Crime reporters need access to public records and documents to obtain details about victims, suspects, and crimes. This includes police logs, jail logs, court records, university records, juvenile records, and crime scenes. Reporters must carefully attribute any accusatory information and follow guidelines to protect the privacy of victims and the presumption of innocence for suspects.

2. Crime reporters need access to witnesses and public records so they can get
details, ages, background, etc. – what people were doing, wearing and saying
when they became victims or suspects.
This includes:
● Police log – lists victims’ names and nature of crimes
o Public record
o Supporting documents (police reports) may not be available –
laws vary by state
● Jail log — details on arrest – check suspect’s name, age, birth date,
race, occupation, place of arrest and charges
● Previous criminal records – depending on state laws

3. ● Court records if person was convicted –
public unless sealed by a judge
o Names of all parties involved, including
lawyers
o Description of crime and all motions filed in
the case
o Disposition of the case, including specific
terms of the sentence, probation or
dismissal
o Some minor convictions may have record
erased or “expunged” after a number of
years or sealed and available only to law
enforcement/courts

4. ● University records
o In 1986, Jeanne Ann Clery, 19, was raped
and murdered at Lehigh U.
o There had been 38 other violent crimes on campus
within previous 3 years, but university at the time
not required to divulge that info.
o Landmark federal law was enacted for all colleges and
universities getting federal aid to release 3 years’ of crime stats.
 Initially called Campus Security Act, amended in 1998 and
renamed Clery Act
 Requirements: annual security report, crime stats, timely
warnings, crime log

5. o Another federal law allows universities to withhold names on crime reports
 Buckley Amendment to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
prohibits govt. agencies from releasing any personal data about
students and employees in institutions that receive federal funding.
 Another change to Act after VA Tech shooting in 2007 requires
institutions to have a plan notifying campus of emergencies.

6. ● Juvenile records – all states restrict release of records of minors
o Judge can authorize their release
o Newspapers can use name:
 If a juvenile treated as an adult (a decision made by a judge)
 If a juvenile’s name is mentioned in open court
o Most media outlets have policies to withhold names of juveniles, but
that’s more ethical than legal. The media may use the name if
received under legitimate means.
● Crime scene – police have right to protect crime scene and limit access to
press. If it is public property, press and photographer can get as close as
police will allow. If private property, it’s at the discretion of police or
property owners. Generally some access as long as not disruptive.

7. ● Withhold names of suspects unless formally charged with a crime
● Arrested = stopped for questioning
● Official suspect after charges have been filed at an arraignment (hearing)
● Person of interest – more recently police have begun releasing name of a
suspect as a “person of interest” before actual charges are filed. Most often
used in high-profile cases and when police have good reason to believe the
suspect will soon be charged with the crime
o Controversial though because it casts suspicion on someone who may be
innocent (i.e., Richard Jewell, Olympic Park “bomber”)
● Some media outlets withhold names of victims to protect privacy
● Harm vs. Good

8. ● When names are used, always use full name, including middle initial and
double check spelling. Don’t rely on police reports; check the phone book or
other directory.
● If there is a discrepancy, call the officer or go with the police report.
● ATTRIBUTE!

9. ● ALL people are innocent until proved guilty in court or until they plead guilty.
● Only DA office can charge someone with a crime – most media wait until formal
charges except in sensational cases when the arrest is important.
● Be careful of calling someone a victim of a crime, unless they are dead or visibly
injured. Otherwise, suspect has to be proven guilty before you can say the other
person is a victim.
● “Alleged victim” or “the accuser” – alleged is dangerous to use because it means
to declare or assert without proof.
● So, don’t say, “Smith allegedly robbed the bank” – you are then the source of
the allegation. Say, “Police allege Smith robbed the bank.”
● The term is accused of, NOT accused with…
● Not “accused bank robber Sally Smith… (this convicts her) but ok to say “Sally
Smith, accused of the robbery….”

10. ● Make sure you attribute all accusatory info and much of the info you
receive second hand (that is, not by direct observation).
● Factual info doesn’t need attribution, for example the location of a
crime. If someone is charged, you can state that as a fact.
● Overview attribution – “Police described the incident this way”
● Bail – amount of money, set by a judge, that the suspect has to deposit
with the court to be released from jail pending a hearing or trial. If the
suspect flees, the bail money goes to the court.
● Before writing a story, check clips, but be sure to also check to see if
charges were dropped or if the person is awaiting trial or has been
convicted.

11. ● Victims – get full names, ages, addresses and occupations, if available
and use if relevant
● Suspects – get full names, ages, addresses if available. If not, get a
description. Check with editors about whether to include race or ethnic
background. A general rule is to avoid mentioning them unless it’s crucial
to the story or description of a suspect
● Cause of fatalities or injuries, description of the injuries, where injured
people were taken and current condition if available. If property is
involved, specify causes and extent of damage
● Location and time of incident

12. ● What happened – make sure you understand the sequence of
events; always ask about any unusual circumstances.
● Arrests and charges filed – if arrested, where people are
being held, when they will be arraigned or when the next
court procedure will be. If already arraigned, amount of bail.
● Eyewitness accounts – comment from neighbors may be
relevant. Be careful about using accusation against named
individuals; if in doubt, leave it out.

13. Specific crime stories
For the first day of a major crime story, use a hard news approach. For follow-
up stories and sidebars, you can use some of the storytelling techniques.
Motor vehicle accidents – Usually take a hard news lead. It is customary to
lead with fatalities and injuries.
● Speed, destination, direction of vehicles and exact locations at time of
accident
● Cause of accident, arrests, citations and damages
● Victims’ use of required equipment, such as seat belts and helmets
● Weather-related information if relevant
● Alcohol- or drug-related information
● Rescue attempts or acts of heroism

15. Mention in lead any injuries or deaths and use serious
tone (obviously). Otherwise, use your judgment, and
lead with any unusual angles or with what was
taken or how burglars got in.
● Burglary – entry into a building with intent to
commit any type of crime
● Robbery – stealing with violence or a threat
against people
● Robbery = burglary + violence

16. Whether you take a hard or soft lead depends on how serious the crime
was (always hard lead if death or injury) whether it is the first story on the
crime and whether you have enough interesting/unusual information to
warrant a soft approach.
● Ask the basics (who, what, when, where, why, how)
● What was taken and the value of the goods
● Types of weapons used (in robberies)
● How entry was made
● Similar circumstances (frequency of crime or any odd conditions)
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/police-search-for-
armed-man-who-robbed-family-dollar-store/article_c44babee-1695-
52f2-8465-c25c5d449756.html

17. ● Homicide is the legal term for killing.
● Murder is the term for premeditated homicide.
● Manslaughter is homicide without premeditation.
A person can be arrested on charges of murder but is not a
murderer until convicted of a crime. Don’t say someone was
murdered unless authorities have established that the victim was
murdered – in a premeditated act of killing – or until a court
determines that. Say the person was slain or killed.

18. Besides the basics, also get:
● Weapon (specific description such as.38-caliber
revolver)
● Clues and motives (from police)
● Specific wounds
● Official cause of death (from coroner or police)
● Circumstances of suspect’s arrest (result of tip or
investigation, at scene?)
● Lots of details, from relatives, neighbors, friends,
officials, eyewitnesses and your own observations
at scene
● If you can’t get to the scene, use your cross-directory
to find neighbors to contact by telephone

19. Although fire stories may not be crime stories (unless arson or other criminal
behavior is involved), police reporters are often responsible for fire
stories. Put fatalities in lead and use a hard news lead. Follow-up stories
and sidebars can take storytelling techniques.
INCLUDE:
● Time fire started, time fire companies responded, time fire was brought
under control
● Number of fire companies responding, number of trucks at scene
● Evacuations, if any, and where people were taken
● Injuries and fatalities (make sure to ask if any firefighters were injured)
● Cause (if arson is suspected), how and where fire started

20. ALSO INCLUDE:
● Who discovered the fire, extent of damage, insurance coverage
● Description of building
● Estimated cost of damages
● Presence and condition of smoke detectors or sprinkler system
(especially in a public building or apartment building if city
requires them
● Fire inspection record, fire code violations (usually for follow-up
story, especially in public buildings)
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/blast-fire-
destroy-home-in-venice/article_18dc2cdb-7195-5dd1-9afd-
fb16c9b16b3e.html

21. Writing about crime is the first step. The next step takes place in the courtroom.
You need a basic understanding of the process and terminology used.
Avoid legal terms as much as possible but explain them when you do use them.
Go by this guideline: if you don’t understand something, chances are your
reader won’t either, so make you understand the subject matter enough to write
a clear story.
Basic guidelines
● Get reactions, facial expressions and gestures of the defendant and the
accusers, attorneys, relatives and other people affected by the case,
especially in trial stories and verdict stories.
● Use descriptive detail and color – lively quotes, dramatic testimony and
dialogue.

22. ● Translate all jargon and avoid legal terminology
● State exact charges in the story
● Give the background of the crime, no matter how many stories have been published
about the case
● Include the name of the court where the trial or hearing is being held
● Get comments from defendants, prosecutors, defense attorneys, plaintiffs (the people
who brought suit or filed charges), relatives, and jurors in all verdict stories
● In verdict stories, include how long the jury deliberated, how many jurors were on the
case. In some cases, the amount of time the jury deliberated may be a major factor. In
all cases, the length of deliberation is part of the story.
● Write the next step – the next court appearance or, in verdict stories, plans for an
appeal if the defendant is found guilty

23. Writing court cases
When the verdict is issued in a major trial that has garnered interest locally
or nationally, a hard-news approach is appropriate. A soft lead also may
work but make sure you put the verdict very high in the story.
● A court case is a continuing saga
● Don’t assume reader is familiar with the case, no matter how sensational
so always include background info
● Whether hard news or soft news lead, make sure nut graph explains
who is being accused of what and place it high in story
● Many court stories don’t appear balanced because on any given day,
one side may present arguments so you won’t always have a story that
seems fair to both parties

24. Reminders:
● Explain charges and background
● Describe defendants and witnesses
● Specify court where the proceeding takes place
● Tell how long the jury deliberated in verdict stories
Criminal and Civil cases
Two basic categories of court cases:
● Criminal – violations of any laws regulating crime
● Civil – involve lawsuits between two parties

25. Federal courts have jurisdiction over matters relating to:
● US Constitution (i.e., civil rights)
● Federal tax and antitrust matters
● Other federal laws
● Cases between people from different states
Lowest to highest court:
● U.S. District court – most cases involving federal issues are first
heard
o 89 districts in the 50 states – IL in Southern District
o 1 each: Guam, DC, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands

26. ● U.S. Court of Appeals (Circuit Court)
o Intermediary court federal district court cases are appealed
o 11 geographical areas plus US Court of Appeals for DC Circuit
▪ Illinois in 7th Circuit
● U.S. Supreme Court
o Highest court in the nation
o Justices do not have to rule on all cases

27. State courts
● Trial court
● Appeals court
● State supreme court
Cases from a state’s highest court may be appealed to the US Supreme
Court if there is a federal angle, such as a constitutional matter (a First
Amendment issue) or a civil rights violation.
Other courts:
● Municipal courts – violations of local laws, such as traffic laws or city
ordinances
● Juvenile courts – cases involving people under age 18
● probate courts – disputes involving wills and estates

28. Criminal Court process
Crimes are either
● Misdemeanor – minor offenses with a potential penalty of up to
a year in jail and/or a fine
● Felonies – more serious crimes punishable by more than a year
in prison

29. Criminal procedures (differ by state but there are general
processes)
● Arrest
● Booking
● Arraignment
● Preliminary hearing (for felonies)
● Trial and verdict
● Sentencing in guilty verdict
● Appeal

30. Civil Court process
● Suit is filed
● Motions filed by lawyers
● Trial, if not settled in
pretrial hearing
● Ruling by judge or jury
● Sentencing in guilty verdict
● Possible appeal