Criminal Justice 8: Quoting Exact Words

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REPORT WRITING THE HOW AND WHY Part 8 Quoting Exact Words

Criminal justice reports often record word-for-word what a witness or suspect said.Getting these statements right is an importantskill—and one that’s easy to learn.

Here are some important guidelines: Use exact words even if you’ll have to write down some objectionable language (obscenities, sexism, slang, bad grammar) Use the correct punctuation Avoid unnecessary repetition

Getting the words exactly right mattersbecause… a suspect’s or witness’s words can help build the case for a conviction investigators can study a suspect’s speech patterns and word choices for clues, especially if a suspect has distinctive verbal habits

Getting the punctuation right mattersbecause… your report will look professional you’ll avoid confusion about who said what

In American punctuation, commas and periodsalways go inside (before) quotation marks:“I never laid a hand on my daughter,” Roker toldme. CORRECT“I never laid a hand on my daughter”, Roker toldme. INCORRECT

Here are two more examples: Hassan told me, “I can prove I was at work that evening.” CORRECT Hassan told me, “I can prove I was at work that evening”. INCORRECT

Remember: In the U.S., commas and periodsalways go inside (before) quotation marks.There are no exceptions.Canada and the United Kingdom use a differentsystem. When you’re on American soil, useAmerican punctuation.

When you’re not writing a person’s exact words,omit the quotation marks.Donna Johnson said that Ted Carver had beenstalking her daughter. CORRECT (not Donna’sexact words)Donna Johnson said, “Ted Carver has beenstalking my daughter.” CORRECT (Donna’s exactwords)

Avoid unnecessary repetition when you’rerecording a person’s exact words.Here’s an example of unnecessary repetition:I asked Guttmann what happened. He said he and Knapphad argued about some tools that Knapp had borrowed. Iasked Gutmann what happened next. He said Knapppunched him in the face. I asked Gutmann what he did inresponse. He said he hit Knapp on the side of the head. Iasked Guttmann if he called the police. He said yes, hecalled 911.

Here’s the conversation again, without therepetition: I asked Guttmann what happened. He said he and Knapp had argued about some tools that Knapp had borrowed. Knapp punched him in the face, and Gutmann hit Knapp on the side of the head. Guttmann called 911.

Remembering and accurately recording aperson’s exact words is an important lawenforcement skill.You can increase your ability to recall exactlywhat people say. Everyday life offers manyopportunities to improve your capacity forconcentration and recall:conversations, meetings, and TV and radiobroadcasts are good examples.

To Learn More:The Criminal Justice Report Writing Guide for Officers is available in softcover ($19.95) from www.Amazon.com and in a variety of ebook and Apple formats (Kindle, Nook, SONY etc.) for $11.99 from www.Smashwords.com. Read a free sample online!

http://yourpolicewrite.com	44
http://www.yourpolicewrite.com	23
http://205.118.160.41	1

Criminal Justice 8: Quoting Exact Words

by Jean Reynolds

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

3 Embeds 68

Statistics

Criminal Justice 8: Quoting Exact Words Presentation Transcript