Technical Writing in Criminal Justice - Professor Question 3

Professor Question 3

What You’ll Be Writing in Criminal Justice

Writing in criminal justice is not only a matter of issuing tickets and checking the boxes on a pre-printed citation form. During the course of your career, you will be called upon to write a number of different types of communication.

Based on the following three activities, please provide examples/samples of the follow reports, press releases, and memos (in your own words, based on the information provided)

 (1) Reports and Narratives

When responding to criminal (or suspected criminal) activity, you will be expected to draft a report outlining what happened, who was involved, and detailing the facts of the incident. Typically, these reports are not admitted as evidence per se, but serve as a starting point for investigations. Provide a report based on the following information. You fill in the report based on what you did after arriving on the scene.

(You found John Doe lying on the ground with a gunshot wound outside a strip club)



 

(2) Press Release to the Community

You have to announce and detail briefly, new technology the department is purchasing at a cost of over one-million dollars (remember the public is not familiar with these things so you will have to do a little explaining and describing what , why, when, where, how) 

1. Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

  Algorithmic risk assessment

2. Better Electronic Monitoring Systems

  Radio frequency (RF) monitoring:

  Global Positioning System (GPS):

3. Pre-Crime Technology

  Facial recognition technology 

4. Improved Officer Protection

  Body-worn cameras

  Drones

 (3) Internal Communications (memos)

 

Calls from the public are getting louder and louder regarding officers being allowed to take their official vehicles home with them. Some officers live as far as 20 miles from their based stations. Numerous vehicles have been spotted at various grocery stores, even though the store is on a direct path to the officer’s house. Remember, this memo might be subpoenaed.