English 28 Police Report Writing

100 Questions | By Catherinehalcomb | Updated: Jan 19, 2023 | Attempts: 3193

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Answer the following questions. Read instructions carefully. God Bless! :)

Questions and Answers

1.

Which statement is true of all criminal justice reports?
- A.
  
  They demonstrate officers’ professionalism
- B.
  
  They provide clues for follow-up investigations
- C.
  
  They provide data for statistical studies
- D.
  
  They help justify arrests or disciplinary actions
2.

Your report may be read by
- A.
  
  Your supervisor
- B.
  
  A newspaper reporter
- C.
  
  An attorney
- D.
  
  All of the above
3.

Which of the following must be included in your report
- A.
  
  The name of your supervisor
- B.
  
  The name and address of a close relative for each witness
- C.
  
  The reason you were at the location
- D.
  
  A brief description of the weather at the time of the incident
4.

The preparation stage of report writing includes
- A.
  
  Interviewing
- B.
  
  Outlining your report
- C.
  
  Investigating
- D.
  
  A and c
5.

The drafting stage of report writing includes
- A.
  
  Organizing your information
- B.
  
  Spellchecking words you’re unsure of
- C.
  
  Investigating
- D.
  
  A and c
6.

The revising stage of report writing includes
- A.
  
  Taking notes
- B.
  
  Spellchecking words you’re unsure of
- C.
  
  Verifying information
- D.
  
  B and c
7.

When writing a report, officers must sometimes
- A.
  
  Memorize witnesses’ names and addresses
- B.
  
  Insert opinions and hunches
- C.
  
  Blend two sets of stories
- D.
  
  Predict the outcome of an investigation
8.

The practice of identifying people at the scene as Witness 1, Witness 2, and so on is
- A.
  
  A good way to ensure objectivity
- B.
  
  A good way to ensure accuracy
- C.
  
  Helpful later when you’re preparing to testify in court
- D.
  
  Not recommended by your book
9.

Suppose you searched an inmate’s locker for contraband without finding anything suspicious. You should
- A.
  
  Write a report
- B.
  
  Not waste time writing a report
- C.
  
  Ask your supervisor for advice
- D.
  
  Recheck the list of contraband items to see what you might have missed
10.

Suppose you look for footprints at a crime scene without finding any. Your report should
- A.
  
  State that you looked for footprints
- B.
  
  State that you looked for footprints but didn’t find any
- C.
  
  State why you thought there might be footprints at the scene
- D.
  
  Omit any mention of footprints
11.

Which is not a category you might think about while preparing to write a report?
- A.
  
  Victims
- B.
  
  Emotions
- C.
  
  Suspects
- D.
  
  Yourself
12.

When you’re writing a report, recording hearsay may be
- A.
  
  A waste of time
- B.
  
  Inappropriate
- C.
  
  Useful for further investigation
- D.
  
  Unprofessional
13.

Dealing with a victim’s emotions
- A.
  
  Should be done first
- B.
  
  Should be avoided
- C.
  
  Is beyond the scope of an officer’s duties
- D.
  
  Is unprofessional
14.

Using quotation marks when you’re taking notes
- A.
  
  Is unprofessional
- B.
  
  Can create confusion when you’re writing your report
- C.
  
  Can be helpful in identifying someone’s exact words later
- D.
  
  Casts doubt upon your objectivity
15.

When slang is recorded in a report,
- A.
  
  The officer looks unprofessional
- B.
  
  The officer looks uneducated
- C.
  
  The officer is wasting time
- D.
  
  Explanations of unfamiliar words and phrases may be needed
16.

Establishing probable cause is especially important in a
- A.
  
  Type 1 report
- B.
  
  Type 2 report
- C.
  
  Type 3 report
- D.
  
  Type 4 report
17.

Which of the following should not be included in a report?
- A.
  
  Point of entry or exit
- B.
  
  Your theory about how the crime was committed
- C.
  
  Signs of trauma
- D.
  
  Steps taken to secure the crime scene
18.

When two officers are working a crime scene, the report should note
- A.
  
  Who did the interviews
- B.
  
  Assurances that they did not get in each other’s way
- C.
  
  Evidence that they are an effective team
- D.
  
  Which officer took the lead
19.

Controlling an interview with a witness
- A.
  
  Is insensitive
- B.
  
  Is sometimes necessary
- C.
  
  Requires permission from a supervisor
- D.
  
  Can cause you to be charged with misconduct
20.

Carrying a small notebook in a pocket
- A.
  
  Can damage your uniform
- B.
  
  Requires permission from a supervisor
- C.
  
  Can be helpful in an emergency
- D.
  
  Is not a recommended practice
21.

Writing the terms “Victim 1, Victim 2” instead of actual names
- A.
  
  Testifies to your professionalism
- B.
  
  Ensures objectivity
- C.
  
  Can cause confusion
- D.
  
  Makes reports read smoothly
22.

The events that happened at a crime scene are
- A.
  
  Recorded in the narrative
- B.
  
  Recorded in the disposition
- C.
  
  Not written down unless there’s a possibility of confusion later
- D.
  
  Left to your supervisor to record
23.

If you’re using a printed form or a computer template to write your report, you probably
- A.
  
  Won’t need a narrative
- B.
  
  Won’t need an opening sentence
- C.
  
  Won’t have to establish probable cause
- D.
  
  Don’t need to be concerned about completeness
24.

According to your book, the “5W” questions can be help you to
- A.
  
  Remember who was at a crime scene
- B.
  
  Remind you why became an officer in the first place
- C.
  
  Handle flashbacks in a report
- D.
  
  Establish probable cause
25.

In a report, flashbacks
- A.
  
  Are an issue with users of illegal substances
- B.
  
  Are jumps backward and forward in time
- C.
  
  Are moments when the officer remembers something that needs to be reported
- D.
  
  Are memories of previous crime scenes