What are the The Role of Field Notes in a Criminal Investigation?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Field notes have many benefits for both the officer and the department. Most notes result from interviews, but there are other uses as well. For example, notes may be the most important step in the initial documentation of a crime scene. An investigator’s field notes are his or her most personal and readily available record of the crime-scene search.
When to Take Notes

The investigative process begins as soon as an officer gets a call to the scene of a crime. Accordingly, the note-taking process also begins at this time. Officers should remember that note taking is a continual process that occurs throughout the duration of an officer’s involvement in an investigation.
What to Write Down

It would be ideal if investigative notes could begin with the assignment of the officer to the case and follow through in a logical flow of events to the culmination of the investigation. When first encountering a witness or victim, it is important for the investigator to allow the person to state in his or her own words what occurred. After the subject provides his or her initial explanation, then more specific questions should be asked to pinpoint exactly what occurred.
Developing a Not Taking System
It is advisable for a system of note taking to be developed to allow an officer greater swiftness in his or her interviews. This can be illustrated by using “S” for suspect, “V” for victim, “W-1” for witness number 1, “C” for complainant, and so on. When adopting this system, officers should be careful not to move into “shorthand,” making it difficult for others to interpret what the notes are trying to say.
Field Interview Cards
One unique and successful method of documenting information on the street is through the use of field interview cards (FI cards). The FI card is used to document names, addresses, and other pertinent information. At the end of the officer’s watch, he or she turns in the FI cards, and they are filed for future reference.