Intelligent and accurate reporting is indispensable in criminal justice system. Police officers spend significant time in report writing because it is necessary for the criminal justice processing. Effective writing ensures that the information required in criminal justice process is accurate, precise and can be understood by other people. For example, writing effectively in criminal justice system means that the information and data in the report are clear. The data include the date of birth, name, height, scars, weight, and other information that act as evidence in the criminal justice process. The information in the report serves to communicate the actions and behavior of the defendant. In fact, effective writing allows other people using the report to determine the facts of the case and make informed decisions. Factual and precise reporting guide the criminal justice process (Miller & Whitehead, 2014). Also, effective writing helps the criminal justice actors to articulate the actions and maintain public order in the criminal justice system. Intelligent reporting creates a positive impression and access to justice. An effective written report in the criminal justice system leads to time saving, possible avoidance of court, better court preparation, and respect for superiors. Criminal justice system depends on reports in decision making and court proceedings. Ineffective writing in the criminal justice system may affect court decisions. Reports act as evidence; hence, when it is not written effectively it affects the decision of the judges.
Reports serve to communicate the actions and behavior of the defendant. Effective reports assist criminal justice system in making decisions. The reports and writing are used by a various stakeholder in the criminal justice system. Hence, effective writing enables detectives to follow well on the case. Effective writing entails avoiding plagiarism. Plagiarism refers to an act of fraud by stealing someone’s thoughts, ideas, expressions or language without giving credit. Plagiarism is an ethical offense (Miller & Whitehead, 2014). Plagiarism constitutes copying ideas of someone else and not giving credit, failing to put quotation marks, changing words, and owning other people work. Plagiarism affects professional writing negatively. Some of the effects include suspended from pay, revocation of professional writing, loss of professional sincerity, imprisonment, as well as lose of employment opportunity in the future.
Reference
Miller, L & Whitehead, J. (2014). Report Writing for Criminal Justice Professionals. London: Routledge
