The document outlines the structure and essential headings for police arrest reports, including sections for source of activity, observations, booking, medical treatment, evidence, and statements from suspects, witnesses, and victims. Each section specifies the required details, such as probable cause and descriptions of the arrest and its circumstances. Additionally, it stresses the importance of comprehensive documentation for legal purposes.

1. Police Reports
Arrest Report Headings
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster

2. Headings are titles for the
different sections of a report.
They help organize and
standardize the report.
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster

3. Arrest Report Headings
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Source of Activity
Observations
Arrest
Booking
Medical Treatment
Evidence
Suspect Statements
Witness Statements
Victim Statements
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Evidence
Property Taken
Injuries
Use of Force
Supplemental
Charges
Additional Information
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster

4. All Arrest Reports Contain the First Four
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Source of Activity
Observations
Arrest
Booking
The others are used based on the circumstance
Copyright 2005-2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster

5. Source of Activity
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Sets the stage for the reader.
Includes:
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Date/Time
Officer’s Name
Officer’s Identification Number
Officer’s Assignment
Description of officer’s assignment
such as “on bicycle patrol wearing
a bicycle patrol officer’s uniform.”
May Include

Reasonable suspicion information
for the next part of the report.
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster

6. Observations
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Must include:
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Probable Cause
Elements of the Crime
May include:
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Reasonable Suspicion
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster

7. Arrest
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Includes:
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only the main charge for
which the person was
arrested
May include:
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Discovery of evidence
incidental to arrest
Spontaneous statements
by suspect
Re-arrest for more serious
charge
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster

8. Booking
A simple statement of where the person was
booked and for what charge. May Include:
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Evidence discovered during booking search
Spontaneous statements
Re-arrest
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster

9. Medical Treatment
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Medical treatment
given to:
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Suspects
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Victims

Witnesses

Officers
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At scene by EMS
and/or hospital.
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster

10. Evidence
Be Precise and
complete!
List in this order:
 Narcotics
 US Currency
 Firearms
 Evidence with
serial number
 Evidence without
serial number
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster

11. Suspect Statements
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Reference spontaneous statements here
so detectives and filing attorney will see
them.
Use for less formal interviews
For more formal interviews use a separate
statement sheet.
Always record who advised of Miranda
Rights.
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster

12. Witness Statements
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Use a sub-heading for each witness.
Use when statements are too long for
Observations section of arrest report, yet
too short for a “statement form.”
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster

13. Victim Statements
Use when statements
are too long for
Observations section of
arrest report, yet too
short for a “statement
form.”
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster

14. Property Taken
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Use for combined crime and arrest
reports.
List property taken in this order:
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US Currency
Firearms
Property with serial number
Property without serial number
Note: Com ned cr i m and ar r est r epor t s cannot be used
bi
e
f or al l cr i m
es, such as st ol en vehi cl es.
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster

15. Use of Force

Depending on
agency
requirements, a
separate heading
should be used to
justify and describe
any force used.
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster

16. Injuries
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This section is
used to describe
injuries caused by
the suspect
Notate, again,
medical treatment
Notate how
documented –
photographs, etc.
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster

17. Supplemental Charges
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
List supplemental
charges you are
requesting be filed.
Make sure the
“observations” part of
the report contains
elements and
probable cause
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster

18. Additional Information
Whatever else you need to write!
Remember: If it isn’t in the
report, for the purposes of court,
it didn’t happen!
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster

19. Arrest Report Headings
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Source of Activity
Observations
Arrest
Booking
Medical Treatment
Evidence
Suspect Statements
Witness Statements
Victim Statements






Evidence
Property Taken
Injuries
Use of Force
Supplemental
Charges
Additional Information
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster

20. Questions
Click for more about the author
© 2013 High Priority Targeting, Inc.,
Raymond E. Foster