So much of the process of criminal justice depends on good documentation, and criminal justice professionals can spend as much as 50% to 75% of their time writing administrative and research reports. Report Writing for Criminal Justice Professionals, Fifth Edition, provides practical advice on report writing to equip students and professionals in law enforcement, security, and corrections with the knowledge they need to put together well-written, accurate, brief, and complete reports. Much of the legal process depends on the careful documentation that records crucial information. Using specific writing samples and guidelines, the authors of Report Writing for Criminal Justice Professionals, Fifth Edition, go beyond the routine English grammar approach and tackle the difficult but commonly ignored, problem of creating documentation that will hold up in court. Important concepts are emphasized with related checklists, forms, and pullout chapter tests, and the book is organized into three sections, making it an easy-to-use and informative reference for anyone working or learning in the field of criminal justice administration. NEW TO THIS EDITION The fifth edition has been updated and revised with new material on forensics and scientific reports, crime reporting, common errors in forensic reports, and the 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. Important concepts are enhanced with related checklists and real-world example forms.

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.