1. CRIMINAL JUSTICE REPORT
WRITING
THE HOW AND WHY
Part 12
Criminal Justice
Terminology in Police
Reports

2. CRIMINAL JUSTICE REPORT
WRITING
THE HOW AND WHY
Part 12
Criminal Justice
Terminology in Police
Reports

3. Criminal justice terminology is useful when it…
 accurately represents what happened at
the scene
 demonstrates that you’re following
procedures and regulations
 testifies to your professionalism and
training

4. Criminal justice terminology is not useful when
it…
 makes you sound out-of-date and out-
of-touch with modern practices
 wastes time
 transforms a simple report into
something complex and confusing
 substitutes pompous words for ordinary
language

5. Some criminal justice terminology is useful:
 distinguishing between burglary
(breaking and entering) and robbery
(use of force)
 knowing that verbal refers to both written
and spoken language (use oral for
speech)
 using expressions like bias crime, DUI,
aggravated assault, and chain of
custody correctly

6. But some criminal justice terminology should be
avoided:
 words that cause confusion or waste
time (ascertained, answered in the
affirmative, respective)
 language that substitutes jargon for
normal speech (Baker acted,
Mirandized)
 word choices that make simple
information hard to follow
(abovementioned, Victim 1, Witness 2)

7. Be sensitive when you speak or write about
minorities and special groups. Avoid:
 sexually charged terms like babe,
stacked, broad, and bombshell for
women
 offensive terms like crippled, crazy,
demented, and retarded for physical and
mental conditions
 ethnic, religious and sexual slurs

8. Use language precisely and carefully. For
example, don’t use advise (counsel) when you
mean tell (inform).
Incorrect: Sedaki advised me that he left
for work at 7:30 eachmorning.
Correct: Sedaki told me that he left for
work at 7:30 that morning.
Correct: I advised Pallatin to get medical
attention for her injuries.

9. Make clear, time-saving word choices:
Poor Word Choice Better
at the present time now
for the purpose of for
yellow in color yellow
the month of
September
September
9 a.m. in the morning 9 a.m.
for a period of two
weeks
for two weeks
relative to about

10. Avoid generalizations whenever possible:
 not I processed the area but I
photographed three sets of footprints
 not I contacted Witness 2 but I
telephoned George Vishnati
 not I Mirandized her but I used my
Miranda card to inform her of her rights

11. Ordinary words can be troublesome. Do
you know the difference between:
 your and you’re
 to, too, and two
 it’s and its
 who’s and whose
 passed and past
 their, they’re, there
…and similar words?

12. Strive for professionalism in everything
you write:
 keep learning about words
 refer to a dictionary when needed
 use the spellchecker and grammar
checker on your computer
 never stop expanding your word
knowledge

13. To Learn More:
Criminal Justice Report Writing is available in
softcover ($17.95) 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!

14. Find FREE report writing
resources online at
www.YourPoliceWrite.com