Report Writing for Criminal Justice Professionals

by Miller, Larry S.; Whitehead, John T.

• ISBN13: 9781437755848
• ISBN10: 1437755844
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-10-14
• Publisher: ROUTLEDGE

Summary

So much of the process of criminal justice depends on good documentation, and criminal justice professionals can spend as much as 50-75% of their time writing up administrative and research reports. Much of the legal process depends on the careful documentation that records crucial information. And yet most of these law enforcement, security, corrections, and probation and parole officers have not had adequate training in how to provide a well-written, accurate, brief, and complete report. Report Writing for Criminal Justice Professionals provides practical advice on report writing -- with specific writing samples and guidelines. The authors go beyond the routine English grammar approach to deal with the difficult but often-ignored problem of documentation that will hold up in court. Important concepts are emphasized with related checklists, forms, and pull-out chapter tests. The material is organized into three sections: The Nature of Report Writing, The Mechanics of Report Writing, and The Modernization of Report WritingNEW TO THIS EDITION Updated and revised with new material on forensics and scientific reports, crime reporting, common errors in forensic reports, and automation of report writing. Appendixes are thoroughly revised, with new examples of reporting forms, worksheets, and reports, including a sample forensic lab report and presentence investigation report. Text complemented by numerous examples, sample reports and tools. Each chapter concludes with a sample test for the reader to self-evaluate learning. Appendices include model reports, examples of agency instructions for completing report forms and selected readings.

Table of Contents

The Nature of Report Writing

The Why and How of Report Writing

Starting to Write

The Face Page

The Narrative - The Continuation Page and Follow-Up Report

Habits that Make for Speedy Writing

Other Types of Writing

Reading and Correcting Reports

The Mechanics of Report Writing

Simplified Study of Grammar

Avoiding Errors in Sentence Structure

Making Punctuation Work

Breaking the Spelling Jinx

Using or Abusing Words

Abbreviating and Capitalizing

The Modernization of Report Writing

Innovations and Predictions in Criminal Justice

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