Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Definition of Terms
Investigative Report – is an objective statement of
the investigator’s findings, it is an official record of
information relevant to the investigation which the
investigator submits to his/her superior.
Communication – the use of language, spoken or
written to exchange ideas or transfer information.
The transfer of information or ideas from one person
to another includes the transmission and receipt of
message to affect some type of action or change.
Report – is a detailed account of an event, situation,
etc. usually based on observation or inquiry
Definition of Terms
Report Writing – is a communication that lends itself to a
useful tool for people in a free society to express their
thoughts and ideas and to obtain what they need or want.
Reporting – is knowingly passing along information to
someone else.
Fact – is anything which either through careful
observation or investigation, has been proven to exist as
to have happened.
Note taking – is defined as a brief notation concerning
specific events that are recorded while fresh in your mind
and used to prepare a report.
Chronological Order – is the arrangement of events
and/or actions in order by the time of their occurrence.
Importance of Investigative
Reporting
Itserve as records for police administrators in
planning, directing and organizing the unit’s duties
Reports can be used as legal documents in the
prosecution of criminals.
Reports can be used by other agencies.
Reports can be useful to local media which need
access to public documents.
The author of the report should also consider that
his/her (written) work is reflective of his personality.
Reports can be a basis for research.
Preparations Needed in Report
Writing
Review and organize notes
Draw an outline in chronological
sequence – should answer the 5W’s
and 1H
Review for completeness
Actual writing of the report
Criteria
It must be grammatically correct.
Abbreviation must be used appropriately
and correctly.
The report should avoid slang,
colloquialism or unnecessary technical
terms .
Requisites of a Good
Investigation Report
Accuracy – The report should be a true representation
of the facts to the best of the investigator’s ability.
Information both favorable and unfavorable to the
suspect should be included. Information should be
verified by statements of other witnesses and by
reference to official records or to other reliable sources.