Required Textbook: The Sage Guide to Writing In Corrections; Steven Hougland and Jennifer M. Allen
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.
