The Role of Note-Taking and the Language Required to Complete a Case-Offense Report

The Role of Note-Taking and the Language Required to Complete a Case-Offense Report

A case/offense report outlines the details of a case or offense. Case reports are important in creating a picture of a crime because they provide detailed information about what the witnesses saw, the experiences of the victims, the information provided by the offender, and the facts relating to the offense or case. Case reports are prepared by the arresting officers and interrogators who interact with the offenders, victims, and witnesses. Although investigators may face bias when interrogating suspects and interviewing witnesses and victims, they can limit the impact of bias and personal relationships when preparing case reports by focusing on the facts of the case. A good case report also includes various components such as reporting person/victim statements, witness statements, suspect statements, and facts of the case. These components must all be included in the case report to complete the report and help investigators close a case and conduct future investigations. This essay will define the elements of a case report and explain how they are critical to the completion of the report and any future investigations.

Elements of Note-Taking and Its Role in Case/Offense Reports

The main elements of note-taking when preparing a case/offense report include a summary of the facts relating to the case, the description of the scene and the physical evidence found at the scene, the date and time of the offense, and the source of the information used to prepare the facts of the case. A summary of the facts helps investigators provide a detailed case report that can be used to examine witnesses in court. The description of the scene and the physical evidence found at the scene help prepare the facts of the case when writing the case report. The date and time of the offense are used to verify witness, victim, and suspect statements to determine their reliability. The sources of information used to prepare the facts of the case enhance the reliability of the information in the case reports based on whether the sources are trustworthy.

Major Components of Case/Offense Reports

The main components of case/offense reports include reporting person/victim statements, witness statements, suspect statements, and facts of the case. Reporting person/victim statements are the information a victim shares about a crime or offense. Victim statements may be collected at the crime scene or the police station. A witness statement is the information a witness provides about a crime or offense based on their observations. Witness statements should be signed by the witness to confirm that their information is true. Suspect statements are the information provided by the offender. Suspect statements are collected by the interrogators at the police station. Facts of the case include information about the crime or offense, where it was committed, and the person who committed it. Facts may include the general events relating to an offense, crime, or fact-in-issue. Fact-in-issue is a disputed factual matter that should be resolved to determine the outcome of a legal case (Sallam, 2023). Fact-in-issue may include issues such as breach of contract or theft of property.

How Various Reports and Facts Are Critical to Current and Future Investigations

Victim statements create the foundation for arguments against a suspect or offender. Therefore, when preparing a case report, it is important to consider what the victim says about how the crime or offense was committed and how it affected them. For example, a victim may state that the suspect pushed them, resulting in a fall that caused physical harm. Such information is important in determining the charges against the suspect. Also, victim statements influence decision-making in the ruling against an offender (Kunst et al., 2021). For instance, if a victim’s statement convinces the judge that the offender’s actions ruined the victim’s life, the judge may give the offender a longer sentence. Therefore, confirming the victim’s statement is important to ensure it does not contain false information that could mislead the judge. Victim statements are also important in future investigations because they can help investigators understand an offender’s pattern in committing a crime or offense and identify repeat offenders. For example, if more than one victim accuses the offender of the same thing and describes them the same way, the investigators can conclude that they are dealing with a repeat offender and may have an idea of the offender the victims are talking about if they have a record of past victim statements.

The video, audio, or written witness statements taken by police investigators become a permanent record of the events before, after, and during an offense or crime (Macgregor et al., 2021). Witness statements are used as reference documents when creating search warrants and supporting reasonable grounds for arrest. When preparing a case report, witness statements help construct the case’s facts. Therefore, investigators need to confirm the reliability of the witness statements before including them in the case reports to avoid issuing misleading facts. Witness statements are also essential in future investigations because they can help confirm an offender’s actions and reconstruct a crime scene to determine whether a repeat offender committed the crime. Witness statements can also be used in interrogating offenders in future investigations based on the description of the offender in past witness statements. Therefore, it is important to keep a record of witness statements for future reference.

According to Komter (2019), suspect statements are the key substance in the police report and help transform the police report into official evidence. The value of suspect statements is influenced by the fact that they are written by police officers operating under oath of office (Komter, 2019). Suspect statements are important in developing the facts of a case when preparing a case report. They are also essential in future investigations because they help investigators explain why the offender committed a crime and whether the suspect may commit the crime again.

According to Gehl & Plecas (2019), collecting suspect statements requires taking various steps to enhance the reliability of the statements. One of the steps is reviewing the suspect’s criminal record, profile, and past investigations. This step is important in determining whether the suspect can be trusted or not. The second step is reviewing the full details of the current investigation. This step is important in determining the information the investigators should seek in the suspect’s statement. The third step is determining the offense’s elements that should be approved. This step helps distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information in the suspect statement. The fourth step is determining if enough evidence has been acquired to submit a case. This step is important because it helps investigators decide whether the suspect statement is necessary.

The fifth step is examining evidence demonstrating means, opportunity, and motive. This step is important because it helps determine whether the suspect’s statement is accurate. For instance, if investigators determine that the suspect did not have a motive, they may consider a suspect’s statement genuine when they state that the offense was accidental. The sixth step is determining the evidence found and considered in forming reasonable grounds for arrest. This step is important in determining the relevance of the suspect statement in the case. The final step is determining the physical evidence yet to be analyzed to prove that the suspect was involved. This step is crucial in determining the relevance of the suspect’s statement and whether the suspect is telling the truth. Investigators should ensure that all suspect statements are recorded for future reference and use in court.

When preparing a case report, a fact-in-issue is essential in determining whether there was an offense or crime. For instance, if the offense involves a breach of contract, the investigators should determine whether there was execution of a contract and whether either of the parties involved failed to honor their obligations. Additionally, a fact-in-issue is important in preparing a case report because it helps prove that there was a crime or offense and whether investigators should begin investigations. Facts of the case are important in preparing a case report because they help confirm the accuracy of witness, victim, and suspect statements. Facts of the case also guide investigators in preparing a case report on the information they should focus on when presenting the witness, suspect, and victim statements. Facts of the case are also important in future investigations because they help investigators determine the evidence they should consider when deciding whether the suspect is guilty or innocent.

Christian Worldview

Although the Christian Worldview upholds that God is almighty and sovereign, it acknowledges that holding people accountable for their actions is important and that no human should harm another human. The Christian Worldview also supports using facts to determine whether a person is guilty. Therefore, proper note-taking when preparing case reports is encouraged in the Christian Worldview to promote justice. The Christian Worldview also prohibits crime, thus encouraging the implementation of legal practices to punish wrongdoers. For example, crimes such as murder and theft are prohibited in the Ten Commandments, thus encouraging Christians to support any actions that can help prevent the crimes, such as taking legal action. The Ten Commandments also prohibit lying, thus influencing witnesses and victims to speak the truth when giving their statements.

Conclusion

Case reports are important in making decisions on whether a suspect is guilty. Preparing a case report includes considering the report’s main elements, including reporting person/victim statements, witness statements, suspect statements, and facts of the case. When preparing a case report, it is important to consider what the victim says about how the crime or offense was committed and how it affected them. Victim statements are also important in future investigations because they can help investigators understand an offender’s pattern in committing a crime or offense and identify repeat offenders. When preparing a case report, witness statements help construct the case’s facts. Witness statements are also important in future investigations because they can help confirm an offender’s actions, reconstruct a crime scene to determine whether a repeat offender committed the crime, and help interrogators interrogate suspects based on the description of the offender in past witness statements. Therefore, it is important to keep a record of witness statements for future reference. Suspect statements are equally important in developing the facts of a case when preparing a case report. They are also essential in future investigations because they help investigators explain why the offender committed a crime and whether the suspect may commit the crime again. Facts of the case are important in preparing a case report because they help confirm the accuracy of witness, victim, and suspect statements and guide investigators in preparing a case report on the information they should focus on when presenting the witness, suspect, and victim statements. Facts of the case are also important in future investigations because they help investigators determine the evidence they should consider when deciding whether the suspect is guilty.

 References

Gehl, R., & Plecas, D. (2019). Introduction to criminal investigation: Processes, practices, and thinking. Open Textbook Library.

Komter, M. (2019). The suspect’s statement. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107445062

Kunst, M., de Groot, G., Meester, J., & van Doorn, J. (2021). The impact of victim impact statements on legal decisions in criminal proceedings: A systematic review of the literature across jurisdictions and decision types. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 56, 101512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2020.101512

Macgregor, L., Peacey, C., & Ridsdale, G. (2021). 17. Witness statements and documentary evidence. Civil Litigation, 332–350. https://doi.org/10.1093/he/9780192844293.003.0017

Sallam, D. (2023). Role of “fact in issue” in civil and criminal matters. The EduLaw. https://portal.theedulaw.com/SingleNotes?title=role-of-fact-in-issue-in-the-civil-and-criminal-matters

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For this Research Paper: Case Report Assignment, you will prepare a research paper. To date
in the course, you have learned about the role of notetaking and the language required to
complete a case/offense report. For this Research Paper: Case Report Assignment, you should
discuss the elements of notetaking and its role in completing a thorough offense/case report.

Additionally, the Research Paper: Case Report Assignment should discuss the major
components of a case report in detail, to include the face sheet/cover sheet, Introduction,
Reporting Person/Victim Statements, Witness Statements, Suspect Statements and Facts of the
case and how these elements are critical to both, the completion of the report as well as any
future investigations.
INSTRUCTIONS
The Research Paper: Case Report Assignment must include the following elements:
 Title Page;
 Introduction;
 Body (including an Introduction, Body Paragraphs/Argument Section, and Conclusion);
and
 Reference Page