CHAPTER 2

THE INVESTIGATOR’S REPORT

QUESTIONS:

1. All of the following types of information would be 5. A defense counsel may examine the investigator’s
appropriate for an investigator’s notebook except: notebook if:

a. A description of the appearance and location of a. It contains the name of a confidential

objects at the crime scene. informant.
b. The official report of the investigation. b. The investigator uses it to refresh his or her
c. Interviews with witnesses. memory while testifying in court.
d. A description of the odors and atmosphere of c. It is illegible and needs to be deciphered.
the crime scene. d. The investigator is requested to relinquish it in a
polite manner.

2. An experienced investigator uses a notebook

6. One of the conditions sometimes placed on the use
because:
of the investigator’s notebook in court is that:

a. It is a legal requirement to do so.

a. it contains no cryptic or vague descriptions in it.
b. It is always necessary to use information from a
b. all of the information in it is accurate.
notebook when writing the report.
c. it contains original notes taken at the time of
c. Ordinarily, an investigator cannot remember all
the investigation.
of the important data in a case.
d. all of the information in it is relevant.
d. The sight of the investigator’s notebook
encourages candid interviews.
7. Having a bound notebook written in ink suggests
that:
3. Much of the data collected in the notebook will not
appear in the report of the investigation because:
a. that significant changes in the notebook were
made at a later date.
a. At the outset of an investigation, it is not easy
b. that significant changes in the notebook were
to determine which data is significant.
not made at a later date.
b. Most of the data collected will turn out to be
c. some pages are probably missing.
inaccurate.
d. many erasures were made.
c. Most of the data collected will be confidential.
d. The notebook must first be examined for
8. Having the notes of only one investigation in a
accuracy by a defense attorney in court.
notebook not only pre vents confusion but also:

4. The investigator’s notebook may contain all of the

a. Keeps the investigator concentrating on only
following types of descriptive information about the
one case.
crime scene except:
b. Keeps the investigator from writing
unintelligible comments.
a. The true location and condition of objects.
c. Prevents the disclosure of information from a
b. The odor and general atmosphere of the area.
separate investigation.
c. The representational or the schematic image of
d. Makes the loss of a notebook less of a problem.
the crime scene.
d. The inventory of articles of value.
9. Notes are gathered in:
a. chronological order determined by the
investigative steps or the receipt of information.
b. a logical order that is apparent from the
beginning of the case.
c. a completely random order as long as all
important notations are made.
d. no apparent order to confuse an examining
defense counsel.
10. Care and accuracy should be used when recording
notes. One important reason for this is the possibility of
a court examination of the note book. Another
important reason is:
a. that another investigator might at some point
have to assume responsibility for the
investigation.
b. that the supervisor might want to make
changes in the investigator’s notebook.
c. that the investigator knows exactly what he or
she does every day.
d. that the investigator may be able to change the
entries at a later date.
11. All of the following statements about note taking of
interviews are true, except:
a. The notes should include case identification,
hour, date, place of interview, and identification
of the person being interviewed.
b. A summary of the interview should be included.
c. Important statements should be recorded
verbatim if possible.
d. When dealing with a reluctant witness, a
notebook should be drawn out immediately at
the start of the interview.
12. In a major case, where a number of interviews must
be conducted, having________ would be the most
helpful and practical solution to the problem of note
taking.
a. extra investigators
b. extra notebooks
c. a portable voice recorder
d. the interviewees speak slower
13. The report of investigation serves all of the following
purposes except:
a. as an official record of the investigation.
b. as a source of leads for other investigators.
c. as a repository for all of the details of an
investigation.
d. as a basis for prosecution by the district
attorney.
14. The investigator’s report should reflect the basic
qualities of expository style including all of the following
except:
a. clear and brief.
b. imaginative and opinionated.
c. objective and impartial.
d. accurate and complete.
15. The report of investigation should include all of the
following findings of the investigator except:
a. information both favorable and unfavorable to
the suspect.
b. leads that produce positive as well as negative
results.
c. information that is both relevant and irrelevant
to the case.
d. statements and opinions of subjects and
witnesses clearly presented as such.
16. In order to eliminate unwarranted and misleading
suspicions, the report should include:
a. neither positive nor negative findings.
b. only positive findings.
c. only negative findings.
d. both positive and negative findings.
17. In major cases, status reports should be made:
a. at regular intervals.
b. only when new significant information has been
uncovered.
c. only after a suspect has been identified.
d. when all leads have been developed.
18. After the subject has been identified by full name in
the report, it is customary to subsequently refer to him
or her by:
a. full name in capital letters.
b. full name in lower-case letters.
c. last name in capital letters.
d. last name in lower-case letters.
19. The office in which the complaint was received or
which has jurisdiction over the area where the offense
took place is called the:
a. auxiliary office. c. headquarters.
b. office of origin. d. investigative agency.
20. When the status of a case is “pending,” this means
that:
a. the investigation is continuing.
b. the district attorney has presented the case to
the court.
c. the investigation depends upon the results of
following a particular lead.
d. the investigation is closed.
21. The synopsis on the cover sheet of the report is:
a. a detailed narrative account of the
investigation.
b. the investigator’s opinions, conclusions, and
recommendations.
c. a list of possible sources of information.
d. a brief description of the offense and a
summary of the major investigative steps taken.
22. The “Details” section of the report contains:
a. a narrative account of the investigation.
b. the conclusions and recommendations of the
investigator.
c. the undeveloped leads.
d. the enclosures or exhibits.
23. In the part of the report containing the
administrative data, all of the following information
should be included except:
a. the date, the file number, and the name of the
subject.
b. the nature of the case and the name of the
complainant.
c. the investigator’s conclusions and
recommendations. d. the name of the
investigator and the office of origin.
24. An “uncontacted” possible source of information is
called:
a. a confidential informant. c. a subject.
b. a material witness. d. an undeveloped lead.
25. The enclosure or exhibit section of the report may
contain all of the following except:
a. photographs and sketches of the crime scene.
b. a list of undeveloped leads.
c. identification photographs.
d. photocopies of checks.
26. A closing report may be filed in all of the following
circumstances except:
a. on the successful conclusion of the case.
b. when all leads are exhausted.
c. when the investigator is assigned a more important
case.
d. on orders from a higher authority.
27. In the investigator’s report, the identity of a
confidential informant:
a. should be disclosed.
b. should rarely be disclosed.
c. should be disclosed if it is a major crime.
d. should be disclosed if the individual has previously
provided information.
28. If practical, the statement of a subject should be set
forth verbatim which means:

a. the substance of his/her remarks should be recorded.

b. a summary of his/her statements should be written.
c. what the subject intended to say should be written.
d. the subject’s exact words should be transcribed.

29. All of the following are advantages of a system of

filing reports except:

a. It provides reviewing authorities the means of

checking on the work of the investigator.
b. It provides order, method, and routine to
investigative activity.
c. It provides a method of collecting and recording
irrelevant and immaterial information.
d. It gives supervisors the assurance there are no
obvious omissions in the investigation.

30. Police reports may be read by all of the following

except:

a. other officers and investigators.

b. defense attorneys, judges, and jurors.
c. insurance agency personnel and victim advocates.
d. reports may be read by all of these.