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Research Paper: Types of Reports
Rachael Frazier
Liberty University
CJUS 231: D03- Criminal Justice Report Writing
Professor Harrington
November 27, 2023
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Research Paper: Types of Reports
Writing thorough and diverse reports is a crucial part of an officer's job in the complex world of
law enforcement. Law enforcement officers are responsible for creating a wide range of reports,
from incident reports to investigation summaries, which together tell the story of criminal
activity and court cases. In addition to documenting the occurrences, these reports are also useful
for analysis, research, and legal actions. This investigation explores the vital function that law
enforcement reports play and looks at the many kinds that the industry requires. The range of
reports that police handle, whether they are summarizing witness testimonies, reporting on crime
scenes, or offering in-depth case analysis, illustrates the difficulty and nuance involved in
preserving public safety and following the law. This research paper intends to analyze the
subtleties of each kind of report, illuminating their distinct functions and the overall influence
they have on the effectiveness of law enforcement initiatives. To put it simply, the integration of
such information serves as the framework for a strong and transparent criminal justice system.
A police report is an official document created by law enforcement officials. An occurrence,
incident, or crime (or pertinent supplementary information) is described in this official record.
Police can investigate a reported event or crime and take necessary action when a police report is
filed. For a variety of uses, it often includes precise, in-depth, and informative information about
an occurrence or crime (What is a Police Report? Purpose, Types, and Records, 2003.). There
are diverse types of reports which include incident reports, administrative reports, traffic reports,
intelligence reports, accident reports, suspicious circumstances, misdemeanor crimes, felony
crimes, and domestic violence reports.
Incident reports provide information on what occurs when a crime is committed without
anyone being around to witness it. These reports are made by police for theft, vandalism,
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violence, assault, and even more serious crimes like killings. These reports often include details
on a crime, including arrest records (What is a Police Report? Purpose, Types, and Records,
2003.). A crime report is divided into five sections. The first is a header that describes the subject
matter of the paper. It also includes an introduction outlining the report's topic and a body
outlining the reported information. The report concludes with a statement that, in accordance
with state regulations, summarizes the concerns raised in the body of the report and suggests the
police officer's next course of action (What is a Police Report? Purpose, Types, and Records,
2003.). While some officers write one or two reports a week, others can be required to do three
or four long reports during a shift. The quantity and nature of reports often depend on the size of
the county or city in which the officer works, the amount of crime in the region, and the
importance that the officer's superiors and supervisors put on paperwork (Barnes, 2013).
An incident, crime, violation, unprofessional behavior, or misbehavior by a staff member
is documented in an administrative police report. It provides thorough information that enables
the police to respond to the scenario with administrative action. It assists in looking into
administrative wrongdoing, an officer's unprofessional behavior, and any other problem, as
opposed to a criminal report. It permits decision-making by the police administration (What is a
Police Report? Purpose, Types, and Records, 2003.). This report has the potential to yield five
results. Unfounded, denotes that the inquiry either finds no factual foundation for the charges or
refutes them. If an inquiry is deemed not sustained, it is unable to substantiate or refute the
claims. Exonerated indicates that although the inquiry found that the claims were true, they were
legitimate. If the claims are not upheld, it indicates that the department's policies are broken.
Policy failure indicates that although the policy is being reviewed, the police officer acted in
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accordance with the law and police policy (What is a Police Report? Purpose, Types, and
Records, 2003.).
You can be expected to conduct proactive or directed traffic enforcement in your industry
as a law enforcement officer monitoring and enforcing the laws within your authority. One
possible directed traffic action is to survey the most communal areas for car crashes. When a law
enforcement officer enforces traffic regulations in their area of patrol without receiving
instructions or a directive from a supervisor, this is known as proactive traffic enforcement.
When an officer on patrol notices a car with expired license plates, they may choose to contact
the driver and issue a traffic summons or citation for the infraction, this is an example of
proactive traffic enforcement (Morris & Merson, 2016). In directed traffic enforcement, a law
enforcement officer works under the supervision of a supervisor and is tasked with monitoring
and enforcing traffic infractions that often occur in a particular region within their area of
responsibility throughout a shift. When an officer is assigned by a supervisor to keep an eye out
for and enforce red light infractions at a high-crash junction within their district, this is an
example of directed traffic enforcement (Morris & Merson, 2016). This report often includes
details such as the name and phone number of the offender, the infraction committed, the car's
make and model, the license plate number, and the vehicle identification number (What is a
Police Report? Purpose, Types, and Records, 2003.). To increase everyone's traffic safety, you
can be instructed to issue a summons or penalty for any infractions in these crucial locations.
When time permits, many agencies additionally urge patrol personnel to enforce traffic
regulations in school zones and construction zones that may be found inside their designated
sectors. Speeding infractions provide a serious and severe risk to people who are working or
strolling in these areas (Morris & Merson, 2016). This report often includes details such as the
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name and phone number of the offender, the infraction committed, the car's make and model, the
license plate number, and the vehicle identification number (What is a Police Report? Purpose,
Types, and Records, 2003.).
Enforcing your district's traffic rules is only common sense. Qualified professionals at
law enforcement academies will underscore the significance and perils of the "routine" traffic
stop. Always keep in mind that you are working in a setting where people might become volatile
and exhibit unexpected or even illogical behavior. Stay safe! When policing traffic offenses,
never undervalue the advantages and hazards (Morris & Merson, 2016).
Any act, incident, or crime that might lead to a breach of peace is reported to the
authorities by means of a police intelligence report. Law enforcement may run background
checks on suspects if they are determined to be legitimate. To handle the matter, they can also
send out a police intelligence squad. These reports guarantee that public safety is always
maintained by law enforcement (What is a Police Report? Purpose, Types, and Records, 2003.).
Traffic collision investigations are handled by specialist patrol units found in most medium-to-
large law enforcement agencies. This allows other police to respond to requests for assistance
within their authority that are more urgent or critical. The severity of motor vehicle traffic
collisions can vary, ranging from small occurrences resulting in minimal property damage and no
injuries to severe incidents involving considerable property damage and the potential for
fatalities. Serious auto accidents may result in legal and criminal penalties. Determining who was
responsible for these kinds of accidents is crucial for upcoming legal proceedings. Additionally,
competent collision investigations can help traffic engineers identify roads or intersections that
may be risky. Publicized media coverage can also aid in warning the public about potentially
hazardous junctions (Morris & Merson, 2016). An accident report documents every aspect of an
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incident, including the reason for the accident, the amount of damage caused, the names and
contact details of pertinent parties, and who is at fault (What Is a Police Report? Purpose, Types,
and Records, 2003).
An incident report and a suspicious circumstances report are comparable. The two reports
are identical save for the possibility that a suspicious circumstances report might eventually
trigger a criminal inquiry, but an incident report is often not criminal in nature. A suspicious
circumstances report can be filled out on a standard department face sheet or on a form created
especially for situations in which detectives are following up on intelligence on suspicious
activities and documenting it to gather further information before filing a criminal report orris &
Merson, 2016).
For criminal proceedings, misdemeanor summons and complaint forms are utilized. If found
guilty, the penalties include a year or less in prison and a potential fine. It is possible to utilize
the summons and complaint form for both criminal and minor violations. These summons and
complaint forms can be written out by hand in most agencies. Usually, these documents contain
all the information required to include the sworn statement of probable cause on the back of the
summons. Typically, the top section of the summons and complaint form consists of checkboxes
and blank spots for names, addresses, and other information. These vacant spots aid in directing
the officer in gathering vital data required to finish a thorough investigation (Morris & Merson,
2016).
The agency's records division also uses the summons and complaint forms to obtain
important crime data. Many details on the kinds and quantity of crimes committed in the district
are contained in these forms. The individual being charged, the suspect's personal details, and the
charge(s) for which the person was arrested are usually listed in the front section of the summons
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and complaint form. The phrase "Probable Cause Affidavit" is frequently used to refer to the
narrative section on the reverse of the form. The law enforcement official offers a chronological
narrative of the officer's actions in responding to the occurrence, together with the probable
cause or the components of the crime, in this section of the summons and complaint form
(Morris & Merson, 2016).
Criminal actions classified as felonies usually carry a sentence of one year or longer in
the state prison system upon conviction. Felony crime reports are the most comprehensive and
in-depth case reports that a law enforcement official will have to write. These reports ought to be
precise, comprehensive, and include all relevant case information. The agency's records
department will use the front sheet of the felony case report form, much like it does with the
summons and complaint forms, to get important criminal data. The individual drafting the report
and how they became involved should be described at the outset of the criminal case narrative
(Morris & Merson, 2016). A chronological account of all the events leading up to the occurrence
is all that is included in the narrative section of the criminal case report. By adhering to these
rules, you may assist in guaranteeing that the occurrence is accurately understood, and that
crucial case information is permanently captured (Morris & Merson, 2016).
These reports are useful for finding, apprehending, and convicting suspects, among other
things. Finding the person who committed a certain crime might be aided by a police report.
Even in non-emergency situations, victims of crimes have the right to report minor offenses and
request general police help. A description of the suspect in a crime is typically included in police
reports, which can aid in their location and eventual arrest. When prosecuting the culprit, this
might be useful together with a description of the occurrence (What Is a Police Report? Purpose,
Types, and Records, 2003). To begin investigating, the police create police reports. Typically,
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this may be used by law enforcement to launch additional inquiries. Additionally, it can be used
by the district attorney to bring charges against a suspect for a specific offense. An essential
instrument in criminal justice is police reports. Making any kind of record is frequently
necessary for effective police operations. This might be anything from a brief note about a little
occurrence to a long, in-depth report outlining a criminal offense. For others who weren't there to
acquire all the case facts, police officers must appropriately document information regarding a
crime (What Is a Police Report? Purpose, Types, and Records, 2003). When the police
apprehend a suspect and bring them before a judge, police reports may also be a useful piece of
evidence. The victim of the crime still needs a record explaining what happened, even if the
authorities cannot locate the perpetrator. The public can also benefit from police reports,
particularly in areas where there is a high crime rate. They can help communities stop criminal
activity. Law enforcement can detect and monitor patterns of criminal behavior in various parts
of a city with the use of police reports (What Is a Police Report? Purpose, Types, and Records,
2003).
Many officers are unaware that a police report is a public document, regardless of how
unremarkable it may appear. Some criminal and civil cases involving the police can drag on for
years and years, bouncing from one appeals court to another, because of the wheels of our slow-
moving criminal justice system. The quality of the report that chronicles these incidents needs to
be such that it will endure (Barnes, 2013). The municipal prosecutor's office, the US Supreme
Court, and other authorities can all get a single arrest report. That report will go with that
officer's name on it. It is possible that hundreds of individuals may read it and offer scathing
criticism of its veracity, substance, style, and general look. For this reason, from their very first
day at police academy, prospective police officers are instructed to "write each and every report
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as if your career depended upon it; it just might." Poor report writers get a reputation among their
peers, just as good report writers do (Barnes, 2013). Because of subpar reports, prosecuting
attorneys can even decide not to "issue" or take the case to court—even when they have the
advantage. Unbeknownst to them, officers who submit subpar reports hurt their careers more
than they think (Barnes, 2013).
Colossians 3:23-24 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not
unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve
the Lord Christ” (KJV). This verse indicates that, because our job is done for God's glory, we
should approach every duty with dedication, excitement, and perfection. This verse should
inspire us to put forth even more effort since it also assures us that we shall be rewarded with an
inheritance from the Lord.
Law enforcement officials must be exact and comprehensive in the reports they produce.
Proverbs 3: 3-4 says “let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them
upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God
and man” (KJV) to guarantee that justice and fairness are upheld.
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References
Barnes, H. (2013, February 13). The Importance of Police Reports and Why and When They Can
be Sloppy. LawCrossing.com. https://www.lawcrossing.com/article/900010290/The-
Importance-of-Police-Reports-and-Why-and-When-They-Can-be-Sloppy/
Emily Delbridge. (2021, August 6). What Is in a Police Accident Report? The Balance.
https://www.thebalancemoney.com/what-information-is-on-a-police-auto-accident-
report-527128
Morris, K., & Merson, M. (2017). Report writing for law enforcement and corrections
professionals. Pearson.
