Catalog Course Search Details

 Department:    CJ

 Course #:    170

 Credits:    3

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    3

 CIP:    430103

 EPC:    832

 REV:    2018

 Course Description  

Study, analysis and practice in criminal justice report writing. Emphasis on terminology, spelling, and report content. Examines use of reports in court systems, and offers familiarization with various agency report forms.

 Prerequisite  

Prerequisite: ENGL 99 or equivalent.

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 33

Lab: 0

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0

Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Vocational Preparatory Required for ATA degree  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

1. Relate reasons for writing police reports, including bias and reasons for when they are written.
2. Describe what information is included in a report.
3. Itemize the principles of good police report writing.
4. Outline the �parts� of a police report.
5. Understand the �who, what, when, where, why and how� of report writing.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2008 and affects outlines for 2008 year 1 and later.

1. Information Literacy

Definition: Recognizing when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
1.1 Determine the extent of information needed.
1.5 Effectively integrate and use information ethically and legally to accomplish a specific purpose.

2. Critical Thinking

Definition: The ability to think critically about the nature of knowledge within a discipline and about the ways in which that knowledge is constructed and validated and to be sensitive to the ways these processes often vary among disciplines.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
2.1 Identify and express concepts, terms, and facts related to a specific discipline.

3. Communication

Definition: Understanding and producing effective written, spoken, visual, and non-verbal communication.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
3.1 Recognize, read, and comprehend academic and/or professional writing.
3.4 Produce academic and/or professional writing and integrate it into written and spoken projects.

6. Individual Awareness & Responsibility

Definition: Understanding, managing, and taking responsibility for one’s learning and behavior in varied and changing environments.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
6.2 Demonstrate standards of professionalism in manner, appearance, and setting appropriate to the context, including the classroom, workplace, and community.

10. Technology

Definition: Understanding the role of technology in society and using technology appropriately and effectively.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
10.3 Use technology appropriate to the context and task to effectively retrieve and manage information, solve problems, and facilitate communication.

Course Contents

1. Report structure.
2. Purpose of police reports.
3. Notebooks.
4. Sentences and paragraphs.
5. Crime, scene sketching.
6. Organization of police reports.
7. Practical exercises.
8. Grammar and sentence structure.
9. Spelling.