Deck 6: Field Notes and Reporting

Question 1

Which of the following is not one of the police dispositions used by police supervisors?

A) Unfounded.
B) Exceptionally cleared.
C) Inactive.
D) Referred to plainclothes investigation.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following should not be routinely recorded in a report?

A) Physical and email addresses.
B) Telephone, cell-phone, and pager numbers.
C) Occupation.
D) All of the preceding should routinely be recorded in a report.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Field notes are useful for all of the following reasons except

A) they are more reliable than an officer's memory.
B) they are the secondary source for the incident report.
C) they may reduce the need to re-contact parties involved.
D) the can be used to defend the integrity of the incident report.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

What is the purpose of field notes?

A) To provide a short written record of events.
B) To replace incident reports when the call is minor and a full report is not necessary.
C) It may be used to replace the booking slip when a person is arrested.
D) To keep a written, continuing record of conditions in the field.

Question 5

Mobile Computer Terminals (MCT)have reduced demands on the overcrowded voice channels and enhanced officer safety.Which of the following is not one of the advantages/functions of a MCT?

A) Provide secure communications between officers.
B) Allow officers to directly check important databases.
C) Receive information about newly wanted persons, including a facial composite likeness.
D) Submit mug shots from the field to a database to confirm the identity of a suspect.

Question 6

Interrogatory questions include all of the following categories except

A) who.
B) what.
C) why.
D) why not.

Question 7

Which of the following is not one of the guidelines for note taking outlined in the textbook?

A) Listen attentively without interrupting the speaker.
B) Review all specifics in your notes with the person providing the information.
C) Provide the speaker a copy of your notes so that he/she can have the information for possible court testimony.
D) Allow time for the person to consider the information you have stated and to verify it, correct it, or add information.

Question 8

The textbook suggests that the best way to organize the narrative report is to write it

A) alphabetically.
B) by suspect interview first.
C) chronologically.
D) by witnesses' statement.

Question 9

With regard to the value of stolen property,which statement is true?

A) It may determine whether the offense is a felony or a misdemeanor.
B) For articles subject to depreciation, the fair market value should be used, unless new or nearly so and the replacement cost is to be used.
C) Non-negotiable instruments should be valued at their replacement cost rather than at their face value.
D) All of the preceding are true.

Question 10

Which of the following is/are not essential elements of reports?

A) Accuracy.
B) Clear communication of the meaning that the writer intended.
C) Inclusion of exculpatory information.
D) Both A and B.

Question 11

Incident reports must meet certain standards.Which of the following is/are the standards most usually cited?

A) Proper classification.
B) Fair information.
C) Timely submission.
D) All of the preceding are the standards most usually cited.

Question 12

Field notes represent the information which forms the content of the

A) statements.
B) follow-up investigation.
C) latent investigation.
D) incident report.

Question 13

Ipads are particularly useful in which type of enforcement activity.

A) Drug.
B) Vice.
C) Selective.
D) Traffic.

Question 14

An example of the continued development of wireless technology used by many police departments today is:

A) NIBRS.
B) MCTs.
C) MDRs.
D) WPS.

Question 15

The account of an incident is written in the blank space on the reverse of the report's face.What term(s)is/are this page referred to by?

A) Continuation.
B) Investigative narrative.
C) Supplemental.
D) All of the preceding are names given to this page.

Question 16

What protocols should be followed when documenting race/ethnicity/sex in a report?

A) Race/ethnicity/sex should never be documented in such a manner as to cast a person in a damaging or derogatory manner.
B) Race/ethnicity/sex should only be documented in a report when absolutely necessary to the elements of the crime.
C) Race/ethnicity/sex should be recorded as dictated by department written policy.
D) All of the preceding are proper protocols.

Question 17

What is typically used by officers to record their field notes?

A) Small pocket tape recorder.
B) Small loose-leaf or spiral bound notebook.
C) Laptop computer.
D) Mobile Data terminal.

Question 18

The face of a basic incident report would typically include information regarding all of the following except

A) continuation investigation.
B) type of crime.
C) the complainant.
D) the witnesses.

Question 19

Which of the following is administered by the FBI and provides detailed,descriptive information about criminal offenses?

A) UCR.
B) NCIC.
C) FCIC.
D) NIBRS.

Question 20

Using the data generated by a series of police incident reports to produce a crime analysis report would be an example of how incident reports can be used for what type of purpose?

A) Educational.
B) Productivity.
C) Operational.
D) Analytical.

Question 21

Write the report in ________,using "I arrived at the scene at 0821 hours".

Question 22

Why should you not repeat facts more than once in a report?

A) It is a waste of time.
B) Entries may conflict some way with one another.
C) It may call your credibility into question.
D) All of the preceding are reasons.

Question 23

Supplementary reports should be written

A) every day.
B) every week.
C) no less frequently than every 10 days.
D) monthly or at the request of the unit supervisor.

Question 24

What is required when a case is inactivated?

A) The person assigned responsibility for the case must complete a supplemental report to substantiate the basis for inactivation.
B) The assigned investigator must get approval from the "chain of command" before the case can be inactivated.
C) The case can only be inactivated by a commanding officer after requesting the case files.
D) None of the preceding.

Question 25

Write ________ sentences and paragraphs because they are less likely to be confusing or misunderstood by the reader (such as the prosecutor).

Question 26

After approving an incident report,the supervisor must make a ________ of the case.

Question 27

If a particular investigation must go beyond 28 days,what should be done to conclude the case?

A) New leads must be obtained that require investigation.
B) Supervisory approval must be obtained to ensure proper use of the investigators time.
C) Suspect(s) must be named in order to pursue the case.
D) Both A and C.

Question 28

The ________ of a person may be of some importance to an investigation.It may be useful in suggesting times when a person might be successfully and conveniently contacted.

Question 29

In addition to using mobile computer terminals,some agencies are using ________,which are small,handheld units that are particularly useful in traffic enforcement.

Question 30

The National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS)was created as part of the Uniform Crime Reports and is administered by the FBI.

Question 31

National crime reporting in this country dates back roughly 150 years,to the time when the FBI began collecting and publishing annual "counts" of offenses in its Uniform Crime Reports (UCR).

Question 32

Mobile computer terminals (MCTs)will allow an officer to check for "wants" and "warrants" on a suspect but will not allow the officer to access the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).

Question 33

Incident reports are a crucial source of investigative information and writing them are a popular "pastime" of the law enforcement community.

Question 34

An incident/offense report form is used for collecting personal information about the suspect,complainant,victim and witnesses.

Question 35

Field notes are the primary information source for preparing the incident/offense report.

Question 36

A case may be exceptionally cleared when

A) the suspect is arrested.
B) the suspect is arrested and some stolen property is recovered.
C) the suspect is arrested, charged, convicted, and all stolen property is recovered.
D) the police have established the identity of the perpetrator, but due to circumstances beyond their control cannot pursue the case further.

Question 37

Almost always,there is more information to document than can fit on the face of an incident report.The additional information is entered in narrative style.

Question 38

There are 6 main guidelines for taking notes including listening attentively and do not interrupt but do intervene if the speaker is losing focus.

Question 39

Field notes play a significant role in every criminal investigation.They provide a short written record of events,times,places,suspects,witnesses and other information.

Question 40

Field notes can be used to defend the integrity of the incident/offense report in court.

Question 41

When the police know who the perpetrator is but are unable to pursue the case further owing to circumstances beyond their control,such as the death of the only witness,the case is closed as ________.

Question 42

Describe the significant role of field notes in a criminal investigation.

Question 43

The continuance of a particular investigation beyond ________ should require supervisory approval to ensure proper use of an investigator's time.

Question 44

How would you characterize the difference between basic incident reports and those which are NIBRS?compliant?

Question 45

Identify and briefly discuss four reasons why field notes are important.

Question 46

Explain the importance of collecting physical,email addresses,and occupations when interviewing victims,witnesses,and suspects.

Question 47

The report must be ________,no detail should be added or deleted.

Question 48

What are the six primary interrogatory questions?

Question 49

Explain what an effective report is and what is required to write effective reports.

Question 50

Supplemental,or follow-up,reports should be written no less frequently than every ________.

Question 51

Circumstances under which supplemental reports are required include (1)when the offense is ________,and (2)when it is exceptionally cleared.

Question 52

After a uniformed supervisor accepts a report,there is a need for him/her to make a disposition of it.What are five dispositions which might be made?

Question 53

How are "smart" MCTs and I-pads being used in law enforcement?

Question 54

Briefly discuss the operational and administrative uses of incident reports.

Question 55

Explain supplemental reports and describe when they are utilized.