Question 1

Which of the following is/are considered to be the basis for most police reports?

Accepted Answer

B

Question 2

Unless an agency has a special policy,a police officer should preserve notes until:

Accepted Answer

The notes should be preserved until the case is final. This ensures that the information is available in case it is needed for future reference or if there is a need to revisit the case. This also ensures that the officer has the necessary information to provide accurate testimony should they be called upon to do so.

Question 3

One of the biggest problems in report writing is:

Accepted Answer

A

Question 4

Effective field notes are noted for which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Effective field notes should be accurate, concise, and clear. This ensures that the information recorded is reliable, can be easily understood by others, and can be used for analysis and decision making. Therefore, all of the options (accuracy, brevity, and clarity) are important for effective field notes.

Question 5

A suite of computer applications designed primarily for small-to-medium size police departments is called:

Accepted Answer

"Enterpol" seems to be the most appropriate name for a suite of computer applications designed for police departments, as it is a play on the word "Interpol" (International Criminal Police Organization), which is a global police alliance. Options A and B are not relevant names for police department software, and option D misspells the name of Interpol.

Question 6

It is of utmost importance that a police report accurately reflect:

Accepted Answer

It is essential that a police report accurately reflects all the facts discovered by the police officer. This includes any statements made by witnesses or suspects, physical evidence discovered, and any relevant information that may help in solving the case. It is important to be thorough in documenting all information in order to create an accurate and complete record of the incident.

Question 7

What is considered as the basis for most police incident reports and should be taken as soon as practicable after an incident?

Accepted Answer

Field notes are considered as the basis for most police incident reports and should be taken as soon as practicable after an incident. While victim and witness statements are important, they may not always be available or reliable. Field notes are typically taken by the responding officer(s) and serve as a record of observations, actions taken, and other relevant details about the incident.

Question 8

Which of the following is an essential element of any police investigation?

Accepted Answer

Recording witness recollections is an essential element of any police investigation as it helps in gathering valuable evidence and information. Dictation of report, use of mobile data terminals, and proofreading reports are important tasks but not essential elements of an investigation.

Question 9

Most agencies records systems contain original reports and are retained for approximately how long?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Most agencies records systems contain original reports...

Question 10

Which type of report accompanies items of evidence?

Accepted Answer

Chain of custody reports accompany items of evidence to document the transfer of the evidence from person to person and to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the evidence for use in court. Evidentiary reports, narrative reports, and crime lab reports may also be generated in relation to the evidence, but they are not specifically identified as accompanying the evidence.

Question 11

Memory tools designed to ensure that the officer covers all facts in the investigative report include all EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The other options (A, B, and C) are all standard components of basic information gathering (i.e. who is involved, what happened, and when did it happen). "Whether" does not fit in as a necessary component to ensure all facts are covered.

Question 12

The outline method of report writing engages the use of:

Accepted Answer

Headings are used in the outline method of report writing to organize and structure the report.

Question 13

Arrest records are kept in which of the following manners?

Accepted Answer

Arrest records are typically kept in alphabetical order by the name of the arrestee, as well as by the offenses for which they have been arrested. This allows for easy access and retrieval of information, particularly when searching for a specific individual or crime.

Question 14

Most agencies records systems contain the originals of police reports that are retained for how long?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Most agencies records systems contain the originals...

Question 15

What type of report should accompany all items of evidence?

Accepted Answer

A chain of custody report should accompany all items of evidence to document the location and handling of the evidence from the moment it was collected to its arrival at the crime lab or court.

Question 16

Computer terminals limited to basic functions that do not allow officers direct access to criminal justice databases,automated field reporting,or the department's intranet and wireless network are known as:

Accepted Answer

The term "dumb terminals" originated from the early days of computing when the processing power was centralized and users had very limited interaction with the system, unable to access the mainframe's intelligence. The terminals were connected through a network, but didn't have the processing capacity to perform complex operations themselves. This is similar to the limited functionality of the computer terminals described in the question, which would be considered "dumb" or "basic" terminals.

Question 17

Which section of the police report is used to report facts of incidents?

Accepted Answer

The Narrative section of the police report is used to report the facts of incidents in a detailed, chronological order. This section includes information such as who was involved, what happened, when it happened, where it happened, and how it happened. The narrative section is important because it provides a clear understanding of the events leading up to the incident and the actions taken by the responding officers.

Question 18

Once the officer has gathered the necessary information,the next step is to ensure the report is accurate,complete and ___________.

Accepted Answer

Being fair in the report means that it presents an objective and unbiased account of the incident, which is an important aspect of police work as it helps maintain public trust in law enforcement. The other options, such as being free of all typos, reasonable, or referencing all evidence, are also important but they do not necessarily reflect the overall accuracy and completeness of the report.

Question 19

Police officers should use which certain type of information to ensure that everything is included?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Police officers should use which certain type...

Question 20

Which of the following method of report writing can save time?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following method of report...

Quiz 9: Police Reports and Other Correspondence