OACP Report Writing Fundamentals 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes 'objective' language in a police report?
- Language that supports the officer's theory of the case
- Language based on verifiable observations free from personal bias (Correct answer)
- Language that minimizes the severity of an incident
- Language chosen to make the narrative easier to read
Correct answer: Language based on verifiable observations free from personal bias
Objective language reports what was seen, heard, or measured without filtering it through personal opinion or bias.
Question 2: In a property theft report, what distinction must be made regarding property value?
- Officers must appraise property themselves
- The complainant's estimated value and any confirmed market value should both be noted (Correct answer)
- Only values over $5,000 need to be documented
- Property value is irrelevant to the report
Correct answer: The complainant's estimated value and any confirmed market value should both be noted
Recording both the owner's estimate and any confirmed value ensures accuracy without requiring the officer to appraise property independently.
Question 3: What is the significance of the 'occurrence number' assigned to a police report?
- It indicates the priority level of the call
- It is a unique identifier linking all documents and updates related to the same incident (Correct answer)
- It reflects the geographic zone where the incident occurred
- It is assigned by the Crown Attorney's office after review
Correct answer: It is a unique identifier linking all documents and updates related to the same incident
The occurrence number is the primary index key that connects the initial report, supplements, and related files into a single investigation record.
Question 4: An officer writes that a scene 'smelled strongly of marijuana.' What type of observation is this?
- A conclusory statement that should be removed
- A sensory observation that is factual and appropriate to include (Correct answer)
- Hearsay and therefore inadmissible in a report
- An officer opinion that requires supporting lab evidence
Correct answer: A sensory observation that is factual and appropriate to include
Olfactory observations are legitimate sensory perceptions that can be documented as factual observations by a trained officer.
Question 5: Why is it important to document the exact location of evidence within a crime scene in the report?
- To allow crime scene photos to be deleted later
- To establish the spatial relationship of evidence, which may be critical to reconstructing events (Correct answer)
- To comply with municipal property bylaws
- To determine which officer is responsible for collecting it
Correct answer: To establish the spatial relationship of evidence, which may be critical to reconstructing events
The precise location of evidence helps reconstruct the sequence of events and supports or refutes statements made by involved parties.
Question 6: What does 'corroboration' mean in the context of report writing?
- Rewriting a report to align with a supervisor's version
- Supporting information from a separate source that confirms key facts in the report (Correct answer)
- A formal approval signature on the completed report
- Translating the report into French for bilingual compliance
Correct answer: Supporting information from a separate source that confirms key facts in the report
Corroboration refers to independent evidence or statements that confirm the facts documented in the report, strengthening its reliability.
Question 7: When completing a Crown Brief for a criminal prosecution, what standard of completeness applies?
- Include only evidence that supports the charge
- Include all relevant evidence, including exculpatory evidence that may favour the accused (Correct answer)
- Include only evidence the Crown specifically requests
- Omit witness statements until the preliminary inquiry
Correct answer: Include all relevant evidence, including exculpatory evidence that may favour the accused
Full disclosure obligations under R v Stinchcombe require that all relevant evidence, including exculpatory material, be disclosed to the Crown and ultimately the defence.
OACP Report Writing Fundamentals 5
Which of the following best describes 'objective' language in a police report?