BALLISTICS REPORT

WRITING
CHAPTER 13
I. PREPARATION OF REPORT
Ballistics report writing involves six parts of investigation,
one of which is to ascertain whether a particular firearm
submitted for ballistic examination is in working condition or
not. This constitutes the examination of the said firearm,
whether it was recently fired or not is subject to the
examination of the chemistry section
When a firearm is submitted for examination, it is important
to note whether the condition of the firearm is serviceable or
not.
 Note that in misfired ammunition as compared to the fired
ammunition, there are static marks on the test cartridge case.
In evidence bullet, compare it with a test bullet. In a
fragmentized bullet, a part of it is submitted to determine if
the fragment is part of the bullet. At the same time, take note
of the individual characteristic of the firearm and compare it
with the recognize standards.
The examination of pellets is the hardest examination
because the land and groove marks are present. The usual
findings include:
a. the gauge of the shotgun as determined by the presence
of the wad which shows the gauge
b. Kinds of shot shells.
 If a hole is caused by a bullet , the findings should be
the hole could have been cause by a bullet. This is the
chemist’s job. If the finding is insufficient, nothing is
accomplished.
NOTE: Unreliable report- refers to the report wherein
the findings do not have photographs.
II. PURPOSES OF WRITING AND
INVESTIGATION REPORT
1. To promote a permanent record of information obtained in the
course of an investigation
2. To communicate the information obtained in an investigation
3. To provide other investigators with a basis for continuation of an
investigation
4. To enable the supervisor- officer reviewing the work of the
investigator in determining whether the investigation is properly
developed or not.
5. To provide the proper authorities with a permanent record of facts
of the crime ; the perpetrator, names and addresses of witnesses,
the nature and location of physical evidences, and other matters
pertaining to the crime.
III. MECHANICS OF A GOOD REPORT
1. Reports are written to record the events in their
chronological order beginning with time and date
2. As much as possible reports should be typewritten or
written in ink. Never use pencil in writing a report
3. Reports should show complete names, addresses, aliases,
brief bio-data of victims or suspects
4. Abbreviation should be avoided except when commonly
used
5. Reports should be brief but not to sacrifice clarity
contained in other materials that would only lead to
confusion
6. Every incident should be written in separate form or
paragraph
7. Reports should be accurate and should state facts, not
opinions
8. Reports should answer the following six cardinal points of
investigation
a) what specific offense was committed
b) How was the offense committed
c) Who committed the offense
d) Where was the offense committed
e) When was the offense committed and
f) Why was the offense committed
IV. THE IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES IN
REPORT WRITING
1. ACCURACY- is achieved relating the information,
which was gained through physical senses to an
investigation. An investigator should be able to
distinguish the following:
a. Fact from hearsay
b. Fact from opinion, and
c. Fact from conclusion
2. COMPLETENESS- is achieved by narrating the facts
discovered during the course of the investigation.
When in doubt, the investigator must report the
following:
a. What information is lacking?
b. What efforts should be made to obtain the
information?
c. Why was the information not obtained?
d. What must be done to obtain the lacking
information?
3. BREVITY- is achieved by excluding from the report the
unnecessary details, but at the same time achieving
completeness by including all relevant, pertinent and essential
information.
A lengthy report does not mean the investigator did a good
job.

4. IMPARTIALITY- is achieved by, as a rule, reporting facts

without any addition or deduction. The investigator should not
conceal any information and should remain unbiased in the
course of an investigation or examination.
• 5. FORE- refers to front part of the report, is achieved
by arranging the contents of the report in such a way
that it is easy to identify any section, part or items of
the materials presented and their visual
arrangements.