Aaron Marsh
Chapter six Discussion: Field Notes and Reporting
Importance of Field Notes
As the basis for creating precise, comprehensive reports and accurately recording incidents,
field notes are a crucial component of police operations. Field notes are essential for the
following four main reasons:
Precision and Specifics: Field notes guarantee that facts are not forgotten or lost over time by
documenting observations and information from the scene immediately. These notes assist
cops in remembering details, witness accounts, and data that they might otherwise overlook.
Basis for Reports: The main source of information used to write incident reports is field
notes. Well-documented notes aid in creating a concise and accurate account of the
occurrence, as reports are derived from these preliminary observations.
Legal Documentation: Notes can serve as evidence in legal proceedings. They establish a
timeline and contain firsthand observations, which can be used in court to corroborate
testimonies or justify investigative actions (Keatley & Clarke, 2020).
Investigation Continuity: Field notes provide continuity in investigations, especially when
multiple officers or shifts are involved. They allow officers to share insights and maintain
consistency in the investigation, even if the original officer is unavailable.
The Six Interrogatory Investigative Questions
The six fundamental interrogative questions are crucial for gathering comprehensive data and
meeting the main investigative requirements. These questions include:
Who? This inquiry identifies the people who are involved, including witnesses, suspects, and
victims. Knowing "who" provides you with the information you need to conduct additional
research and follow-ups.
What? - This explains the specifics of the offense, highlighting the key components of the
incident and giving a thorough account of what happened, including the crime's
circumstances.
When? Knowing the precise time and date of the crime is essential to the reliability of
witness testimony and suspect alibis.
Where? – Identifying the crime scene or location provides context and is necessary for
processing the area and gathering physical evidence.
Why? – This seeks to uncover the motive, offering insight into potential reasons behind the
crime, which can lead to suspect identification and understanding the crime's nature.
How? – This explains the method used to commit the crime, often revealing clues about the
suspect's actions or intent, and helps link similar incidents by comparing methods (Felix,
2022).
Operational and Administrative Uses of Incident Reports
Incident reports serve both operational and administrative purposes. Operationally, these
reports are referenced by law enforcement personnel to understand details of ongoing cases,
track crime trends, and create suspect profiles. They provide foundational data for
investigations and are used by officers to strategize based on known patterns.
Administratively, incident reports support the organization’s internal processes, such as
resource allocation, statistical reporting, and analysis of crime data. They help administrators
make data-driven decisions and maintain accurate crime records, which are shared with
agencies like the FBI.
Differences Between Basic Incident Reports and NIBRS-Compliant Reports
Basic incident reports generally contain minimal details and cover basic information such as
the type of offense, date, and location. In contrast, NIBRS-compliant reports, developed by
the FBI, collect a much more extensive range of data for each offense, including
comprehensive details about victims, offenders, property, and circumstances of the incident
(Haberman et al., 2021). NIBRS reports allow for deeper analysis, identifying relationships
between victims and offenders, and tracking associations between drugs or alcohol and crime.
By gathering specific data points, NIBRS allows for more robust statistical reporting and
crime analysis, which assists agencies in both local and national crime trend assessments.
References
Felix, U. O. (2022). Evidence Collecting Processes and Fraud Examination: The Role of an Expert
Forensic Accountant. Asian Basic and Applied Research Journal, 394–420.
[Link]
Haberman, C. P., Clutter, J. E., & Lee, H. (2021). A robbery is a robbery is a robbery? Exploring
crime specificity in official police incident data. Police Practice and Research, 23(4), 1–15.
[Link]
Keatley, D. A., & Clarke, D. D. (2020). Matrix Forecasting and Behaviour Sequence Analysis: Part
of the Timeline Toolkit for Criminal Investigation. Journal of Police and Criminal
Psychology. [Link]
