Effective Report Writing

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Contact Information

Paula Parker
Program Coordinator
prc11@psu.edu

Course Description

Can your reports hold up to the most challenging criminal and civil attorneys? Criminal and civil cases can be lost based on what is written in reports. Proper documentation of reasonable suspicion and probable cause are the foundations of report writing. Reports contain critical information showing constitutional justification for searches and seizures. Reports also identify the actions and behavior of suspects in cases where an officer is justifying the use of force. An officer’s ability to write with clarity as they articulate details and timelines is critical. Reports need to be factual, chronological, and clear in the description of the crime scene or encounter. This not only applies to criminal investigations but internal reporting as well.

Asynchronous Course Delivery

Our asynchronous course is self-paced and delivered online through a learning management system called Canvas. The course provides detailed information on report structure, style of writing, and attention to details. It is a true one-on-one experience for attendees and provides each student the time to evaluate information and construct a report. Each report generated by each student during the course will be reviewed by a subject matter expert who will provide guidance and suggestions for future assignments. During the course, officers will practice writing reports based on videos and statements, demonstrating their competency in report writing.

Key Concepts for Effective Report Writing

Key Concepts	Topics
Strategies to make written reports simple	Easy to read Understandable
Making reports fact-laden
Develop professional standards	Create consistent review standards
Using standards and writing styles to increase consistency	Document and report
Report writing training tactics and strategies
Address and review grammar basics	Essential grammar, spelling, and punctuation Chronological, past-tense, and first-person emphasis

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Registration

Course: Effective Report Writing (Course Description)
When: March 3, 2025 – March 14, 2025, All Day
Where: Asynchronous Course (Canvas)
MPOETC Credits: 0