements Witness Statements Victim Statements Evidence Property Taken Injuries Use of Force Supplemental Charges Additional Information © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
- 20. Questions Click for more about the author © 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
Editor's Notes
- #4: Investigators are people who look into events or situations to find the facts about what happened. They: Ask questions and interview View crime scenes Collect evidence Develop informants Document their investigations An investigation means different things to different people. For our class, it is looking for the truth about what happened. An investigation begins when a crime has occurred, there is a reasonable certainty that a crime has occurred or an investigator is reasonably certain that a crime is going to occur.
- #20: Investigators are people who look into events or situations to find the facts about what happened. They: Ask questions and interview View crime scenes Collect evidence Develop informants Document their investigations An investigation means different things to different people. For our class, it is looking for the truth about what happened. An investigation begins when a crime has occurred, there is a reasonable certainty that a crime has occurred or an investigator is reasonably certain that a crime is going to occur.