Good Field Notes
The term “field notes” refers to the shorthand written records made by law enforcement from the time they arrive at the scene until the investigation is finished. With the practice of taking notes, police officers are able to make more accurate and more informative reports, which are based on facts and personal observations. When writing field notes, police officers need to prioritize identifying who did and said what at a scene, including officers, witnesses, and suspects. …show more content…
Throughout the creation of a criminal report, police officers should remember to look at the elements of the crime in order to establish the report’s framework. At the same time, law enforcement must take into account that each element of the crime must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Within the criminal justice system, members of law enforcement are obligated to anticipate any faults in their reports because of its impact on court cases. For instance, defense attorneys will attempt to discredit elements of the crime, mentioned in the report, in order to establish a defense for their