police report writing arrest report headings
DESCRIPTION
A PowerPoint presentation covering the main headings to use in a police report: 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. For police, law enforcement and private security personnel.TRANSCRIPT
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
Police ReportsPolice ReportsArrest Report HeadingsArrest Report Headings
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
Headings are titles for the Headings are titles for the different sections of a report. different sections of a report. They help organize and They help organize and standardize the report.standardize the report.
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
Arrest Report HeadingsArrest Report Headings
EvidenceEvidence Property TakenProperty Taken InjuriesInjuries Use of ForceUse of Force Supplemental Supplemental
ChargesCharges Additional Additional
InformationInformation
Source of ActivitySource of Activity ObservationsObservations ArrestArrest BookingBooking Medical TreatmentMedical Treatment EvidenceEvidence Suspect StatementsSuspect Statements Witness StatementsWitness Statements Victim StatementsVictim Statements
All Arrest Reports Contain the First FourAll Arrest Reports Contain the First Four
Source of ActivitySource of Activity ObservationsObservations ArrestArrest BookingBooking
The others are used based on the The others are used based on the circumstancecircumstance
Copyright 2005-2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E.
Foster
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
Source of ActivitySource of Activity
Sets the stage for the Sets the stage for the reader.reader.
Includes:Includes: Date/TimeDate/Time Officer’s NameOfficer’s Name Officer’s Identification NumberOfficer’s Identification Number Officer’s AssignmentOfficer’s Assignment Description of officer’s Description of officer’s
assignment such as “on assignment such as “on bicycle patrol wearing a bicycle patrol wearing a bicycle patrol officer’s bicycle patrol officer’s uniform.”uniform.”
May Include May Include Reasonable suspicion Reasonable suspicion
information for the next part information for the next part of the report.of the report.
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
ObservationsObservations
Must include:Must include: Probable CauseProbable Cause Elements of the Elements of the
CrimeCrime May include: May include:
Reasonable Reasonable SuspicionSuspicion
ArrestArrest
Includes: Includes: only the main charge only the main charge
for which the person for which the person was arrestedwas arrested
May include:May include: Discovery of evidence Discovery of evidence
incidental to arrestincidental to arrest Spontaneous Spontaneous
statements by suspectstatements by suspect Re-arrest for more Re-arrest for more
serious chargeserious charge
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
BookingBooking
A simple statement of where the person was A simple statement of where the person was booked and for what charge. May Include:booked and for what charge. May Include:
Evidence discovered during booking searchEvidence discovered during booking search Spontaneous statementsSpontaneous statements Re-arrestRe-arrest
Medical TreatmentMedical Treatment
Medical Medical treatment given treatment given to:to: SuspectsSuspects VictimsVictims WitnessesWitnesses OfficersOfficers At scene by EMS At scene by EMS
and/or hospital.and/or hospital.© 2013 High Priority Targeting,
Inc., Raymond E. Foster
EvidenceEvidence
List in this order:List in this order: NarcoticsNarcotics US CurrencyUS Currency FirearmsFirearms Evidence with Evidence with
serial numberserial number Evidence without Evidence without
serial numberserial number© 2013 High Priority Targeting,
Inc., Raymond E. Foster
Be Precise and complete!
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
Suspect StatementsSuspect 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.
Witness StatementsWitness Statements
Use a sub-heading for each witness.Use a sub-heading for each witness. Use when statements are too long for Use when statements are too long for
Observations section of arrest report, Observations section of arrest report, yet too short for a “statement form.”yet too short for a “statement form.”
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
Victim StatementsVictim Statements
Use when statements Use when statements are too long for are too long for Observations section Observations section of arrest report, yet of arrest report, yet too short for a too short for a “statement form.”“statement form.”
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
Property TakenProperty Taken Use for combined crime and arrest Use for combined crime and arrest
reports.reports. List property taken in this order:List property taken in this order:
US CurrencyUS Currency FirearmsFirearms Property with serial numberProperty with serial number Property without serial numberProperty without serial number
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
Note: Combined crime and arrest reports cannot be used for all crimes, such as stolen vehicles.
Use of ForceUse of Force
Depending on Depending on agency agency requirements, a requirements, a separate separate heading should heading should be used to be used to justify and justify and describe any describe any force used.force used.© 2013 High Priority Targeting,
Inc., Raymond E. Foster
InjuriesInjuries
This section is This section is used to describe used to describe injuries caused by injuries caused by the suspectthe suspect
Notate, again, Notate, again, medical treatmentmedical treatment
Notate how Notate how documented – documented – photographs, etc. photographs, etc.
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
Supplemental ChargesSupplemental Charges
List supplemental List supplemental charges you are charges you are requesting be requesting be filed.filed.
Make sure the Make sure the “observations” “observations” part of the report part of the report contains elements contains elements and probable and probable causecause
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
Additional InformationAdditional Information
Whatever else you need to write!Whatever else you need to write!
Remember: If it isn’t in the Remember: If it isn’t in the report, for the purposes of report, for the purposes of
court, it didn’t happen!court, it didn’t happen!
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
Arrest Report HeadingsArrest Report Headings
EvidenceEvidence Property TakenProperty Taken InjuriesInjuries Use of ForceUse of Force Supplemental Supplemental
ChargesCharges Additional Additional
InformationInformation
Source of ActivitySource of Activity ObservationsObservations ArrestArrest BookingBooking Medical TreatmentMedical Treatment EvidenceEvidence Suspect StatementsSuspect Statements Witness StatementsWitness Statements Victim StatementsVictim Statements
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc., Raymond E. Foster
Click for more about the author
QuestionsQuestions