FBI FBI Written Communication and Report Writing

Question 1

What is the primary written communication tool FBI agents use to document investigative activity and report information to supervisors?

Accepted Answer

FD-302 (Memorandum of Interview)

Answer

The FD-302 is the standard FBI form used to document interviews and witness statements, capturing who said what, when, and where the interview occurred.

Question 2

What is an FBI 'Electronic Communication' (EC) used for?

Accepted Answer

Internally documenting and transmitting investigative information, leads, and administrative matters within the FBI

Answer

An EC is the standard internal FBI document used to communicate information, leads, requests, and case updates between agents, squads, and divisions within the Bureau.

Question 3

When writing an FD-302, FBI agents must complete the document within how many days of the interview?

Accepted Answer

5 business days

Answer

FBI policy requires FD-302s to be completed within 5 business days of the interview, though agents strive to complete them as soon as possible while memory is fresh.

Question 4

What writing standard is most important for FBI investigative reports submitted to the U.S. Attorney's Office?

Accepted Answer

Clear, factual, objective, and jargon-free prose

Answer

FBI reports destined for prosecutors must be clear, factual, objective, and free of law enforcement jargon to be useful in court proceedings and understandable to jurors.

Question 5

What is the FBI's standard for writing witness interview summaries?

Accepted Answer

Third-person narrative summary of what the witness said, attributed to the agent who conducted the interview

Answer

FD-302s are written as third-person narrative summaries, documenting what was said without being verbatim transcripts, attributed to the interviewing agent.

FBI Special Agent Test Practice Test

FBI Special Agent Test Practice Test

FBI FBI Written Communication and Report Writing