how to write a crime scene report example

How to Write a Professional Crime Scene Report

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A crime scene report is a vital document in investigations that provides an accurate and detailed account of the events that took place. It serves as the foundation for decisions made by investigators, prosecutors, and judges and, as such, must be properly written and formatted. In this article, we will discuss the components of a professional crime scene report and provide tips for effective report writing.

Understanding the Importance of a Crime Scene Report

A crime scene report is a written record of observations, interviews, and analyses conducted during an investigation. It documents the actions taken by investigators and provides a detailed account of the crime scene. The report is an objective document that should not contain personal opinions or biases. It should be written in a clear, concise, and organized manner to facilitate communication among investigators, prosecutors, and judges.

When it comes to solving crimes, the crime scene report is one of the most important pieces of evidence. It provides a detailed account of what happened at the crime scene and can be used to piece together the events leading up to and following the crime. Without a thorough and accurate crime scene report, investigators may miss crucial evidence or fail to identify key suspects.

The Role of a Crime Scene Report in Investigations

A crime scene report is a critical component of any investigation. It provides a visual representation of the crime scene, including the location of evidence, the condition of the victim, and other pertinent details. The report helps investigators and prosecutors to reconstruct the events that occurred at the crime scene, identify suspects, and determine the appropriate charges.

Crime scene reports are used by law enforcement agencies, forensic scientists, and legal professionals to ensure that justice is served. They are often used as evidence in court to support the prosecution's case and to help the judge and jury understand the events that took place at the crime scene.

Legal Implications of an Inaccurate or Incomplete Report

An inaccurate or incomplete crime scene report can have serious legal consequences. It can compromise the prosecution of a case and lead to wrongful convictions or acquittals. A poorly written report can also be challenged in court, casting doubt on the credibility of the investigator and the investigation as a whole. Therefore, it is crucial that the report accurately reflects the observations and actions of the investigating team.

It is important to note that crime scene reports are not only used to prosecute criminals, but they can also be used to exonerate innocent individuals. If a report is inaccurate or incomplete, it can lead to the wrong person being charged with a crime. This is why it is essential that investigators take the time to document every detail of the crime scene accurately.

In conclusion, a crime scene report is a vital component of any investigation. It provides a detailed account of what happened at the crime scene and can be used to identify suspects and prosecute criminals. It is essential that the report is accurate, complete, and free of personal biases to ensure that justice is served.

Essential Elements of a Professional Crime Scene Report

A professional crime scene report should include specific elements that are essential for an accurate and comprehensive document.

Accurate and Detailed Descriptions

The report should contain accurate and detailed descriptions of the crime scene, including the location, condition, and position of the victim, as well as any other relevant details such as the presence of weapons or drugs.

Proper Documentation of Evidence

The report should document any evidence found at the crime scene, including its location, condition, and how it was collected. All evidence should be properly labeled and packaged to ensure its integrity.

Inclusion of Photographs and Sketches

Photographs and sketches are essential elements of a crime scene report. They provide a visual representation of the crime scene and can help reconstruct the events that took place. All photographs and sketches should be properly labeled and dated.

Chronological Order of Events

The report should describe the events that took place at the crime scene in chronological order, including the actions taken by the investigating team. The report should be organized in a logical and concise manner to facilitate communication among investigators, prosecutors, and judges.

Tips for Effective Crime Scene Report Writing

Effective crime scene report writing requires attention to detail, clear communication, and objectivity. Here are some tips for writing an effective crime scene report.

Using Clear and Concise Language

The report should be written in clear and concise language that is free of technical jargon. The language used should be appropriate for the intended audience and should avoid the use of personal opinions or biases.

Avoiding Personal Opinions and Biases

The report should be objective and should not contain personal opinions or biases. The report should be based solely on the evidence found at the crime scene and the observations made by the investigating team.

Ensuring Accuracy and Consistency

The report should accurately reflect the observations and actions of the investigating team. The report should be consistent with any other reports or documentation related to the investigation.

Proofreading and Editing Your Report

The report should be proofread and edited to ensure accuracy and clarity. Any errors, inconsistencies, or inaccuracies should be corrected before the report is finalized.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Crime Scene Reporting

Investigating crime scenes and writing crime scene reports can be challenging. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a crime scene report.

Overlooking Important Details

It is important to take note of every observation and detail at the crime scene. Failing to document these details can lead to an incomplete or inaccurate report.

Relying on Memory Instead of Notes

Memory can be unreliable, especially in high-stress situations. Investigators should take detailed notes of their observations and actions at the crime scene to ensure accuracy and completeness of the report.

Using Jargon or Technical Terms Without Explanation

The report should be written for a general audience, so the use of technical jargon or terms should be avoided. If technical terms are necessary, they should be explained in simple language.

Failing to Update the Report as New Information Emerges

When new information emerges during the investigation, the report should be updated accordingly. Failing to update the report can lead to inconsistencies and inaccuracies.

ChatGPT Prompt for Writing a Crime Scene Report

Use the following prompt in an AI chatbot . Below each prompt, be sure to provide additional details about your situation. These could be scratch notes, what you'd like to say or anything else that guides the AI model to write a certain way.

Please compose a thorough and detailed report of a crime scene, including all relevant information and evidence that may be useful in the investigation and prosecution of the crime. Your report should be comprehensive and accurate, providing a clear and detailed description of the scene, any witnesses or suspects present, and any physical evidence that may be relevant to the case. Please ensure that your report is written in a clear and concise manner, with all relevant details and information included.

[ADD ADDITIONAL CONTEXT. CAN USE BULLET POINTS.]

Writing a professional crime scene report is a vital component of any investigation. A well-written report provides an accurate and detailed account of the events that took place and facilitates communication among investigators, prosecutors, and judges. By following the guidelines and tips outlined in this article, investigators can ensure that their crime scene reports are accurate, comprehensive, and effective.

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• Written Documentation at a Crime Scene

Mike Byrd Miami-Dade Police Department Crime Scene Investigations

In an Organized step by step approach Scene Documentation is one of the stages in the proper processing of a crime scene. The final results of a properly documented crime scene is the ability of others to take our finished product to use in either reconstructing the scene or the chain of events in an incident and our court room presentation. In documenting the scene there are actually 3 functions or methods used to properly document the crime scene. Those methods consist of written notes which will ultimately be used in constructing a final report, crime scene photographs, and a diagram or sketch. Consistency between each of these functions is paramount.

Each method is important in the process of properly documenting the crime scene. The notes and reports should be done in a chronological order and should include no opinions, no analysis, or no conclusions . Just the facts!!!! The crime scene investigator or evidence recovery technician should document what he/she sees, not what he/she thinks. The final report should tell a descriptive story. A general description of the crime scene should be given just as the investigator sees it when he/she does the initial walk through of the scene.

Each department or agency has a method which they use for written documentation of the crime scene. There investigator/technician should follow his/her departments assigned procedures for written documentation. The importance of sharing information can never be over-looked. This article is intended to share ideas in the area of uniform documentation as an example of the format that is used by my department. We use a narrative section of the report divided it into 5 categories. The categories are summary, scene (including a detailed body description if in a death investigation), processing, evidence collected, and pending.

The summary would basically give the details of how we were initiated into the investigation. For an example: " At the request of Robbery Detective J. Doe, this writer was requested to respond to assist in processing the scene of an armed robbery involving 4 unknown masked subjects. Det. J. Doe's preliminary investigation revealed that the subjects startled the victim as she returned home from shopping". For further details of this investigation refer to Det. J. Doe's report.. Our summary is brief and does not include a lot of he said, she said information.

In the scene section of the narrative we give a detailed description of the scene as it is seen upon our approach. The scene description usually includes anything that is unusual and out of place. Any weather or environment conditions are also included. Again this is a description of what we see not what we think. The Evidence observed, its location, condition, or anything remarkable about the item will be included in our scene description section. This would also correspond to any identification markers used to number or label the items of evidence. These remarks would all be consistent with any numbers, letters, or labels indicated in the photographs, or drawn into a sketch of the scene.

The processing section is for our units to describe what we did, if assistance was needed during the processing stages, who we had assisting, and what functions they did.

The evidence collection section is to organize what evidence we and others assisting were able to recover from the crime scene, where the items were recovered from, and what part of the lab the items were directed to for analysis.

The pending section would be for any known tasks that would need to be completed at a later date in the investigation.

Recently I was asked to give an opinion on the crime scene portion of a cold case investigation which had occurred more than 20 years earlier. I agreed to take a look at everything to give my interpretation of the crime scene from the work product. So the reports and pictures were ordered from the original files.

  Earn a Degree in Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Science, Computer Forensics or Forensic Psychology

When the items came in the mail the report consisted of a one page, one paragraph narrative. The scene photographs consisted of several overall prospective of a wooded area. I could be of no assistance to my fellow college. But the experience best illustrates how important it is to properly use the tools at hand. We are brought in to assist in the beginning stages of an investigation when very limited information is known. We should realize that our work product may need to be viewed extensively by someone years from now for interpretation. The written documentation, photographs, and simple sketch need to tell the scene story. Hopefully by sharing this simple organized method it will be of some assistance to you.

About the Author

How to write organized and concise police reports

Set the scene, by introducing the people, property and other information before it is discussed.

Police report writing sets the scene to explain and understand the incident. (Photo/West Midlands Police via Flickr)

The information and methods in this article are more fully discussed in John Bowden’s excellent book “ Report Writing For Law Enforcement & Corrections .” It is available from Amazon and other booksellers.

Article updated October 19, 2018

What is the secret to good police report writing ? The answer is organization and clarity. By following these two principles, you’re already on the path to a great report. A major problem for a lot of report writers is organization, not writing the report in chronological order.

One of the biggest challenges with the concept of chronological order is the order according to whom? Is it the writer, the victim, a witness or perhaps even the suspect? Each of these actors in the event has their own perspective to the order of events. Complete the “Access this Police1 Resource” box on this page to download a copy of this guide to print and keep at your desk.

Where should I begin the police report?

For the writer, the incident starts when they first arrive on the scene. For the victim, it is when they first realize they are the victim. For the witness, it is when they first see the action that makes them a witness. Of course, for the suspect, it is when they make that conscious decision to commit the crime. True chronological order means the order in which the events actually occurred.

Many reports begin this way:

While on patrol, (date and time) I received a call to (location). Upon my arrival, I spoke to the victim, (name) who said...

This format is told in the order in which the events occurred to the writer. It can work and has worked since report writing began, in simple cases with few principles, facts and evidence. In these cases, it is easy to use and can be understood fairly well.

The problems in clarity occur when there are multiple principals, a significant amount of evidence and events occurred over a longer time period of time.

You know you’re having problems organizing the report when it’s unclear where or how to begin the report.

Tell the incident story backward

This format is not what I would call a report. It is a statement from the writer saying what happened to them. In fact, in most cases, the crime has already occurred and the writer is telling the story backward. When asked why they write this way, many report writers will state that they don’t want to make it look like they are making it up — they want to emphasize where they received the information.

I have a simple startup paragraph that relieves this concern and makes it clear where the information came from:

I, (name), on (date and time) received a call to (location) reference to (the crime). My investigation revealed the following information.

This one short paragraph is interpreted to mean you talked to all the parties involved and examined the evidence. A report is not a statement of what the writer did (although this format can more or less work). A report tells the story of what happened, based on the investigation.

Some writers are concerned about being required to testify about what the report revealed. This is not a concern. You only testify to what you did, heard or saw.

When a witness tells you what they saw, you cannot testify to those facts, only that they said it to you. Their information should be thoroughly documented in their own written statements. Each witness, victim or suspect will testify to their own part in the case. Crime scene technicians and experts will testify to the evidence and how it relates to the case.

Your story, told in true chronological order, will be the guide to the prosecutor of what happened. It is like the outlines in a coloring book. The prosecutor will add the color with his presentation, using all the subjects and experts as his crayons to illustrate the picture – the story.

The investigating officer that writes the report is one of those crayons.

Set the scene

We start the process with the opening statement I outlined above. You can change the verbiage to suit your own style. The important phrase is the last sentence, “My investigation revealed the following information.” This tells the reader that this is the story of what happened. Your actions will be inserted in the story as it unfolds.

When you start, set the scene. Introduce the people, property and other information before it is discussed. For example, with a convenience store robbery, set the time, location and victim before you describe the action.

Mr. Jones was working as a store clerk on Jan 12th, 2013, at the Mid-Town Convenience store, 2501 E. Maple Street, at 2315 hours. Jones was standing behind the counter, facing the store. There were no other people in the store.

These first few sentences set the scene. The next sentence is the next thing that happens.

Approximately 2020 hours the suspect walked in the front door.

Each of the following sentences is merely a statement of what happened next.

• The suspect walked around the store in a counterclockwise direction.
• When he emerged from the back of the store he was wearing a stocking mask.
• He walked up to the counter and pointed a small revolver at the clerk.
• He said, “Give me all the money in the register...”

If you have multiple subjects involved in the event, introduce and place them all at the same time, before starting the action. A good example of this is a shoplifting case with multiple suspects and multiple loss prevention officers. Before starting the action, place all the people. This makes it easy to describe the action when it starts.

After you finish telling the story, you can add all the facts that need to be included in the report not brought out in the story. Here are facts that can be included, if available:

• Evidence collected
• Pictures taken
• Statements of witnesses, the victim and even the suspect.
• Property recovered
• Any facts needed to be documented in the case

Using this process will ensure your police report is clear and complete.

John Bowden is the founder and director of Applied Police Training and Certification. John retired from the Orlando Police Department as a Master Police Officer In 1994. His career spans a period of 21 years in law enforcement overlapping 25 years of law enforcement instruction. His total of more than 37 years of experience includes all aspects of law enforcement to include: uniform crime scene technician, patrol operations, investigations, undercover operations, planning and research for departmental development, academy coordinator, field training officer and field training supervisor.

Hilbert College Global Online Blog

The anatomy of a crime scene: examples, investigation and analysis, written by: hilbert college   •  jun 4, 2023.

The Anatomy of a Crime Scene: Examples, Investigation and Analysis ¶

Law enforcement is trained to gather evidence and solve crimes. However, a crime scene involves many people and many steps, so everyone involved must work together to effectively process a crime scene. Understanding the anatomy of a crime scene can make or break a case.

To learn more, check out the infographic below, created by Hilbert College Global’s online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

What Is a Crime Scene? ¶

A crime scene describes the location where a crime takes place. It can also include where evidence is found or where a suspect lives.              

Robberies ¶

A robbery is a theft that involves violence or the threat of violence. Robbery crime scenes may include, convenience stores, commercial establishments, banks, private residences, parking lots or the streets. Basically, it’s anywhere a person was robbed.

Homicides ¶

A homicide is a murder committed intentionally or during the commission of another crime. Homicide crime scenes may include where a victim was killed and where the body was found. It may also include where a murder was planned or where the murder weapon was discarded.

Secondary Locations ¶

A secondary location is a site important to identifying and prosecuting a suspect. Secondary locations may include the paths a suspect traveled during the commission of a crime, where a second crime was committed, or a location where suspects convened before or after a crime. These crime scenes may be found after the initial crime is discovered.

An assault is the intentional harming of another person physically. Assault crime scenes may include a residence, highways and sidewalks, parking garages and lots, convenience stores or hotels and motels. An assault may happen anywhere, so crime scenes can vary.

Digital Crime Scenes ¶

Some crimes are committed online or through invasive malware. For cybercrimes, investigators go through victims’ digital devices to find evidence. Suspects’ computers and mobile devices are also considered crime scenes.

Who’s on the Scene? ¶

• Investigators interview witnesses and gather information from law enforcement on the scene. They also manage information given to the press.
• Crime scene technicians identify physical evidence at the scene. They also photograph crime scenes so  law enforcement and lawyers can see the original scene. Once they’ve finished at the crime scene, they write final reports of their findings.
• Police officers are often first at the scene and alert necessary law enforcement. They protect the crime scene by cordoning it off. They will also keep witnesses so the Investigator can interview them.
• Medical examiners and coroners examine victims’ bodies and in the morgue. They also collect physical evidence from victims. Once they’ve analyzed the scene, they will provide law enforcement with information.

How Long Is It a Crime Scene? ¶

A crime scene isn’t considered cleared until the investigative team has gathered all possible evidence and information. This may take between one and two days. If a crime takes place over multiple locations, it may take longer to process each crime scene and clear them all. 

What Happens at a Crime Scene? ¶

At the crime scene, law enforcement dispatches a crime scene detail to process the scene through:

Evidence Gathering ¶

Evidence can prove motive, opportunity, intent, planning and identity. A perimeter must be established to keep the crime scene from being compromised. Law enforcement searches the scene for physical evidence and any clues about the subject. 

Technicians photograph blood evidence, victims’ wounds, surrounding areas and physical evidence before being bagged. The scene is sketched with measurements. Everything is put into evidence bags, labeled and sent to the appropriate authorities.

Witness Questioning ¶

Law enforcement establishes witnesses and obtains valid identification. Then, they separate each witness and record their name, birthday, address and all phone numbers. Finally, witnesses are interviewed individually on scene or at the office location.

Investigation ¶

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) lists the steps of a well-planned investigation as:

• First responders notify correct personnel.
• The prosecutor, the forensic doctor and scientific/technical assistance are assigned to the case.
• Parties arrive at the crime scene.
• Cordon off the crime scene.
• Determine the proper procedures and apply.
• Keep the location secure.
• Medical personnel takes responsibility for the scene.
• Decide what information the media will receive.
• Interview witnesses.
• Disperse uninvolved bystanders.
• Record the crime scene.
• Notify involved civilians.
• Take statements and gather information.

Processing ¶

USAID lists the most important steps while processing a scene as follows:

• Determine where to search for evidence and suspects.
• Describe the immediate setting as evidence.
• Properly gather and remove evidence.
• Identify, label and tag evidence.
• Establish the chain of custody from the scene.
• Analyze the evidence for information.
• Preserve the evidence for trial.
• Use available information to interpret the crime scene. 

What Happens Next? ¶

Once all possible information has been gathered from a crime scene, investigators and attorneys build a case to either convict or exonerate a suspect.

Forensic Analysis ¶

Forensic analysts examine the crime scene evidence. Whether the evidence is physical or digital, forensic analysts extract information and provide it to the defense and prosecution. Forensic analysts may also serve as expert witnesses.

Identifying Suspects ¶

Through examining the crime scene and data provided by forensic analysts, investigators assemble a list of suspects. Investigators interview possible suspects and reinterview witnesses. When suspects are identified, they may be brought in for questioning or arrested.

Preparing for Court ¶

Investigators turn over their findings to prosecutors and defense lawyers. The lawyers may return to the crime scene to better understand the crime. Suspects work with the defense to prove their innocence. Both parties gather expert witnesses to strengthen their cases.

Presenting the Case ¶

During trial, witnesses take the stand to explain what they saw. Lawyers reconstruct the crime scene to either prove or disprove a defendant’s guilt. Evidence gathered at the crime scene is presented to the judge and jury.

Analysis of a Crime Scene ¶

Every crime leaves evidence behind, and law enforcement is trained to identify it. At the crime scene, technicians, officers and investigators gather all available evidence and do their best to find a suspect. Many steps and different professionals are involved, and they all must understand their roles and how crime scenes function.

Britannica, Homicide

Encyclopedia.com, Crime Scene Investigation

Federal Bureau of Investigation, Trend of Violent Crime from 2011 to 2021

Find Law, Robbery Overview

My Law Questions, “What Is A Crime Scene?

National Institute of Justice, Digital Evidence and Forensics

NOLO, “Assault, Battery, and Aggravated Assault” United States Attorney General, Homicide Scene Investigation: A Manual for Public Prosecutors

United States Attorney General, Homicide Scene Investigation: A Manual for Public Prosecutors

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Investigation Report Example: How to Write an Investigative Report

• What is the Importance of an Investigative Report?
• How to Write an Investigative Report: "Musts"
• How CaseIQ Can Help

Preliminary Case Information

Here’s how to write an investigation report that is clear, complete, and compliant.

Do you dread the end of an investigation because you hate writing investigative reports? You’re not alone.

However, because it’s an important showcase of the investigation, you can’t cut corners on this critical investigation step. Your investigation report reflects on you and your investigation, so make sure it’s as clear, comprehensive, accurate, and polished.

How do you write an investigation report? What are the parts of an investigation report? What's an investigation report example? In this guide, you’ll learn how to make your workplace incident reports effective and efficient.

How mature are your workplace investigations?

An investigations maturity model can reveal your investigations program's strong points and areas for improvement. Learn how to evaluate your program in our upcoming fireside chat with investigations expert Meric Bloch.

An investigation report can:

• Spark some sort of action based on the findings it presents
• Record of the steps of the investigation
• Provide information for legal actions
• Provide valuable data to inform control and preventive measures

In short, your report documents what happened during the investigation and suggests what to do next.

In addition, the process of writing an investigation report can help you approach the investigation in a new way. You might think of more questions to ask the parties involved or understand an aspect of the incident that was unclear.

How to Write an Investigative Report: “Musts”

Before you begin, it’s important to understand the three critical tasks of a workplace investigative report.

• It must be organized in a such way that anybody internally or externally can understand it without having to reference other materials. That means it should have little to no jargon or specialized language and be a stand-alone summary of your investigation from start to finish.
• It must document the investigative findings objectively and accurately and provide decision makers with enough information to determine whether they should take further action.  With just one read-through, stakeholders should be able to understand what happened and how to handle it.
• It must indicate whether the allegations were substantiated, unsubstantiated, or whether there’s something missing that is needed to reach a conclusion. Use the evidence you’ve gathered to back up your analysis.

You might be wondering, “What are the contents of an investigation report?” Now that you know what your report should accomplish, we’ll move on to the sections it should include.

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Investigation Report Format: What to Include in Your Workplace Incident Report

Executive summary, incident summary, allegation subject, investigation details & notes, investigation interviews, conclusion & recommendations, final edits, how case iq can help.

The executive summary should be a concise overview of the investigation from beginning to end. It should not contain any information that is not already in the investigation report.

This may be the most important component of the investigation report because many readers won’t need to go beyond this section. High-level stakeholders get an overall picture of the allegations, investigation, and outcome without having to pore over the details.

To make this section easy to read, write in an active voice. For example: “I interviewed Carrie Smith,” not “Carrie Smith was interviewed.”

Example:   On February 23 rd , 2023, the Human Resources Manager received a written complaint of sexual harassment submitted by Carrie Smith, the stockroom manager. Smith claimed that on February 22 nd , 2023, her supervisor, Mark Robinson, pushed her against the wall in the boardroom and groped her breasts. Smith also alleged that Robinson on another occasion told her she was “too pretty” to be working in the stockroom and that he could arrange for a promotion for her. 

On February 24th, the Human Resources Manager assigned the case to me.

On February 25th, I interviewed Carrie Smith and two witnesses to the alleged February 22 nd  incident, John Jones and Pamela Miller. Jones and Miller did not corroborate the groping allegation but said they saw Smith running out of the boardroom in tears. Miller also reported hearing Robinson tell another employee, Sara Brown, that she had “a great rack”. 

On February 26 th , I interviewed Mark Robinson. He denied the groping incident and said he was “just joking around” with her in the boardroom but did not actually touch her and that Smith was too sensitive. He admitted to telling Smith she was too pretty to work in the stockroom, but contends that it was meant as a compliment.

Based on the interviews with the complainant and the alleged offender, I find that the complainant’s allegation of sexual harassment is substantiated.

It is my recommendation that the company provide the respondent with a written account of the findings of the investigation and a reminder of the company’s expectations for employee behavior. I also recommend that the respondent receive sexual harassment training and be advised that repeated harassing behavior may result in further discipline up to and including termination.

This section outlines the preliminary case information in a concise format, with only the most important details. It can go either before or after the executive summary.

• Your name and investigator identification number, if you have one
• Case number
• Date the case was assigned to you
• The date the report was reviewed
• How the report was received (e.g. hotline, email to HR manager, verbal report to supervisor)
• Name of the reporter/complainant

If the reporter is an employee, record their:

• Email address
• Work telephone number
• Employment level/position
• Employee identification number
• Department identification number

If the source  is not an employee, only record their:

• Personal telephone number

In either case, note the date that the report was submitted, as well as the date(s) of the alleged incident(s).

The purpose of this section is to answer the who, what, where, and when about the incident.

• What type of case is it? For example, is the case alleging harassment, discrimination, fraud, or other workplace misconduct?
• Specify the case type further.  For example, is it  sexual  harassment,  gender  discrimination,  accounts payable  fraud, etc.
• Who is the alleged victim?  For example, is it the reporter, another employee, a customer, or the whole company?
• If the alleged victim is an employee, identify the person’s supervisor.
• Were any other people involved besides the subject and the alleged victim?
• Where did the incident(s) take place?
• When did the incident(s) occur?
• Capture details of the allegation.  Example : Stacey Smith alleges that John Jones, an accounts payables clerk, has been funneling payments to a dummy supplier that he has set up in the company’s procurement system. Stacey says that she noticed a discrepancy when one of the suppliers she deals with questioned a payment and she had to ask an accounts payable clerk, Tom Tierney, to pull the file for her. When Tom accidentally brought Stacey the wrong file, she saw that monthly payments were being made to a supplier she had never heard of, and that the address of the supplier was John Jones’s address. Stacey knows John’s address because her sister is John’s next-door neighbor.

Describe the allegation or complaint in simple, clear language. Avoid using jargon, acronyms, or technical terms that the average reader outside the company may not understand.

In this section, note details about the alleged bad actor. Some of this information might be included in the initial report/complaint, but others you might have to dig for, especially if the subject isn’t an employee of the organization.

For every subject, include their:

• Email (work contact if they’re an employee, personal if not)
• Telephone number (see above)

If the subject of the allegation is an employee, also include their:

• Employment status (e.g. full-time, part-time, intern, contractor, etc.)
• Business location

Begin outlining the investigation details by defining the scope. It’s important to keep the scope of the investigation focused narrowly on the allegation and avoid drawing separate but related investigations into the report.

Example:   The investigation will focus on the anonymous tip received through the whistleblower hotline. The objective of the investigation is to determine whether the allegation reported via the hotline is true or false.

Next, record a description of each action taken during the investigation. This becomes a diary of your investigation, showing everything that was done during the investigation, who did it, and when.

For each action, outline:

• Type of action (e.g. initial review, meeting, contacting parties, conducting an interview, following up)
• Person responsible for the action
• Date when the action was completed
• Brief description of the action (i.e. who you met with, where, and for how long)

Be thorough and detailed, because this section of your report can be an invaluable resource if you are ever challenged on any details of your investigation.

Write a summary of each interview. These should be brief outlines listed separately for each interview.

Include the following information:

• Who conducted the interview
• Who was interviewed
• Where the interview took place
• Date of the interview

Include a list of people who refused to be interviewed or could not be interviewed and why.

Write a Report for Each Interview

This is an expanded version of the summaries documented above. Even though some of the information is repeated, be sure to include it so that you can use the summaries and reports separately as standalone documentation of the interviews conducted.

For each interview, document:

• Location of the interview
• Summary of the substance of the interview, based on your interview notes or recording.

Example:   I asked Jane Jameson to describe the events of July 13 th , 2016. She said: “After work, Peter approached me as I was leaving the building and asked me if I would like to work on his team. When I said that I was happy working with my current team, he told me that my team had too many women on it and that ‘all those hormones are causing problems’ so I should think about moving to a ‘sane’ team.”

I asked her how she reacted to that. She said: I told him that I found that offensive and he said that I needed to stop being so sensitive. I just walked away.”

I asked Jane to describe the events of the next day. She said: “The next day he came to my desk and asked me if I had given any thought to moving to his team. I repeated that I was happy where I was. At that point he started massaging my shoulders and said that moving to his team would have its ‘perks’. I asked him to stop twice and he wouldn’t. Sally walked over and told him to get lost and ‘leave Jane alone’ and he left.”

I thanked Jane for her cooperation and concluded the interview.

Assess Credibility

Aside from collecting the evidence, it is also an investigator’s job to analyze the evidence and reach a conclusion. Include a credibility assessment for each interview subject in the interview report. Describe your reasons for determining that the interviewee is or isn’t a credible source of information.

This involves assessing the credibility of the witness. The EEOC has published guidelines that recommend examining the following factors:

• Plausibility – Is the testimony believable and does it make sense?
• Demeanor – Did the person seem to be telling the truth?
• Motive to falsify – Does the person have a reason to lie?
• Corroboration – Is there testimony or evidence that corroborates the witness’s account?
• Past record – Does the subject have a history of similar behavior?

Example:   I consider Jane to be a credible interviewee based on the corroboration of her story with Sally and also because she has nothing to gain by reporting these incidents. She has no prior relationship with Peter and seemed genuinely upset by his behavior.

A well-written report is the only way to prove that an investigation was carried out thoroughly.

Download this free cheat sheet to learn best practices of writing investigation reports.

Get the Cheat Sheet

In this section, describe all the evidence obtained. This could include:

• Video or audio footage
• Email or messaging (e.g. Slack, Teams, etc.) records
• Employee security access records
• Computer or other device login records
• Documents or papers
• Physical objects (e.g. photos, posters, broken objects, etc.)

Number each piece of evidence for easy reference in your chain of evidence document.

As you gather and analyze evidence , it’s critically important to include and fully consider everything you find. Ignoring evidence that doesn’t support your conclusion will undermine your investigation and your credibility as an investigator. If you aren’t weighing some pieces as heavily as others, make sure you have a good explanation as to why.

In the final section of your report, detail your findings and conclusion. In other words, answer the questions that your investigation set out to answer.

This is where your analysis comes into play. However, be sure to only address the issue(s) being examined only, and don’t include any information that is not supported by fact. Otherwise, you could be accused of bias or speculation if the subject challenges your findings.

Investigation Findings Example:   My findings indicate that, based on the evidence, Bill’s allegation that Jim blocked him from the promotion is true. Jim’s behavior towards Bill is consistent with the definition of racial discrimination. The company’s code of conduct forbids discrimination; therefore, Jim’s behavior constitutes employee misconduct.

It’s important for your conclusion to be defensible, based on the evidence you have presented in your investigation report. Reference reliable evidence that is relevant to the case. Finally, explain that you’ve considered all the evidence, not just pieces that support your conclusion.

In some cases, you might have been asked to provide recommendations, too. Depending on your conclusion, you may recommend that the company:

• Does nothing
• Provides counseling or training
• Disciplines the employee(s)
• Transfers the employee(s)
• Terminates or demotes the employee(s)

Example: It is my recommendation that the company provide the respondent (Jim) with a written account of the findings of the investigation and a reminder of the company’s expectations for employee behavior. I also recommend that the respondent (Jim) receive anti-discrimination training and be advised that repeated discriminatory behavior may result in further discipline up to and including termination.

Grammatical errors or missed words can take even the best investigation report from professional to sloppy. That’s why checking your work before submitting the report is perhaps the most important step of them all.

Keep in mind that your investigative report may be seen by your supervisors, directors, and even C-level executives in your company, as well as attorneys and judges if the case goes to court.

If spelling, grammar, and punctuation aren’t your strong suit, enlist the services of a writer-friend or colleague to proofread your report. Or, if you’re a lone wolf kind of worker, upgrade your skills with a writing course or a read-through of books like  The Elements of Style by Strunk and White. At the very least, remember to run a spell check before you pass on any document to others.

Finally, do a quick scan to make sure you’ve included all the necessary sections and that case details are consistent.

Want more report-writing tips?

Watch our free webinar to get advice on what to include (and not include), proper language and tone, formatting tips, and more on how to effectively make an investigation report.

Watch the Webinar

RELATED: 3 Investigation Report Writing Mistakes You’re Still Making

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i write an investigation report.

To write an investigation report, you should ensure it's clear, comprehensive, accurate, and organized, documenting findings objectively and providing decision-makers with enough information to determine further action.

What are the basic parts of an investigation report?

The basic parts of an investigation report include an executive summary, preliminary case information, incident summary, allegation subject details, investigation details and notes, investigation interviews, evidence documentation, conclusion and recommendations, and final edits.

What is the purpose of an investigation report?

The purpose of an investigation report is to document the steps and findings of an investigation, providing a clear record of what occurred, suggesting actions to be taken, and potentially serving as valuable data for legal actions or informing control and preventive measures.

If you’re still managing cases with spreadsheets or outdated systems, you’re putting your organization at risk.

With all your investigation information stored in one place, you can create comprehensive, compliant investigation reports with a single click. Case IQ’s powerful case management software pulls all the information from the case file automatically, so you can close cases faster.

Learn more about how Case IQ can reduce resolution time and improve your organization’s investigations here.

Related Resources

What to ask in a whistleblower hotline use survey (and why it’s important), how an hr analyst can help your organization reduce risk.

How to Write a Crime Scene: Really Useful Links by Lucy O’Callaghan

Lucy O’Callaghan

• 16 June 2022

Attention to detail is essential when writing a crime scene; the little things can become important, and they can create the biggest problems. As it is National Crime Reading Month, this week’s column on writing a crime scene. Checking the process of how a crime scene is dealt with, and the stages of investigation to be taken wherever the story is based is a necessary part of writing. I have put together some articles, podcasts, and YouTube videos with tips and information worth considering when writing your crime scenes.

• https://www.livewritethrive.com/2015/03/02/10-tips-on-how-to-write-believable-crime-and-murder-scenes/

This article from a former Canadian homicide detective shares his tips for writing crime scenes, including understanding the mechanism of death, understanding scene access, and getting the terminology right. He encourages the writer to expand their story by using more than autopsies, toxicology, and document examination. He advises using the multitude of resources available such as undercover agents, psychological profiling, room bugs, and wires.

• https://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/document.html

Three methods usually used to document a crime scene are written notes, crime scene photographs, and a diagram or sketch. Each method is important in the process of properly documenting the crime scene. The notes and reports should be completed in chronological order and shouldn’t include opinion, analysis, or conclusions. Just the facts. Mike Byrd shares a format used by his department that uses a narrative section of the report divided into 5 categories. The categories are summary, scene, processing, evidence collected, and pending. This article explains each category. All this information is great for the writer to figure out what might go wrong or what might slip the detective’s notice.

• https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2012/07/22/writing-death-crime-scenes/

Although this is an old article it is full of great information about writing a crime scene. It discusses what writers often get wrong when writing about death, including the mechanism of death, time of death, DNA/ dental records, and how a body is identified.

• https://litreactor.com/columns/writing-the-crime-scene-winter-forensics

This article focuses on cold weather forensics, giving the writer things to consider to make your story realistic and authentic. It covers hypothermia, frostbite, frozen firearms, and snowy corpses.

• https://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org/csi/how.html

This is a simplified guide to crime scene investigations. It discusses samples that may be collected at a crime scene, the types of evidence collected, who examines the scenes, how a crime scene investigation is conducted, and how and where tests on the evidence are conducted.

• https://www.writersdetective.com/episodes/

The Writer’s Detective Bureau is a podcast hosted by veteran Police Detective Adam Richardson. Adam answers questions about criminal investigation and police work posed by crime-fiction authors and screenwriters writing crime-related stories.

• https://www.livewriters.com/podcast/sps-253-how-to-write-an-authentic-crime-scene-with-patrick-odonnell/

The Self-publishing show podcast discusses writing authentic crime and how the devil is in the details.

This video is about the fundamentals of crime scene processing. It shares tips to avoid transfer, loss, and contamination of evidence.

Dr Ian Turner, from the University of Derby, introduces the concept of crime scenes, explains how they may be different and what they have in common. He also discusses the role of a Crime Scene Investigator within a crime scene.

Writing crime scenes is not just about getting the words on the page, the process has to be accurate and the details are important. Your reader might know nothing about the police procedures or they may be a detective in the police force, so the writer must strive for accuracy in these scenes. Research is key. Asking people in the know can be really helpful and, for the most part, these people will only be delighted to help you out as long as you credit them in your novel! I hope this week’s column has been helpful. As always, let me know if there are any topics you would like me to cover. Enjoy the rest of National Crime Reading Month.

(c) Lucy O’Callaghan

Instagram: lucy.ocallaghan.31.

Facebook: @LucyCOCallaghan

Twitter: @LucyCOCallaghan

About the author

Writing since she was a child, Lucy penned her first story with her father called Arthur’s Arm, at the ripe old age of eight. She has been writing ever since. Inspired by her father’s love of the written word and her mother’s encouragement through a constant supply of wonderful stationary, she wrote short stories for her young children, which they subsequently illustrated. A self-confessed people watcher, stories that happen to real people have always fascinated her and this motivated her move to writing contemporary women’s fiction. Her writing has been described as pacy, human, moving and very real. Lucy has been part of a local writing group for over ten years and has taken creative writing classes with Paul McVeigh, Jamie O’Connell and Curtis Brown Creative. She truly found her tribe when she joined Writer’s Ink in May 2020. Experienced in beta reading and critiquing, she is currently editing and polishing her debut novel. Follow her on Instagram: lucy.ocallaghan.31. Facebook and Twitter: @LucyCOCallaghan

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How to Write a Police Report

Last Updated: April 13, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Saul Jaeger, MS . Saul Jaeger is a Police Officer and Captain of the Mountain View, California Police Department (MVPD). Saul has over 17 years of experience as a patrol officer, field training officer, traffic officer, detective, hostage negotiator, and as the traffic unit’s sergeant and Public Information Officer for the MVPD. At the MVPD, in addition to commanding the Field Operations Division, Saul has also led the Communications Center (dispatch) and the Crisis Negotiation Team. He earned an MS in Emergency Services Management from the California State University, Long Beach in 2008 and a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Phoenix in 2006. He also earned a Corporate Innovation LEAD Certificate from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2018. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 13 testimonials and 85% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,144,518 times.

If you're a police officer or security guard, knowing how to write up a detailed and accurate report is important. A well written incident report gives a thorough account of what happened and sticks to the facts. If you're trying to write a police report, or are curious about how the police put together their reports, learning what to include and how to format the report is helpful.

Following Protocol

• Try to do your write-up using word processing software. It will look neater and you'll be able to use spellcheck to polish it when you're finished. If you write your report by hand, print clearly instead of using cursive.

Saul Jaeger, MS

Did You Know? If you call 911, a police report may or may not be generated, depending on the outcome of the call. If a police report isn't generated and you want to file one later, you can call the non-emergency number, and an officer will come out and take the report. However, if you're ever in need of emergency services, call 911.

• If you can’t write the report on the day that the incident happened, record some notes about what happened to help you when you do write the report.

• The time, date and location of the incident (Be specific. Write the exact street address, etc.).
• Your name and ID number
• Names of other officers who were present

• For example, a report might say: On 8/23/10 at approximately 2340, officer was assigned to 17 Dist. response vehicle. Officer was notified via radio by central dispatch of a 911 call at 123 Maple Street. Officer was also informed by central dispatch that this 911 call may be domestic in nature.

Describing What Happened

• For example, an officer's report could say: Upon arrival, I observed a 40 year old white male, known as Johnny Doe, screaming and yelling at a 35 year old white female, known as Jane Doe, in the front lawn of 123 Maple Street. I separated both parties involved and conducted field interviews. I was told by Mr. Johnny that he had come home from work and discovered that dinner was not ready. He then stated that he became upset at his wife Mrs. Jane for not having the dinner ready for him.

• Use specific descriptions. For example, instead of saying "I found him inside and detained him," write something like, "I arrived at 2005 Everest Hill at 12:05. I walked to the house and knocked on the door. I tried the knob and found it to be unlocked..."

• Police officers often have to write reports about auto accidents. It can be much clearer to illustrate with a picture or a diagram how the accident occurred. You can draw a picture of the street and use arrows to show how where each car was headed when they hit each other.

• For example, instead of saying “when I arrived, his face was red,” you could say, “when I arrived, he was yelling, out of breath, his face was red, and he seemed angry.” The second example is better than the first because there are multiple reasons someone’s face is red, not just that they are angry.

• Even though it is hearsay, make sure to write down what each individual at the scene said to you. It may be important, even if he or she is lying. Include any information about the witness’ demeanor, in case what he or she told you becomes controversial.

• Use the party’s name when possible, so you can avoid confusion when talking about multiple people. Also, spell out abbreviations. For example, say “personal vehicle” instead of “P.O.V.” (personally owned vehicle), and “scene of the crime” instead of “code 11,” which is a police term for “on the scene.”

• Preserve your integrity and the institution you represent by telling the truth.

Editing Your Report

• For example, if you forget to include the one party's reason why the argument started, then that would leave a gap.

• For example, if you included phrases that start with "I feel" or "I believe," then you would want to remove these to eliminate any bias in your report.

• If you have to mail or email your report, follow up with a phone call within a 10 day period. Do this to make sure your report was received.

Sample Police Report and Things to Include

Expert Q&A

• Ask your department for any templates or forms that they use, in order to make sure the report is in the proper format. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 1
• Keep a copy of the report for your records. You may need to refer back to it in the future. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 1
• Add to the report, if new information comes to light. Add an addendum that reports the new information, rather than deleting information from your original report. That information may also be important. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1

• Do not ignore facts as irrelevant. At the time of a preliminary police report, investigators may not know the motive or suspect, so it is important to give as much objective detail as possible. Some details that seem irrelevant, may be important with new evidence or testimony. Thanks Helpful 36 Not Helpful 12
• Do not use opinions in a police report, unless you are asked to do so. A police report should be objective rather than subjective. Thanks Helpful 18 Not Helpful 5

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• ↑ http://www.lapdonline.org/lapd_manual/
• ↑ http://www.securityguardtraininghq.com/how-to-write-a-detailed-incident-report/

About This Article

To write a police report, you should include the time, date, and location of the incident you're reporting, as well as your name and ID number and any other officers that were present. You should also include a thorough description of the incident, like what brought you to the scene and what happened when you arrived. If you're having trouble explaining something in words, draw a picture or diagram to help. Just remember to be as thorough, specific, and objective as possible. To learn what other important details you should include in a police report, keep reading. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Writing Realistic Crime Scenes

These chats take place every Wed. from 3-4 p.m. EDT. You can send in your questions at any time by tweeting to me @SueColetta1  with the hashtag #ACrimeChat . They’ll be saved under the hashtag until our next chat, and you’ll be notified of the answers, as well as receiving a recap of the entire chat. Here’s how it works: I take the questions in the order they are received and RT, marking each question with Q1 (Question #1), Q2, Q3, etc. The experts answer with the corresponding A1 (Answer #1), A2, A3, etc., so those watching can follow along. We launched two weeks ago with Crime Scenes  (<- the link will take you to the recap). Last week, we covered Evidence. And this week, the topic is Forensics. At the conclusion of each chat I announce the following week’s topic. You can also find the topics under the hashtag in case you’re not with us live.

These chats are a lot of fun and very informative. Because all of the experts are writers and/or crime writing consultants, if the answer to your question isn’t what you hoped, often times we can help you create a logical, realistic way around it so your story still rings true. I hope you’ll join us by going to #ACrimeChat . Incidentally, I’ve linked each member’s name with their Twitter handle so you can follow them, if you wish. I’ve also included their websites.

Now, without further ado, please welcome Captain (Ret.) Joe Broadmeadow.

In Writing Realistic Crime Stories, It’s all about the Little Things

One mistake many writers make in attempting to create an interesting scenario is they try too hard. In the real world of homicide investigations, or any serious crime for that matter, it’s the little things that create the biggest problem.

Here are two examples of actual cases where investigators faced a crime scene which told them one story and, after wasting precious time looking in the wrong direction, turned out to be something entirely different.

These are actual cases with identifying information removed to protect privacy. By understanding real-life scenarios, the writer finds unlimited possibilities.

Okay, first case.

“911, what is the nature of your emergency?”

“Help, someone shot my wife, oh my god, help. She’s bleeding, there’s blood everywhere.”

“Hold on, sir. I have help on the way…”

Thus began a series of events which would bring a veteran police officer to his knees, his own department accusing him of murdering his wife while his newborn child lay sleeping nearby.

Rescue personnel arrived first. The two paramedics were experienced and well-versed in dealing with victims and their families. They began to work on the victim, a 32-year old female, noting a gunshot wound to the head. Within a short timeframe, it became apparent the victim was deceased.

Several issues complicated the scene.

The body had been moved, forcing investigators to recreate the original position to determine trajectory.

The husband, a police officer, discovered the body after returning home from the overnight shift. He worked as a dispatcher that night and had left work at 8:00 am. When he found his wife he tried to revive her. Because he had come in contact with her, his hands were stained with blood. He told investigators he left his service weapon at home since he knew he would not be on the road that night.

On the floor next to the victim laid his department service weapon. It had been fired only once. Later examination found the husband’s prints on the barrel as well as all six cartridges, including the expended bullet. The investigator’s recovered a single round lodged in the ceiling of the bedroom. Based on the position of the body, the round would have been fired from the side, below the level of the bed, as if someone had crawled along the floor and then pressed the weapon to her temple and fired.

Stippling and powder burns surrounded the wound, indicating close contact.

At the time, the couple was in the midst of a reconciliation. Their first-born child, age two months, was still asleep in the same room where his mother died.

Based on the physical evidence and known circumstances it appeared to investigators that this was a homicide staged to look like a suicide.

All they needed was a statement from the husband, who insisted his wife had been depressed and had shot herself. But once they began the interrogation, he asked to speak to a lawyer.

Investigators went back to the scene to search for something more definitive.

One aspect of any investigation is to have early arrivers re-enact their actions. Investigators had the rescue team return to the scene along with the first responding officer. As the rescue personnel took their positions around the bed, the husband told investigators he had gone to the far side of the bed in order to assist as best he could. When he did, he moved a small changing table, pushing it further away from the bed.

This was not in his original statement.

When CSI detectives put the table back into its original position, they noticed a clear dent on the edge of the table that appeared to be a ricochet mark from the round. Once the scene had been put back into the untouched condition, it changed the entire situation.

Investigators re-examined the trajectory, and it matched perfectly with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the temple.

Mary Jones repeatedly called her 17-year old daughter who was home sick from school. All she got was a busy signal. Concerned that something was wrong, she called a neighbor to go check.

The neighbor, an off-duty firefighter, went to the house. He knocked on the door and got no response. Sensing something was wrong, he sent his wife home to call the police.

The door was unlocked.

When he entered the residence he glanced down the hallway. Someone’s legs protruded from one of the bedrooms. Running quickly to the body, he then checked for a pulse and breathing .

Within seconds, Officers arrived on scene. The local firemen weren’t far behind. Unfortunately, it was no use. The woman had already succumbed to her injuries.

They secured the crime scene.

The firefighter who discovered the body was brought to the station for a statement. Investigators’ first impression of the crime scene showed no indication of forced entry. There was apparent sexual assault and the victim had been manually strangled.

Everything indicated the victim knew the perpetrator and let him in the house.

Under these circumstances, suspicion falls immediately on family and friends. Officers notified the father and asked him to come to the station. One of the most difficult tasks an officer faces is telling a parent their child is dead.

This is compounded when the parent is also considered a suspect. The reaction to the news can be telling and useful to the investigation.

In this case, the father showed genuine emotional responses to the news. Investigators were able to learn that the victim had stayed out of school, did not have a steady boyfriend, and there was no concern on the parent’s part that she would have someone over to the house without their knowledge.

The circumstances still lent itself to a person known to the victim.

Investigators again returned to the scene to continue their search.

A uniform sergeant, who’d been at the scene within minutes of the call, told investigators he had picked up a small table next to the door and placed the telephone back on the table. When he first arrived the phone was lying on the floor. Which explained the busy signal when the mother tried to call. Before this, he had not spoken to investigators.

Once investigators learned this new information, it changed how they viewed the crime scene.

By talking to the parents, they learned the table was normally located next to the door. From the position described by the sergeant and with the table moved back into its original position, it became apparent that someone had forced themselves through the open door, knocking the table over.

Once again, a tiny detail changed by someone who should have known better sent investigators down the wrong path.

In this case, armed with a new theory, investigators were able to locate a subject on prison work release, attending a training program in the area.

How The Murder Really Happened

The subject was attempting to break into the house. Knocking at the door, he was startled when the girl opened it. Panicked that he was not supposed to be away from his assigned training location, he forced his way inside, knocking the table over and the phone off the hook. At trial, the jury convicted him, the judge sentencing him to life.

When creating scenarios for your characters, the force combining to create tension and drama do not have to be complex or labyrinthine, often it’s the simplest things that work best. They’re also what will bite you every time if you get them wrong. Television and movies give a false impression of the nature of criminal investigations. Experience taught everyone a lesson here. The smallest detail can have serious consequences, giving writers many opportunities to wreak havoc on their characters.

Joe Broadmeadow retired with the rank of Captain from the East Providence, Rhode Island Police Department after twenty years. Assigned to various divisions within the department, including Commander of Investigative Services, he also worked in the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and on special assignment to the FBI Drug Task Force. He has testified in State and Federal Court as an expert in Electronic Surveillance and Computer Forensics.

You can learn more about Joe and his books at his website and   Amazon author page .

If you enjoyed this post, please share. Thank you!

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Sue Coletta

Sue Coletta is an award-winning crime writer and an active member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Feedspot and Expertido.org named her Murder Blog as “Best 100 Crime Blogs on the Net.” She also blogs on the Kill Zone (Writer's Digest "101 Best Websites for Writers"), Writers Helping Writers, and StoryEmpire. Sue lives with her husband in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Her backlist includes psychological thrillers, the Mayhem Series (books 1-3) and Grafton County Series, and true crime/narrative nonfiction. Now, she exclusively writes eco-thrillers, Mayhem Series (books 4-9 and continuing). Sue's appeared on the Emmy award-winning true crime series, Storm of Suspicion, and three episodes of A Time to Kill on Investigation Discovery. When she's not writing, she loves spending time with her murder of crows, who live free but come when called by name. And nature feeds her soul.

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20 comments.

EVE ANDERSON

Just little details change the whole perspective. Here we had a crime & the justice official in charge (a novice), let the family clean, removed & burn the mattress.

To this day the Justice Department try to convict someone & 2 times the Judges say Um, No.

Something is fishy & is clear that the Justice Dept. is trying to deviate the attention. The Lawyer & his group (Defensors of Poor Peiple) of the supposely murderer Lcdo. Moczó, just crush the opposition in 2 turns at the bat..

Poor child as of today the criminal is free.

Oh, how sad, Eve. Sounds like that official really messed up that crime scene…to the point where a conviction would be nearly impossible now. And unfortunately, it’s the family who suffers.

Jennifer Chase

Great post! Interesting details as the cases unfolded. Thanks for posting 🙂

Thanks, Jen. It’s nice to see you. 🙂

Extremely intriguing to see how these scenes played out and the minute details that made a difference in the findings. Thank you, Richard, for sharing your knowledge and experience with us, and thank you, Sue for having such a wonderful guest.

BTW, I think the #ACrimeChat is an awesome idea. I hope to be tweeting questions once I have some time to focus on my WIPs. I’m assuming that it’s best to only ask questions related to the topic at the time? Thanks for organizing it, Sue, and to all your experts for taking the time to share their knowledge!

We try to stay on topic, Mae, but if you reach a point in your story where you need an answer, just tweet it to me regardless of topic. The whole crew is easy-going. We all want this to work for writers, so that’s the most important thing.

I’m glad you enjoyed Joe’s post. Enjoy your week!

Joe Broadmeadow

Mae, We are always looking for topics to explore. If you have a question ask it on #ACrimeChat and we’ll add it to our list of topics

Very cool post. I assumed they weren’t all intricately woven layers of plot and false evidence. There is a balance between making things obvious and getting enough mystery to tell a good story.

Exactly, Craig. Totally agree.

As to case #1 It shows how important it is to get detailed statements from all involved. One reason why (in Canada) we don’t let anyone but the forensic investigators onto the scene while investigating is too many cooks in the kitchen. I’ve had something similar and furniture that has been moved recently usually leaves a tell. carpet leaves indentation marks, floors, lack of dust or dirt where the legs or base was located. We use the right hand rule on scenes. start to your right and go completely around the room examining and photographing everything. It is time consuming but works. The forensic investigator should have found the table to be moved and the mark left by the bullet. that information could then be brought to the husband. Never let the suspect onto the scene.

I had what looked like a natural death. the body was on the bed and was supposedly discovered by the tenant who was renting the main house while the deceased stayed in the cottage. the tenant stated that he had tried to knock on the door but when he got no response he went to the back of the cottage and looked into the room. when he saw the deceased on the bed he stated to the police officers that he opened the window and climbed in. The man was still at the scene when I arrived and I noticed he was acting strange. after hearing his story i ordered the officers to remove him. the rear window was indeed open but an examination of the siding and the window trim showed no evidence that anyone had climbed in. fingerprint examination showed only the tenants prints on the bottom of the window frame but reversed. (the prints were made while standing inside the room) further investigation of the bed sheets and pillow case showed that the deceased had been smothered. A conviction was registered.

Forensic Investigation isnt just about photographing and collecting evidence. you have to read the scene, read the evidence and go through a process of eliminations.

I enjoyed reading about your two cases, Richard. We can never have too much information for crime writers, so I thank you!

Richard, One of the problems within most agencies is the immediacy of the moment often clouds the best-laid plans. In Case #1 the position of the table in the initial view appeared to be normal. There was no reason to move it. The realities of crime scene procedures and the expectations of the perfect scene are often far apart

Garry Rodgers

Great points, Joe. Definitely coming from someone who’s been there. In my experience, most crime scenes are fairly straightforward as long as they’re investigated objectively. A big mistake I’ve seen investigators make is to form a theory and then try to make the details fit, rather than just look at what the details are saying. Like you point out, one of the biggest hindrances is when a scene has been disturbed. (Hate it when that happens 🙂

Interpretation of crime scene details is an art on its own and is something I think most crime readers enjoy working out. I guess that’s why red herrings have been such a popular device and why the “Ah-ha!” moments are so rewarding.

Thanks for weighing in, Garry. Always happy to hear your two-cents. As you know, I watch a ton of true crime on ID. My favorite is Homicide Hunter. I mention him because often times when his team gets off track they go back to the beginning and start again. It helps him clear any misconceptions that’ve crept up in the investigation and many times, he finds new information that leads him to the correct conclusion, like the cases here.

Garry, There’s an interesting case in Rhode Island that illustrates this point. A woman is found murdered. There’s some significant injuries to the victim indicating rage and perhaps a personal connection.

The body was found by an off-duty officer.

The attention focuses on the police officer who was having an affair with the woman and lied to investigators about it. The investigators, from the officer’s own department, made certain assumptions and ignored normal procedures.

To make a long story short, the officer was convicted after trial. Six years later, another man walked into State Police Headquarters and confessed to the crime. He knew aspects of the case that only the killer would know. Investigators were able to determine he was also involved with the victim.

The officer served 6 years, convicted of a homicide he did not commit. Based on his lying to investigators about an affair, they assumed his guilt and manipulated the evidence to fit the theory.

This is one of the cases that changed my support of the death penalty.

Wow. It’s hard to recover after a homicide conviction. Did he get his job back? Or was his career ruined for good? He must have been bitter, sitting in that prison cell. I know I’d be.

No. Fought with the agency for back pay and a wrongful conviction suit

Margot Kinberg

This is so helpful Thanks very much to both of you. Those little details can make all of the difference; and in a crime novel, they can be effective ways to leave clues and create a plausible way for sleuths to get information.

I agree, Margot. The magic is in the tiny details. Unfortunately, it’s those same details that really derail a story, especially if a member of law enforcement is reading our book(s).

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8+ SAMPLE Criminal Investigation Report in PDF

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Write a Forensic Report Step by Step [Examples Inside]

To present the evidence in a way the court deems admissible and bring the guilty to justice, formulating a coherent and comprehensive digital forensics report is crucial. Without one, retelling the events that occurred in a structured manner, all while backing up every claim with concrete evidence, would be next to impossible (hence they are a requirement in the court proceedings).

Digital forensics reports play an instrumental role in coordinating the work between multiple investigators, law enforcement officers, administrative, and legal personnel involved in the case, not all of which may share the same professional background and field of expertise.

They are the interdisciplinary focal point that tells the truth of what happened and documents the findings, all while presenting them in a factual yet understandable manner.

At the same time, investigators should keep in mind that other law enforcement institutions may ask for the report in order to:

• Get a recap of events
• Determine the next steps to take
• Review the evidence
• Verify what digital forensics tools have been used
• Get an overview of the investigation’s objectives

Before we reveal the exact steps on how to formulate one, keep in mind that the exact structure of a digital forensic report depends on the case, which means what you will find below is a general overview of the entire process in a step-by-step manner as well as a general outline to follow which should give you some ideas on how to tackle the task at hand.

To give you a better idea how the final result should look, we’ve also provided some concrete digital forensic report examples from different cases.

With that out of the way, let’s begin with :

STEP 1: Familiarize Yourself with the Best Practices of Writing a Digital Forensic Report

Step 2: study some generic and recommended forensic report examples before writing, step 3: write the digital forensics report, step 4: re-check your report for factual correctness and apply edits as needed, step 5: present the report to the court, digital forensic lab can help you automate your reporting.

Before you begin with the writing process, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the most important principles to keep in mind the entire time.

These can be summarized as follows:

Don’t break the law when collecting, processing, analyzing, or handling evidence

No law enforcement officer or digital forensics investigator is above the law, so everyone’s rights need to be respected during the entirety of the investigation. The forensic report you present needs to make this clear beyond any doubt, so you should state any warrants you’ve obtained to search and confiscate a device, etc.

Only mention the information that’s relevant

Just think of it like telling a story. If it fails to captivate the reader’s attention, there is a risk the reader will put it down before getting to the end.

The purpose of a digital forensics report is to help the reader connect the dots and lead them on a journey of discovery.

Focus on concrete facts rather than your personal opinions

When trying to get someone to answer for their deeds and convict them in court, you’re going to need more than just a subjective opinion, so focus on stating concrete evidence and facts.

Remember that anyone can argue with someone’s opinion, but facts are indisputable.

Utilize any forensics notes you’ve made during the investigation itself

Did your work begin with suspicion or a clue you started investigating? This can add value and enrich the section where you talk about the stages of the investigation and how you came to your conclusions.

If a particular part of the digital forensics process was especially challenging, shed some light on why that was the case and how you managed to overcome these challenges.

Avoid using complex terms and focus on conveying the relevant information in a manner that is coherent and simple to understand

The reason being is that not everyone who will read the report has the same professional background as you.

During the investigation and legal proceedings, expect to be working with IT professionals, legal professionals, and law enforcement personnel who all need to be kept on the same page. Of course, you shouldn’t strip out all of the industry terms such as IP addresses, timestamps, hash values, and similar, all of which can be crucial pieces of evidence.

However, when mentioning these, you should include a glossary at the end where others can read up on the exact definitions of the technical terms.

Automate the process if you can

If you stick to the end, we’ll show you how.

To give you a quick spoiler: there are certain dedicated digital forensics solutions such as SalvationDATA’s Digital Forensic Lab that take out the heavy lifting of having to write a digital forensics report on your own, with a built-in chain of custody compliance, timestamps, etc.

Studying a computer forensic evidence report example written by others will not only get your creative juices flowing, let you in on some ideas about what to include in your report, but give you a good overall image of what the finalized version is supposed to look like.

Below, please find our digital forensic report template list consisting of top-performing industry examples.

• A shorter report outlining the case of document manipulation (by Cybersleuthlab)
• A detailed digital forensics report featuring tables, exhibits, figures, etc.
• A report explaining video footage with timestamps

Now comes the most important step of all – actually writing the digital forensics report .

Since you’re now familiar with the best practices of how to approach the task, we can move on to the exact structural specifics of it.

Please include the name of the case, the investigator in charge, and the relevant dates.

b) Table of contents

Just like a book, your digital forensic report should list out every section and map out the corresponding page of the chapter.

If you’re using a popular text editor like Microsoft Word, this section can be auto-generated.

c) Case summary

This section should provide a general overview of the case.

Do not include too many details and try to avoid technical jargon if possible.

d) Evidence

The summary of the evidence submitted comes first. After that, you should list one after another and include screenshots if needed, besides, make sure to provide an explanation for each.

In this section, it’s fine to list any relevant hardware specifics such as the model name, serial numbers, etc.

e) Objectives

In essence, the objectives section should attempt to answer the question of what you’re trying to prove.

That being said, what was the objective of the investigation?

Don’t forget to include your hypothesis and any relevant search terms.

f) Steps taken during an investigation (aka. Forensic Analysis).

This section should outline the steps taken during the investigation, including the digital forensics methodology used and any interactable parts of the process.

You should also consider including additional explanations that extrapolate the process and give valuable insights into how crucial conclusions were made.

For the sake of readability and maintaining the chain of custody , you should also provide a timeline of events that specifies who handled the evidence, for how long, and for what purpose.

g) Tools used

What digital forensic tools did you rely on during the digital forensics investigation ? Outline them briefly and explain what purpose each of them served, including any limitations of said tools.

Attaching screenshots of the process and describing it can help make it sound clearer and more understandable to follow even for non-industry professionals involved in the case and/or legal procedure.

h) Relevant findings

Re-iterate the most important conclusions here and don’t be afraid to go into as many details as you see fit. Anything you state here should be directly related to the main objectives of the digital forensics investigation .

This is where you explain each piece of evidence and clearly pinpoint what it proves in a way that even non-industry professionals can understand.

i) Recommended next steps

This section should be short (no longer than a paragraph).

In it, suggest what the council can do with these findings and how to go from here.

Should criminal charges be filed?

j) Appendices (optional)

Not required, but it can make or break a case sometimes.

This is where you’ll be presenting your exhibit A, exhibit B, etc. You should present them in a PDF format that can be easily opened anywhere all while retaining its intended formatting.

Make sure that any hyperlinks it contains are clickable and that they link to relevant resources.

k) Formatting (optional)

This is mainly for the sake of the document having a professional appearance.

Having each page marked with a number also makes it easy to detect if someone tried to tamper with the report by removing a page (or if one of them accidentally goes missing).

Make sure the logo of your law enforcement organization is clearly visible in the header and footer of each page, as well as the corresponding address and the person in charge.

l) Figures (optional)

Your digital forensics report will likely contain various figures scattered throughout the document.

It’s nice to have a dedicated page where all of these can be reviewed in the same place.

Make sure there is a description alongside every figure stated.

m) Glossary (optional)

At some point when writing the report, there will be no other way than to mention some technical or industry-specific terms, although the best practice is to avoid them in general or at least keep them to a minimum.

Including a glossary at the end of the document will help non-industry professionals understand the complex terms mentioned in the report.

Make sure to include only those that you actually referenced during writing.

This is the part where you should re-check that everything is in order, and factually correct and that you haven’t forgotten to include anything (please refer to the sections above if you need further guidance).

As you refine the final version of the document, you should ask yourself:

• Do the numbers check out?
• Does the report list all crucial pieces of evidence and the people in charge?
• Is it brief and to the point or do you feel like you could trim out some irrelevant parts?
• Is it based on facts? If you catch yourself writing ‘I believe X’, perhaps it’s better to word it as ‘the evidence suggests that X happened because of Y’.
• Could certain sections be explained using layman’s terms instead of using complicated jargon?

Once everything checks out and you feel no further improvements can be made, you’re good to proceed to the final step!

Once you’ve double-checked everything, you can confidently present the report to the court.

If you’d like more detailed guidance, we’ve written a comprehensive guide on what steps are required to present evidence in court .

For your quick glance, please find a brief summary below:

• Secure the evidence.
• Make sure to maintain the chain of custody.
• Verify that the evidence is authentic.
• Sort the evidence according to its relevance.
• Convert the files into the right format.
• Get acquainted with the presentation procedure.
• Label the exhibits.
• Complete the final preparations.

It is our hope that the steps outlined above will take the hassle out of the equation and give you a solid idea of what the court expects to see.

Make sure to also familiarize yourself with the dos and don’ts of presenting evidence in court so that it will deem it admissible.

Most law enforcement professionals would agree that writing a digital forensics report is not the most productive part of the overall investigation. As necessary as it may be, it consumes a lot of man-hours that could be better spent analyzing evidence and taking a proactive role in the investigation.

To provide an alternative and do away with mindless manual labor, SalvationDATA has come up with a Digital Forensic Lab , a cutting-edge one-stop technological solution designed to streamline your digital forensics workflow and fully automate the reporting.

Thanks to its powerful architecture, evidence visualization, and built-in reporting, you will be able to close more cases in (even in advance )record time, thus adding to the credibility and recognition of your department, all while effortlessly maintaining the chain of custody and staying compliant with other industry requirements.

In the end, due to giving you such massive time and money savings, investments like these virtually pay for themselves.

Digital Forensic Lab completely automates the process of generating a forensic report.

At the end of the day, a digital forensics report is meant to facilitate communication between different industry experts that are involved in the case in one way or another. Some may have a background in IT, some are legal professionals, and some are officers of the law doing the fieldwork of collecting and securing crucial evidence.

With this in mind, the report doesn’t need to be perfect, nor does it need to include every single detail regarding the investigation. As long as you focus on the most important elements, use clear and concise language everyone can understand, as well as stick to the best practices we’ve outlined above, you should have a firm starting point on how to proceed.

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How To Describe A Crime Scene In A Story (100+ Examples)

Many of the best stories include a crime scene — but how do you write them?

Here is how to describe a crime scene in a story:

Describe a crime scene in a story by focusing on key elements like physical layout, visible evidence, atmospheric conditions, signs of struggle, the victim’s condition, witnesses, investigator’s approach, forensic evidence, time of day, surrounding area, and emotional tone.

This guide offers insights on different types of crime scenes and details 10 key elements to describe, each with examples, to bring your narrative to life.

Types of Crime Scenes

Table of Contents

Crime scenes in stories can vary widely, reflecting the nature of the crime and setting.

Common types include:

• Residential Scenes: Homes or apartments where a crime like burglary or homicide has occurred.
• Commercial Scenes: Business-related locations, including offices, shops, or warehouses.
• Outdoor Scenes: Open spaces like parks, streets, or rural areas.
• Vehicle Scenes: Crimes occurring in or involving vehicles.
• Virtual Scenes: Cybercrimes or crimes involving digital spaces.

Each type offers unique opportunities for storytelling and description.

Physical Layout

The physical layout of a crime scene is fundamental in setting the stage for your story.

Describing the arrangement of rooms, the spacing between objects, and the overall size and shape of the scene can deeply immerse readers in the environment.

It’s important to consider how the layout affects the crime itself, the investigation, and the movement of characters within the space.

• “The cramped apartment made the aftermath of the struggle even more chaotic.”
• “A lone chair lay overturned in the center of the spacious hall.”
• “Narrow alleyways twisted like a labyrinth around the crime scene.”
• “The open-plan office allowed a clear view of the disturbing scene.”
• “A small, cluttered workshop, tools scattered as if in a hurry.”
• “The luxurious mansion’s many rooms hid secrets in every corner.”
• “A solitary streetlight cast eerie shadows over the deserted road.”
• “The tiny cabin’s single room felt even smaller with the evidence of violence.”
• “The car’s interior was a confined stage for the crime.”
• “The expansive rooftop offered an unobstructed view of the chaos below.”

Visible Evidence

Visible evidence at a crime scene is key to building suspense and intrigue.

Describe the type and placement of evidence like bloodstains, bullet casings, or disturbed items.

This not only helps in visualizing the scene but also hints at the nature of the crime and the possible sequence of events.

• “Blood spatters painted a grim picture on the white walls.”
• “Scattered papers around the room hinted at a frantic search.”
• “Bullet casings littered the floor, each telling its own story.”
• “A shattered vase lay in pieces, a silent witness to the struggle.”
• “Footprints in the dust led to a locked door.”
• “A torn photograph clutched in the victim’s hand raised more questions.”
• “The knife lay discarded, its blade stained with betrayal.”
• “Broken glass sparkled under the streetlights, a remnant of the night’s terror.”
• “The computer screen still displayed the last message received.”
• “A trail of muddy footprints vanished into the night.”

Atmospheric Conditions

Atmospheric conditions can greatly influence the mood of a crime scene.

Describing the weather, lighting, and even smells can add a layer of realism and affect how characters interact with the scene.

Whether it’s a stormy night, a stifling hot day, or a cold, foggy morning, these details can heighten the sense of suspense and urgency.

• “Rain washed over the scene, blurring the lines between evidence and nature.”
• “The stifling heat of the room made every breath heavy with tension.”
• “Fog cloaked the area, shrouding the gruesome scene in mystery.”
• “The dim light of dawn cast long shadows across the crime scene.”
• “A sharp, metallic smell hung in the air, mingling with the scent of rain.”
• “The crackle of thunder echoed the chaos left behind.”
• “Streetlights flickered, casting an eerie glow over the abandoned car.”
• “The chill of the room seemed to seep into the bones.”
• “Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the dust and the stillness.”
• “A gust of wind carried whispers of the crime through the alley.”

Signs of Struggle

Describing signs of struggle at a crime scene can add a dynamic element to the narrative.

It allows readers to infer the intensity and nature of the confrontation.

Disarranged furniture, marks on the floor or walls, and the position of the victim can all contribute to a vivid portrayal of the events leading to the crime.

• “Furniture lay upturned, silent markers of a desperate fight.”
• “Scratches on the hardwood floor told a tale of resistance.”
• “The room was in disarray, as if a storm had passed through.”
• “Marks on the walls suggested a violent scuffle.”
• “The body lay at an odd angle, limbs splayed unnaturally.”
• “A broken lamp lay beside the victim, evidence of a last stand.”
• “The door hung off its hinges, testament to a forceful entry.”
• “Scuff marks near the window hinted at a hasty escape.”
• “The disheveled bed spoke of a struggle that knew no boundaries.”
• “A trail of belongings led from the door to the body, a path of panic.”

Victim’s Condition

The condition of the victim at a crime scene is a crucial element in storytelling.

Describing their position, injuries, and expressions can evoke empathy and curiosity. This description can also offer clues about the nature of the crime and the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator.

• “The victim lay still, eyes wide open in silent accusation.”
• “Bruises marred the skin, hinting at a brutal confrontation.”
• “A peaceful expression belied the violence of the death.”
• “Blood pooled around the body, a stark contrast to the pale skin.”
• “The victim’s clenched fist held a lock of hair, a clue perhaps.”
• “Burn marks told a story of unspeakable pain.”
• “The body was curled up, as if in protection against the final blow.”
• “A single gunshot wound was the deadly punctuation to the struggle.”
• “Scratch marks on the arms spoke of a desperate defense.”
• “The victim’s clothes were torn, but the dignity remained intact.”

Witnesses and Bystanders

Witnesses and bystanders add depth to a crime scene, providing perspectives and reactions that enrich the narrative.

Describing their emotions, behaviors, and interactions with the scene or investigators can create a more complex and engaging story.

These characters can offer vital clues, red herrings, or deepen the mystery.

• “A crowd gathered, eyes wide with shock and curiosity.”
• “A lone witness stood trembling, her account faltering with fear.”
• “Curious onlookers whispered theories, each more elaborate than the last.”
• “A child’s innocent eyes watched from a distance, unknowing yet understanding.”
• “Bystanders offered hushed condolences, their faces etched with concern.”
• “An old man recounted the event, his voice quivering with emotion.”
• “A neighbor peeked through curtains, her curiosity tinged with fear.”
• “Passersby paused, their morbid fascination evident.”
• “Witnesses clustered together, seeking comfort in shared disbelief.”
• “A jogger stopped, her morning routine shattered by the grim scene.”

Investigator’s Approach

The way an investigator approaches a crime scene can set the tone for the investigation.

Describing their initial observations, methods of examination, and interaction with the team provides insight into their character and the investigative process.

It can also foreshadow the challenges they might face in solving the crime.

• “The detective paused at the threshold, taking in every detail.”
• “Methodically, she began to piece together the silent story.”
• “His keen eyes scoured the scene, missing nothing.”
• “With a gloved hand, the investigator pointed out a barely visible clue.”
• “He walked through the scene, deep in thought, piecing together the puzzle.”
• “The lead detective knelt beside the victim, her expression somber.”
• “They worked in silence, respecting the gravity of the scene.”
• “Each team member had a role, a dance of investigation unfolding.”
• “The investigator’s notebook was filled with rapid, meticulous notes.”
• “He paused to photograph a seemingly insignificant detail.”

Forensic Evidence

Forensic evidence is crucial in crime scene descriptions, as it adds a layer of scientific intrigue and realism.

Detailing how evidence is collected and analyzed can captivate readers and lend credibility to the story.

This includes fingerprints, DNA samples, digital footprints, and other technical details.

• “Forensic experts dusted for fingerprints, a silent ballet of precision.”
• “DNA samples were carefully collected, each a potential key to the mystery.”
• “Technicians photographed the scene, preserving every detail.”
• “A fiber found on the victim promised secrets yet to be revealed.”
• “Blood samples were taken, the hope of DNA analysis looming.”
• “The computer’s hard drive held the potential to unlock the case.”
• “Ballistics experts examined the bullet, a silent witness to the crime.”
• “The pattern of blood spatter was meticulously analyzed.”
• “Footprints were cast, each a clue set in stone.”
• “The team scoured for trace evidence, invisible to the untrained eye.”

Time of Day and Lighting

The time of day and lighting at a crime scene significantly affect its atmosphere and the investigation.

Describing whether a crime occurred under the cover of night, in the harsh light of day, or during the eerie twilight hours can set a distinct mood.

Lighting can also impact how evidence is perceived and discovered.

• “Under the harsh noon sun, the stark reality of the crime was undeniable.”
• “The crime scene, bathed in the soft glow of dusk, held a deceptive calm.”
• “Moonlight cast long, ominous shadows across the abandoned warehouse.”
• “The flickering streetlamp created a dance of light and dark around the scene.”
• “As dawn broke, the first rays of light revealed the tragedy.”
• “In the dim light of early morning, details of the crime emerged slowly.”
• “The setting sun cast a bloody hue over the scene.”
• “Artificial lights buzzed overhead, giving the room a clinical coldness.”
• “The darkness of the alley hid the crime from casual view.”
• “The stark fluorescence of the office lights laid everything bare.”

State of the Surrounding Area

The state of the surrounding area provides context to the crime scene and can hint at the lifestyle or activities of the victim or perpetrator.

Describing the condition of nearby buildings, streets, or natural elements can offer clues and set the tone for the scene, whether it’s chaotic, neglected, pristine, or ordinary.

• “The rundown buildings nearby spoke of a forgotten part of town.”
• “Pristine streets contrasted sharply with the violence of the crime.”
• “Graffiti-covered walls provided a backdrop of silent rebellion.”
• “The manicured park grounds seemed an unlikely stage for such a crime.”
• “Nearby, the normalcy of bustling city life continued, oblivious.”
• “The neglected garden hinted at the victim’s recent troubles.”
• “A once grand, now dilapidated mansion loomed over the scene.”
• “The quiet suburban street had been shattered by the night’s events.”
• “The surrounding forest offered a secluded cover for the crime.”
• “Amidst the industrial area, the crime scene was just another unnoticed event.”

Emotional Tone and Atmosphere

The emotional tone and atmosphere of a crime scene can influence the reader’s emotional response.

Describing the palpable tension, fear, grief, or shock experienced by characters or conveyed through the setting can deepen the impact of the scene.

This element is vital in creating an immersive and emotionally resonant narrative.

• “A heavy silence hung over the scene, thick with unspoken sorrow.”
• “An undercurrent of fear was palpable among the onlookers.”
• “The atmosphere was charged with the urgency of the investigation.”
• “Grief permeated the air, as tangible as the morning mist.”
• “A sense of injustice fueled the team’s determination.”
• “Shock was etched on every face, a shared experience of horror.”
• “The solemn mood was only broken by the occasional crackle of the police radio.”
• “Anger simmered below the surface, a response to the senseless violence.”
• “Despair seemed to seep from the walls, enveloping the scene.”
• “The tension was like a tightrope, each step fraught with emotional peril.”

Here is a video that will help you learn how to describe a crime scene in a story:

Examples of How to Describe a Crime Scene in Different Genres

How to describe a crime scene in one genre is not the same way you describe it in another.

Check out these examples.

In a mystery novel, the crime scene is often laden with subtle clues and red herrings, set against a backdrop of everyday normalcy that’s been shattered by the crime.

Picture a quaint English village where a beloved community member has been found dead in their well-kept garden.

The description focuses on the stark contrast between the peaceful setting and the violent act.

The vibrant flower beds, usually a source of pride for the village, were now marred by the outline of a body. Detective Smith noted the disarray of the garden tools, an unusual sight for the meticulous victim. The gentle hum of bees and the distant chatter of neighbors formed a dissonant soundtrack to the grim tableau.

As Smith knelt to examine a peculiar set of footprints leading away from the scene, he couldn’t help but feel the killer was hiding in plain sight, masked by the village’s deceptive tranquility.

In horror stories, the crime scene description often amplifies the elements of fear and shock.

Imagine a decrepit asylum where unspeakable acts have occurred.

The hallway was dimly lit, the flickering lights casting long, twisted shadows that seemed to writhe along the walls. The air was thick with the stench of decay. As the investigator moved forward, her flashlight beam fell upon a grotesque scene – remnants of what appeared to be a ritualistic killing.

Symbols drawn in blood adorned the walls, and in the center lay the victim, their expression frozen in a silent scream. The sense of an unseen presence was overwhelming, as if the walls themselves were watching, reliving the horror over and over.

In a sci-fi setting, crime scenes can incorporate futuristic technology and alien elements.

Envision a space station orbiting a distant planet, where a crew member has been mysteriously killed.

The body floated in the zero-gravity chamber, a serene yet eerie sight. Commander Zhao maneuvered through the weightlessness, her eyes taking in the high-tech surroundings – the advanced medical equipment now recording the absence of life, the holographic displays flickering with data.

She noticed a strange, crystalline substance near the victim’s wound, something not of their world. As she collected samples, the reality set in – they were not alone in this vast expanse of space, and whatever had committed this act was beyond their understanding of life and death.

Final Thoughts: How to Describe a Crime Scene in a Story

Mastering crime scene descriptions can elevate your storytelling to new heights of intrigue and suspense.

For more insights and writing tips, explore other articles on our website.

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10 Tips on How to Write Believable Crime and Murder Scenes

We’re starting a fun series covering a number of weeks featuring guest posts from professionals who work in medical, police investigation, and legal arenas in order to help writers get “real” in their fiction. Take a peek inside their worlds and ask questions!

Today’s guest post is from Garry Rodgers, who spent years working as a homicide investigator and fornesics coroner and has a lot of great advice for writers who plan to write about crime scenes.

I’ve been around the criminal investigation world for three decades—first as a homicide detective, then as a forensic coroner. I was also the trigger-man on Emergency Response or SWAT Teams and now, in “retirement,” I’m reinventing myself as a crime fiction writer. So I’ve got hands-on experience in life, death, and writing.

I’m also a voracious reader. Not just technical, forensic, and legal stuff but lots of crime fiction. I’m fortunate for on-the-street and in-the-morgue background to draw from, though it’s a curse when I read stuff that I know is improbable or just plain baloney.

I’m not here to knock other writers. Quite the contrary, I want to help fellow crime-fiction writers through my real-life experiences. And I’d like to assure aspiring writers that you don’t need to be an old cop or forensics wizard to write electrifying crime stories. I’ll bet that 99% of the best-selling crime writers never saw a dead body, let alone smelled one. But that doesn’t matter. The best don’t necessarily write what they know . . .  but they all check what they write .

So I’ve compiled my top ten tips on writing believable crime stories.

1. Understand the mechanism of death .

Every human dies because the central nervous system gets unplugged. This happens in many ways, but primarily either the cardiopulmonary system stops, which tells the brain to shut down, or the brain stops, which tells the heart and lungs to give up.

In reality, this is harder to accomplish than it sounds, and it’s human nature not to check out without a fight. So people are actually hard to kill. A bullet to the head is effective, but stabbings, for instance, are time-consuming, difficult, and messy. Poisons are slow, strangling is tough, and folks just don’t stand there while being axed. So when you write the “perfect murder scene,” think about how realistically you kill your victim.

2. Understand time of death.

I’ve read (and seen on the screen) moments in which the coroner/pathologist declares the victim dead at a specific time, such as 10:05 pm. Uh . . . no—not unless someone was there with a stopwatch. Many mortis factors are considered when estimating time of death. Temperature is the biggie, followed by body mass.

A dead body will naturally adjust temperature (algor) to achieve equilibrium with its surroundings and will display time-telling factors, such as muscle stiffening (rigor), blood settling (livor), color (palor), and tissue breakdown (decomp). The presence of toxins also effects body changes. Cocaine amplifies the mortis process, while carbon monoxide retards it. Be careful in getting your forensic guru to commit on specific time.

3. Understand scene access.

Crime scenes are tightly secured. Absolutely no one goes in unless they’re necessary, and then they’ll wear complete personal protective equipment (PPE) to avoid contaminating the scene or themselves. This business of a gumshoe detective in a trench coat, smoking a cigar and leaning over the body, doesn’t happen. Neither does a fifteen-year-old sleuth tagging along to help solve the case.

4. Get the terminology right.

I see writers get basic terms wrong, and it’s the little mistakes that seriously affect credibility. For example, calling a 9mm pistol a “revolver” or saying the body was “prone” on its back on the floor. So much is available through Internet searches or, better yet, having beta readers pick up on errors. Remember: check what you write .

5. Crime-lab results are not so quick.

Processing crime scene evidence is a cumbersome, frustrating, and time-consuming event. First of all, yours is not the only case the lab has, and it will sit in queue to get developed. You’ll probably get bumped to the back of the bus by more urgent files and it could be months before your DNA profile comes in. And, no, a phone call from the scene to your buddy in the lab is not going to speed things up. He’d probably get canned for playing favorites.

6. Don’t get creative with investigational aids.

Most writers fail to consider the multitude of resources used in criminal investigations. DNA is today’s darling, followed by AFIS (the Automated Fingerprint Identification System). Don’t just write in the usual things like forensic autopsies, toxicology, ballistic matching, and document examination. Expand your story by using informants, wiretaps, room bugs and wires, polygraphs, undercover operators, police agents, hypnosis memory enhancement, psychological profiling, computer analyzing, satellite surveillance, and one that’s a real bugger—entomology. Stay away from using psychics, though. I’ve never heard of a case in which psychic information was anything other than a wild goose chase. I think psychics are as toxic to a believable story as a “dream” ending.

7. Use the five senses.

The best page-turners happen when you connect with your reader’s senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. This seems to be the key to pulling off the show-over-tell thing. I keep a little sticky note on the bottom of my screen to remind me to make the most of the senses in each scene—it sure helps in editing.

Smell is the strongest link to emotional connection. It’s one thing to see gruesome photos of a gut-shot corpse, but once you’ve actually whiffed a maggot-crawling, gassing-off decomp, you’ll never forget it. Try writing out that sock-puking stench. Show the detective dumpstering his $500 leather jacket because the putrefaction permeated the calf-skin pores, and dry cleaning it just made it stink worse. True story—happened to me.

8. Craft believable dialog.

Be honest. Cops and crooks swear like sailors, and that’s the reality of the crime world. And some of the most foul-mouthed friends I have are females. One lady pathologist used to slip in some beauts while dictating and dissecting. Fortunately, her assistant was a good editor and covered her butt in reports.

There’s a balance, though. If every fourth word is four letters, it’ll get a little overpowering, but none at all is unrealistic. I read a prominent crime writer’s best seller on a recommendation. I picked up right away that something wasn’t quite right. Then I came to the part where a character had to use profanity—no way around it to be true to the character—and the author wrote it as ‘F@#*!’. I quit reading and I’m sure others did too.

9. Create compelling characters.

Something that’s as true as the fact that you’re going to flush the toilet before bedtime—the best cops and crooks have vibrant personalities. And they’re not entirely good or bad either. One of the Hell’s Angels I know should be a stand-up comedian, and a fellow coroner, who looks like frump-woman, is like travelling with Yoda. She has a terrible drinking problem, though, and sleeps with her incontinent ferret.

10. Understand the science of story.

I can’t stress this enough. There’s every much a science behind storytelling as there is in doing autopsies. Why readers stay up—and can’t put  novel down—is that writers work words that release endorphins in the reader’s brain. One book that all writers, not just crime-writers, MUST read is Wired for Story by Lisa Cron. I promise you’ll never look at storytelling the same.

11. Bonus tip:

This gem is from Joseph Wambaugh. He’s the ex-LAPD guy who wrote The Choir Boys, The New Centurions, and The Onion Field, and invented the character Roscoe Rules, whom every cop loves . Wambaugh said, “The best crime stories are not about how cops work on cases. They’re about how cases work on cops.”

I hope these tips help you to be authentic in your “crime scenes.”

What bits have you seen on TV shows or movies, or have read in novels, that seem inaccurate or unbelievable to you? Got any specific questions?

Garry Rodgers is a retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police homicide detective and forensic coroner. He also served as a sniper on British SAS-trained Emergency Response or SWAT teams and is a recognized firearms expert. He’s now an Amazon top ten10 best-selling crime writer and blogger.

Feature Photo Credit: projectexploration via Compfight cc

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81 Comments

How fun! I don’t currently write mystery fiction, or any fiction at all. My primary skill set is in nonfiction. But I am moving quickly back toward fiction, and hopefully back toward mystery fiction in the future, with a much deeper understanding than I had the first time I wrote something in that field.

Hi Angie & thanks for commenting. I’ve written mostly non-fiction over the years – investigation and forensic reports, legal documents, and research articles. It was a really big learning curve when I set out to write my first novel and I know I’ll never stop learning. Hopefully you and others get some good from these tips.

Top-rate advice, Garry; thanks. I’m familiar with most of your suggestions, especially about attention to research and getting the details right, but what really caught my attention was point #10. I take free online courses for entertainment, and psychology and brain science is my favorite topic. I’ll be ordering the book you named, just for my own endorphin rush. If it helps my writing, so much the better.

Compliment appreciated, Curtis. ‘Wired For Story’ will change the way you look at storytelling. I highly recommend all writers, fiction & non-fiction read this book by Lisa Cron. Here’s a link to her YouTube TED Talk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74uv0mJS0uM

Excellent post. A couple of other things: Crime Scene Investigators don’t solve cases in the field. They are scientists and work in a lab on dozens of cases at time. Leave them in the lab. Second, be sure to get technical facts right. I was lost in the middle of a mystery novel when the main character ‘clicked the gun’s safety off’. Fine, but the gun was a Glock. No safety.

I try to remember that readers are smarter than writers and one gaffe can ruin the reader’s experience and damage their trust in the author.

By the way, I had to check to see how the word ‘gaffe’ was spelled. Do your research!

Good point about the CSI people. In my jurisdiction. British Columbia, Canada, we use a cooperative role between the police Forensic Identification Section (FIS) and the coroner service. The coroners have investigative field agents who visit the scenes along with the “Ident” members and examine the bodies. Depending on the seriousness, these same investigators maintain continuity of the body all the way through to the morgue & autopsy.

Hey – you had me going with the ‘gaffe’ word. I thought I had used it & misspelled it so I went back through the post looking to see how I screwed up. Check what you write 🙂

I mean I had to check my own work. I used the word gaffe. Sorry for not being clear.

So nice to see you here, Garry! Kate Becket on Castle recently said she was putting an APB out for a suspect. What is this the 1980’s? It’s a BOLO! Why the writers didn’t catch it is beyond me. Excellent post as usual, my friend. Sharing widely!

Imagine seeing you here, Sue 🙂 OK, I admit it. I had to Google ‘Kate Becket Castle’ (I rarely watch the CSI / cop shows since Hill Street Blues finished up). We never used APP & BOLO is more of a US term. 10-40 is the radio code.

And here’s another dose of reality for crime writers. Very, very few detectives look as good as Stana Katic 🙂

Well, few women are as attractive as she is! I love watching Castle, but I wonder just how realistic the show is. However, I don’t watch for the realism but to see Nathan Fillion do his thang (loved Firefly!).

I had to Google Nathan Fillion, too. Looks like I have to get out of my Canadian igloo more often.

Totally agree with you, CS. I love Castle being Castle. It’s the best part of the show. Garry, for no other reason, watch it for the laughs. I think, like most writers, you’ll get a kick out of it.

I know who to follow. *wink* This is one of my favorite blogs!

Hi, Garry, Thanks for the link to the Ted Talk by Lisa Cron. It was a very powerful message indeed. I also appreciated your top 10 tips on writing believable crime stories. For someone who knows that the devil is in the details and can spend far too much time trying to get her facts right, can I play devil’s advocate and suggest that while accurate details help to form a story, create atmosphere, transport us to a different place and time, that a writer has to know when to stop being a stickler for detail; that 90% of your readership will not know that a 9mm pistol should not be referred to as a revolver and that in terms of passing on the essence of your story, knowing that a gun was used to commit the crime is as much as most of us need to know to ‘get’ the message from the story. Rightly or wrongly, I do sometimes have to mentally stop myself from chasing down some minor details in the pathological need to ‘get it right’, reminding myself that it is ‘only’ a novel (don’t scream!) and ‘so what’ if I get it wrong, no one will get hurt in the process. I guess what I am talking about is knowing how to strike a balance, when to know which details are important to conveying the message and which are less so. To use Lisa’s example of the dangers of eating red berries, I’m sure that details such as size and color of berries, where they grow are more important than say the fact that the Neanderthal who ate the berries and died wore a wooly mammoth skin verses a generic ‘animal skin’. Would love to hear your feedback on when/if there is such a things as too much detail.

And Brian, I do appreciate your comment, that ‘some’ readers will have the knowledge to know that a Glock does not have a safety, but the vast majority of us wont. Again, it comes back to how sloppy the writer is considered to be because, yes, gone are the days when a writer could ‘create’ their own history and facts deliver a story full of action and inaccuracies and expect the reader to accept them, as opposed to one where the author makes a slip here and there. I would hate to think that one gaffe would break a line of trust, for we are only human after all (isn’t that an interesting saying??). Is it better then to use the generic term ‘gun’ rather than Glock, to steer clear of muddy waters?

You make a great point, Karen. There is a limit to getting the minute details correct. At some point you have to do the best you can, ship it, and get on to the next work.

I’m obviously anal about the correctness of evidence given my background and I agree that most readers wouldn’t have caught Brian’s remark about the Glock safety – I had to do a double take because I’ve never owned a Glock but he’s right about most readers being smarter than a lot of writers take them for. I’d say that they more detailed you write, the more time you have to spend checking the facts and that can be hugely time consuming.

I guess it ‘comes down to letting small errors slide and watching for something as big as calling the red berries ‘blueberries’. That could be fatal.

Hi Garry, Thank you for the article it has made me think about the crime novel I am busy writing. Being authentic is so important. Writing is hard work. It requires a lot of research and I appreciate the advice you have provided in your article. My uncle was a police reservist for the SAP and I am a biometrics officer I hope that this will help me to create authentic stories.

Susanne has been very encouraging and I hope my novel will turn out to be a page turner! Thank you.

I hope these tips help, Angela. Susanne is a wealth of knowledge and experience. I’m looking forward to reading her newest craft book “The 12 Key Pillars of Novel Construction”. It’s available on Amazon at

http://www.amazon.com/Key-Pillars-Novel-Construction-Blueprint/dp/0991389476/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Best wishes for your work.

Thanks for mentioning my book (and the workbook is out too!). Now, you really don’t know who Nathan Fillion is? You’ve never seen Firefly? I highly recommend it for some great plots, characters, and dialog!

I feel like a cave-dweller being exposed. I had to Google Firefly, too. My TV time is limited to the news, NFL, American Idol, and Big Bang Theory. God, I love BBT – talk about great writing & characters.

Well, there’s your problem right there: watching American Idol and the NFL. Sheesh!

Thanks for the post, Garry. I learned so much in that short list. I’ve written one crime novel and had to interview quite a few people to get my facts straight but still wonder if I did a very realistic job of it. I think it’s challenging for a writer to tackle something that requires a lot of research to be accurate on so many levels. But it’s great to have help from pros like you, websites, and agencies willing to answer questions.

Love doing these posts, Susanne. Thanks for the opportunity & exposure. Looking forward to reading other in this series.

I guess I write what I know… it’s my comfort zone. I can’t imagine me trying to write romance or God forbid, erotica. I’d probably turn out something like ’50 Shades Of Guts’ 😉

Thank you Garry, for such an inspiring post, and I loved the Lisa Cron video. I am working on my first novel and I am plotting a murder, but the body will not be discovered for thirty years. Yes, this is a very cold case! Since it is set in Nevada, the body will be found in an old mine shaft. My question is: Would it still be possible to test for DNA on remains that old? How could what is discovered link back to a suspect in the present? Thanks for your help. 🙂

I’m thrilled that you found the information helpful, Rebecca. And I think Lisa Cron’s science is bang-on.

Now you’ve got a interesting concept going on here. I’d think that a body left in a Nevada mine shaft for 30 years might be pretty well preserved. The temperature would be pretty cool & uniform which would seriously effect the rate and method of decomp. So much then would depend on the relative humidity. If it were high – say over 30% then the body would be intact but skeletolized. If the RH were very low, say 5-10%, then it would be mummified.

Regardless of skeleton or mummy, there would be lots to work from in DNA. Teeth are the best source of historic DNA material – being extracted from the pulp. Also, the bone marrow would likely be present, so there’s going to be a whack of DNA available.

30 years later it would be unlikely that the subject’s DNA standard would be kicking around to compare, but that’s where the relatives come in. Once the investigators have a name, then they’d look to the maternal upline for mitochondrial DNA from the mother or other female relations. Failing that, the subject’s children (if any) would be matched.

Something to keep in mind in criminal investigations is that there are only 4 ways of getting caught.

1. The suspect leaves something behind that incriminates them. 2. The suspect takes something away. 3. Someone is a witness and identifies the suspect. 4. The suspect confesses.

Here’s a link to a popular post I did called ‘How To Get Away With Murder’.

http://dyingwords.net/murder/#sthash.DigQIsqH.dpbs

I’ll leave it up to your imagination 🙂

Hi I have bookmarked. One question cost of consultancy advice?

There’s no cost, vivienne. I do this to give back to the writing community. If you have any questions about crime scenes, autopsies, bodies, firearms, just send me an email at [email protected]

I’m guessing you don’t want attached the bodies or firearms though…

Firearms are fine – lots of room left in my collection, but the backyard is full-up with bodies 🙂

This is a really interesting article. I was critiquing a novel someone had written about a gun crime that took place, and I realised then how little I knew about police procedure after an incident like that. You don’t realise what you don’t know until you try and write about it.

Hi Elise. I’m with you on realizing what I don’t know so I’m not going to try writing vampires, wizards, erotica, or politics.

I don’t often comment on blogs, partly because so many are alike and give the same or similar messages about writing. But this one? Totally different! A brilliant exposition of the things to look for and avoid. I’m a little bit fortunate having spent years in criminal jury trials but even then, techniques and scientific approaches change. Many thanks Garry, much appreciated.

Mark, I’m really touched by your comment. Thank you so much!

I took a look at your website and a bit of your work and I see that we’ve walked a common line. For reader’s info, Mark McGinn is a Christchurch, New Zealand crime-writer who comes from a legal background. Here’s a look at Mark’s work:

http://www.mcginncrime.com/

Your look at crime from a courtroom perspective enthrals me, Mark. I’ve focussed my writing from a blood & guts POV, but there’s a fascinating angle to the crime/legal genre from your expertise. Courtroom dramas are as riveting as crime scene stuff. They take it to a higher psychological level.

As a cop on the stand, I watched jury member’s eyes and then watched them again as a coroner holding inquests. I’d die to be a fly on the wall in a jury room.

Det. Rodgers, you’ve justified why I find “The First 48” more compelling than “NCIS.” My parents are big fans of the latter, and yes, I’ve watched it, too. But I have to laugh at the rapid pace in which the “investigators” find information, sort through forensics and DNA, and then nab the perpetrator. I understand the reality of forensic testing and analysis, as well as the difficulty interviewing suspects and witnesses. Even though I don’t write crime fiction, every scribe of that genre should keep this list of tips within reach. They’ll prove invaluable.

Thanks for the reality check, Alejandro. Crime scene investigation is a slow, methodical process that has only one chance to get it right – but has years after to rip it apart in courtroom second-guessing.

I am a HUGE fan of crime fiction, and am hopelessly addicted to learning the technique. It is an EXTREMELY difficult genre to pull off. I agree with P D James, who said that a good crime novel should also be a good novel.” Thanks for the advice!

Hi Deborah,

PD James was one of the masters of storytelling, not just crime writing. I’ve never tried writing anything outside of the crime genre so I have no idea how difficult things like YA, Romance, or especially erotica would be. I’m sure they have their idiosyncrasies.

Great post. It drives me crazy that many critiquers will tell me things like ‘you have the lead detective going into the crime scene. But they can’t do that until the CSIs process the scene and check for DNA and fingerprints. Then the CSI will give the detective permission to enter.’ (Not outside CSI-New York, my friend.)

One thing I would point out is that the pointers are correct from a modern standpoint. I had had people say ‘you forgot to have your detective put on plastic booties before they entered.’ My books are set in the early 1980’s. AIDS was first identified in the US in 1981 and the concept of blood-borne pathogens wasn’t understood outside some in the medical community for a while after that. In the 1980’s, detectives often wore latex gloves, but more to keep from touching decomp or cooties. Blood wasn’t considered a danger. I think we started using booties about 1992.

Thanks for the comment & compliment, Mike.

You bang-on about the lead detective role. Any crime scene that I’ve been to, the lead investigator takes control and directs who’s doing what, who’s coming & going, and who collects evidence. That’s why they’re the lead. Somebody has to be in charge and it’s not Forensics anywhere I’ve been.

You’re also right about PPE. I started in the business back in 1978, long before we heard about bb pathogens. I used to carry a couple pairs of rubber dishwashing gloves in my briefcase for the really messy stuff and once I had to crawl inside an airplane wreckage that had been down for eleven days in the summer before being found. There were six bodies inside in advancing state of decomp that had to be pulled out through disarticulation. My PPE was a pair of mechanics coveralls and an army gas mask with Vics Vapo-Rub in the filter. The smell of Vics still makes me want to puke. Today we’d wear a full biohazard suit with a power-vented E-Z Breathe hood.

I’m definitely not saying the good ol’ days were better but when writers set their scenes they should do it with accuracy for the time and location. Good points, Mike!

Eww!! TMI! Let’s keep this blog site clean shall we! Lol. All I know after reading all this technical info, is as you said, Garry, if you are going to write in detail, stick to what you know. Otherwise, keep to generals and hope you stay out of trouble. I do have an investigation as part of my second novel, but other than letting readers know that there is one going on, I am not delving into the details and I am now very glad I made that decision.

You shouldn’t watch Fringe then, Karen! Great show but gory!

Talking about gory, avoid watching the church scene in the movie Kingsman. They have redefined the word gratuitous violence! I have heard the the TV show The WIRE is very good for character development. Difficult to run down up here in Canada though unless you do the online streaming thing but we have something called Crave, a Netflix look alike, which I think does carry it. Will stay clear of Fringe though. Thanks for the tip. Lol

Garry, It’s so nice to find someone in Canada who writes mystery or detective novels. I just started mine and it’s based in Saskatchewan and find that watching crime shows on TV is not necessarily a good thing when police forces work differently in different countries. Luckily I have a cousin in the RCMP whom I hope will help with procedure. This is very different from my usual writing, but I love to push the envelope! marilyn

Hi Marilyn. Hopefully some of these tips will help you and don’t worry about the TV shows. They do get a fair amount right – it’s just that they’re pressed for time so they shorten things up.

I’m curious about your setting in Sask. Which part?

Wonderful post followed by excellent discussion. I’d like to add that when I had questions about a gun fight, I querried the members of the crime writers group on Linked-In and got wonderfully helpful responses. Most writers are very generous with their knowledge. Second point. Novels should be careful not to imitate tv crime shows where the protagonist finds the telling piece of evidence right away. Garry can correct me if I’m wrong, but solving most crimes is like putting together a jig-saw puzzle. A lot of pieces need to fall in place before the picture becomes clear.

You’re 100% right about investigations being like putting a jigsaw puzzle together, Peter. It’s all about the collection of information and how they form the picture of what went down.

Something that most civilians probably don’t know is that the first 24-48 hours after a crime is committed is the most valuable time in an investigation. As soon as the scene is secured and the basic details are correlated, the investigation team will hold a ‘Blitz’ where everyone assembles and throws out ideas. This is a no-rank affair where everyone’s ideas, no matter how far out, are valued. I remember one Blitz where I looked around the room and counted over 300 years of combined police service. One of the junior members came out with a suggestion that led to solving the case. So you never know unless you listen.

One other thing – once a crime is solved and a person has been charged, it’s vitally important to anticipate and investigate all defences that an accused person may raise as well as eliminate all other outstanding suspects. Lawyers, like readers and writers, love red herrings.

I was involved in a case, a quite famous murder, that was run completely the opposite to how you describe. There was no ideas blitz, the only opinion that received any consideration was that of the senior detective in charge of the case. On Day One, several of us on the specialist search team (all uniform branch officers) had previously been working on a case with distinct similarities in another area of London. This was pointed out but dismissed out of hand. The chief investigators favourite suspect was arrested, tried and acquitted, with a multi-million pound law suit following on. Ten years later the suspect for the previous murder we had highlighted on the first day of the murder enquiry was convicted of it on DNA evidence.

It would be worth a book in itself but British officers are gagged for twenty years by the Official Secrets Act.

I took a MOOC on Forensic Psych and they set up a hypothetical daylight robbery/kidnapping, fully enacted and filmed. Two investigators were assigned, and one of them was methodical and followed the best procedure while the other had a preconceived perp he wanted to bust. He cherry-picked information and led the witnesses in questioning. Lousy procedure.

The course is coming up again:

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/forensic-psychology

and they have another, that I haven’t taken:

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/forensic-crim-justice

Interesting stuff; the one I took covered a lot of the problems with human perception and how it makes witnesses unreliable, and they have you experience it for yourself with perceptual tests.

You can never know too much.

Peter, I would add one thing. Sometimes you DO find the telling piece of evidence right away, the thing that will make the entire case. But you don’t often KNOW that it’s the telling piece, or even significant. Sometimes, you have the key right in your hand (or in the evidence room) and you don’t realize it until some other pieces put it in perspective.

Excellent observation Mike. That gives authors another path to portray how our protagonists discover what they need to know to solve cases.

To what extent do the rest of you match your protagonist’s personality with the discovery process. In other words, if you character is a Sherlock Holmes type, does he always see it right away? If your character is a beginner and unsure of himself, does he find it fast, but not trust his instinct? Do you go with type or against? So many options!

There are definitely excellent points here but I will admit the hardest issue I have involves the use of foul language. The crime fiction books I’ve written in the past, though, are typically of a Christian-fiction nature. I suppose I can get away without using swear words in such a genre as to write the words would offend most of the audience. Thoughts?

Norma, it is an interesting dilemma because you really can’t predict reader reaction. I once had a woman email me on behalf of her book group. She said that, while the group liked my book generally, they couldn’t recommend it to their friends because the antagonist used the ‘F-word.’ I would have been a little more concerned had not the antagonist committed murder by laying his victim open from shoulder to hip. So apparently, a woman being eviscerated didn’t bother them, but the ‘F-word’ did.

While there is no need to gratuitously pepper the language, you have to stay true to the character. You can probably get away without using swear words at all, but you may be cutting off one avenue that defines the character. But everyone uses explicatives on occasion and the fact is, murders, rapists and robbers don’t normally say things like “Shucky darns” and “Golly gee whillikers.”

Mike is right about staying true to your character. If you’re going to write realistic crime-fiction, then your dialogue has to reflect an accurate portrayal of how that person would act. Every writer is in control of their own work but I think that by leaving out all swearing, the end-product would suffer. I also think that if a writer can’t handle the four letter language, then the crime genre isn’t suited for them.

Here’s a quote from Stephen King “If you intend on writing as honestly as you can, then your days as a member of polite society are numbered.”

I have attended more crime scenes than I can remember and finger-tipped some horrific murder scenes over thirty years. It is not the description of the scene that is the problem it is the ever evolving protocols and procedures due to new technology or ‘stated cases’ in court. I retired in 2011 and I think my knowledge became time-expired within six months and even then it was limited to the way things are done in just one country.

As for a member of the public/PI telephoning his favourite cop to ‘run some plates’ (He was a devil, that Rockford guy) Sgt Becker would be doing a two year stretch for data protection offences and corruption in office.

TV has a lot to answer for.

Thank you very much for taking the time to share your knowledge, sir.

Great post Gary, I only wish you had written it this time last year when I was writing my first book! Not too late though, I’m sure it will be helpful as I squelch my way through the second one. I think I have got most of your points down, but I am going to make my current D a bit more cautious about contaminating the scene. The swearing thing is a bit of a bugger isn’t it 🙂 I only slipped the occasional swearword into my first story for character credibility. I have been avoiding foul language altogether in the second one — but maybe I shouldn’t be so tight about it. I know teens and grandparents read my books, but as you point out, shouldn’t they be more traumatised by the violence than the language? Seems a bit kooky.

There is nothing stopping you producing an abridged edition Greg, however I would not do so again on Amazon. They are incapable of correctly linking titles despite ISBNs so it is a coin toss as to which version is delivered to your reader. I withdrew all of my abridged and the large print versions after many complaints.

Hi Greg, Thanks for your comment.

My feeling about coarse language is that you have to write to suit the genre. The nature of cops & crooks is that they continually use foul language and that’s the reality of it. Of course you can go overboard but to leave all 4-Letter words out just for the chance that it might offend someone will, in my opinion, diminish the effectiveness of the story – certainly from the subconscious effect of realism.

I know what you mean about teens & grandparents – I was once caught in a dilemma where my character had to use the C-Word. I struggled with ‘What would my mother think?’ but I made the decision to stick to my character and, in that situation, there was no other response that character would make.

I have to say that my writing is peppered with 4-Letters because that’s what my true voice is like (I promised Susanne that I’d keep it clean here 🙂 and in all the critiques I’ve had of my writing – good, bad & otherwise, I’ve never had anyone comment that they thought the language was too foul. Also, the demographic of my readers is about 75% middle-aged women.

So, I’d say that you have to go with what you’re comfortable with and stay true to your style. I don’t know if you read Stephen King but he can get really crude. He’s probably offended a lot of people but he’s made a @#$%-load of money off of others.

Greg Read my 3/10 post above about violence v. language.

Thank you for this great article. I’m working on my second book, but first crime fiction. I have been doing research but still have doubts. Any help is welcome.

Thank you for the great article. I’m working on my second book, but first crime fiction. I did a lot of reached but still have doubts.

Very interesting, but can not agree with all of it. Columbo leans over body, smoking etc but very popular, made writer a fortune. Patterson’s characters the same, and as for Lee Childs Jack Reacher does things that are impossible. They are all very, very popular. As long as the story is good you do not need to be correct. One comment said that a “Glock has no safety” but who cares 99.9% of readers have never seen a real gun so why worry.

All good points and adequately made. Many readers require entertainment rather than up to date realism.

In Columbo’s time the majority of serious crimes were solved by continually kicking in the doors of known villains every 4am until someone told you who you were looking for (no honour among thieves, etc).

Crime Scene, cold, wet, no toilet available and certainly none of the coffee shops nearby that TV shows seems to have.

Murder Enquiry, interesting but certainly not exciting and rarely complete in thirty minutes. The enquiry is based in an old and grubby Victorian era building with no heating in the winter and no A/C in the summer. No flashy IT, hot female detectives, or male ones either for that matter, no leads thrown up in the first 5 minutes by a hot/quirky/super intelligent Scene’s of Crime Officer either.

No surprise that many prefer their novels to mirror the TV version BUT you can still provide a level of realism that both the CSI fan and the discerning thinker can enjoy.

Yes, I agree, you can have realism and a good story. That is what I try for. I think that is best, but it does not alway’s produce good book sales.

Stephen, if you’re writing a crime novel, your target audience probably has a very high percentage of readers who are sticklers for correct detail. Fans of other genres may not know or care, but why risk being shredded when you can get things right?

Besides, I get a great deal of enjoyment out of the research itself.

Thank you, I take your point. I also enjoy the research, but I do not think it is always needed.

Is it OK if I write a crime novel with a fantastic character (EX: He/she has a special ability like Nicholas Cage in the movie “Next”, or has an imaginary friend that helps in the crimes.)

If not, is it OK if I make ONE of the characters a bit fantastic, but not the detective/investigator?

Thanks so much for sharing Garry – very useful indeed.

I am in the prepping stages of my first crime novel. I don’t have the years of experience in law enforcement. However, I do my research. TONS of it. I found this article and comments to be extremely helpful. This is going to be a long process. But, seems like it will be fun taking tiny pieces to create a bigger picture of what looked to be a harmless well-known guy to many. FUN FUN FUN! LOL

Sounds great! And if you need an expert to help you, you can hire Garry as a consultant!

Hi Garry – just discovered your website, great work. I guess there is a similarity between us as I used to be a Murder DCI in the UK and now advise writers on police actions and procedures. I think your site is really good and will be subscribing to receive your posts. If you ever get anyone who needs help from the UK police perspective I’m happy for you to point them in my direction. I have a website at http://www.gibconsultancy.co.uk Cheers Stuart

Great advice! After writing a children’s book which I didn’t get published, I thought I’d try a murder mystery novel. I’ve been totally put off the idea though as I don’t think I’m good enough to do all of that research!

Wow! This has been very enlightening and, not to mention, scary. I don’t mean that in a bad way. Honestly, I mean that I am afraid that my first and current novel will fail to capture the actuality of the investigative field. I do have a strong fear of failure. However, I am hopeful. I believe that it will all work out through the extensive use of coffee, Google, and blogs. Thank you for your tips! Perhaps, I could email you for further help? If you don’t mind, of course. 🙂

How fun! I don’t currently write mystery fiction or any fiction at all. My primary skill set is in nonfiction. But I am moving quickly back toward fiction, and hopefully back toward mystery fiction in the future, with a much deeper understanding than I had the first time I wrote something in that field.

Hi, this helped a lot, I am writing a murder mystery but I am having a hard time adding more detail to it or even coming up with reasons the people were killed. Also how to let the reader try to figure out the murder and leaving clues leading to the murderer. Thanks again for the article.

Great article and replies, make you really think more into crafting a crime scene. What about Robin Hood motivations. What were some of the more original motivations you’ve seen over the years for people committing acts of robbery for money and not for greed or drugs or thrills. Like, i.e, saving the farm, paying a mortgage.

I really enjoyed the article and a lot of the replies/comments. I’m putting together a crime scene for a mystery short story, so I’m doing my research. By the way, you mentioned that you didn’t want to write about wizards and vampires, but you may have a winner with vampire and wizard politicians in an erotica novel…just a thought.

This has stirred up some dormant story plans for me. I’ve been a paramedic since the tail end of the Reagan administration. So I suspect I’ve every wrong or stupid thing humans can do to each other. Most of my story ideas lean much closer to science fiction that crime fiction. But I keep considering writing something based on the actual murders that have happened around my social circle growing up. The fist girl I had a crush on was killed by her stepfather the summer after I met her. But he was rich so he got off. Several books and a few movies were made about the case. But they all seemed to minimize the person I was most focused on in the real case. Then a few years later, a guy at the end of my block was a known schizophrenic whose parents tried and tried to get committed. The insurance companies refused because he’d never acted like a danger to himself or anyone else. Then he killed five people. He was eventually executed. And finally I was sent on a call to check on someone who wasn’t answering calls from out of town family members. We call those kinds of calls a ‘welfare check’ and much more than 90% of them are benign. This one wasn’t. She’d been killed. The killer was later executed.

The catch is that these things happened in the 70’s, the 80s, and the early 2k’s. I can’t imagine how the science changed over those years.

Gary, I was happy to find this page. I have a murder case i was set up on in Oregon and its Cmplex but when a Person had ADHD- and Dyslexia it seems the courts can use that against a person. How can a person who cannot formulate a well writen timeline when they cant write well.

After what I had gone thru in Oregon how many other people are in the same boat.. you cant write well so you can’t get justice. And if you cant write well people will not read it. And so on..

It seems to me in a murder case when the Person Close to the victim believes that the Police and DA are not honest that there would be a Person who writes the facts… but they did not..

When you are also a victim of the crime it’s hard to know what else the police had so that your able to connect the dots .. how can you get the FOIA filled when the DA and Police are coruopt… (like my case for a murder in Oregon) they will not give one single thing… and its a closed case…

Anyways I wanted to thank you for the article …

Thanks for the tips! This really helps. Just a question here: do you see anything wrong in The X Files related to this post?

Thank you for the advice! I love writing and forensic studies so I’ve been trying to smash them together in one book ;). I currently have only scary things written, but if you have any links that could help me with any kind of other writing, that would be amazing. Thank you! -Lissy Depp

Thanks Gary. Because I like to write crime, for me it was an interesting article. I was writing about bones found and checked missing persons on goggle. I emailed a sergeant who worked in the area. I asked basic questions and he gave me all the answers I needed. Like what equipment do they set up at a crime scene, who attends etc. I realised these guys are very helpful if you have a question. I have approached the police force a few times now and once you tell them it’s research for a novel they are really helpful. Thanks Gary and I just ordered one of the books you suggested.

Regards Desley Polmear

Hi Delsey – Thanks for commenting. It’s nice to hear this post is still being read and appreciated this long after being published. Best wishes for your crime writing! ~Garry

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How to Write a Crime Scene Investigation Scene

1. what happened and how significant is this investigation.

A. It can be something as simple as a petty crime to something as large as a murder.

I.   NOTE: The tasks of a crime scene investigator are to photograph, document, sketch, analyze, collect, and process the crime scene for fingerprints. There is no interviewing suspect/witnesses etc. Other than that you are called to court to testify, and often times will be called to process items of evidence related to that case.

II.  Figure out what kind of twist you would like to bring to your story. Family twist? Deep, dark secret? Fraud? Then lead event up to the big revealing of your mystery. Throw some facts into other characters to draw focus off of the main culprits use imagery and details. Intrigue the readers with something that’ll catch their eye. Example:

• Murder mystery
• Mystery of a family secret
• Mystery of why a girl/boy the way she is
• Mystery of an abandoned house
• Mystery of an item you found somewhere

B. Is this a serial investigation? Does anything seem familiar? I.  You’ll need:

— a crime (murder, theft/robbery, kidnapping, smuggling, vandalism, spying, whathaveyou) — a victim(s) — a villain, criminal, perpetrator, the guilty person(s) — means – how was it done, or how did it happen? — motive – why did the villain do it? — opportunity – the reason it was possible. For example, the thief stole the jewels from the hostess’s jewelry box during a party in her home, or the murderer Had time to drive to the parking lot and place a bomb in the victim’s car. — someone to solve the murder – can be a professional cop or detective, or an amateur — clues – things found at the scene of the crime, statements from people questioned or things in the victim’s life personality, etc. red herrings – things that seem to be clues but aren’t, like false alarms.

II.  Any deja vu, repercussions, new techniques to use on this individual crime scene? C. What’s at stake and what must the character do in order to maintain his dignity, self-respect or pride?

I.   CIS mannerisms can be hard to write.  The team can be made up of all kinds of people, with all kinds of personalities. So here are a few things to remember:

• These folks see the results of crime every working day. They are no strangers to blood, bodies, disgusting evidence, rotting goo, and wreckage. It’s their career so no squeamish.
• They are professionals, and their first priority is to do their job well, and thoroughly.
• Most CSI personnel who deal with dead bodies are caring and gentle with them.
• While on the job, talking is a distraction—observing, listening, smelling, touching, examining, carefully and methodically, is the best.
• Move with confidence, but not so that you disturb the evidence or other members of the team
• Keep makeup to a minimum, avoid jewelry, keep hair short or tied back

II. Remember, your CIS is human. Personalities (egos) get in the way, particularly because of how promotions and advancements are awarded in the civil service structure. Everybody wants to take all the credit but nobody wants to accept responsibility.

2. What errors and/or problems does the character have to deal with?

A. Are they the only competent person on the team? Have they made it error themselves? How much has the investigation been compromised? I.   How do they fix the error or tell the person who did it not to do it again? II.  Do they have to start over? Rethink a new solution? Cut ties with the person altogether? III.  If they made the mistake, how do they punish themsevles? Maybe the error actually was a blessing in disguise? Did it push the case further along?

B. How are their lives outside of the investigation? Does that play a toll on their mental ability? How about their sanity? What do they do to relieve stress? I.  If the main character is phobic because of personal trauma, have one or more supporting characters available to push him/her along and maintain the focus on the mystery. How the main character handles or overcomes something like a fear is important and should be addressed, but you don’t want to get sidetracked.

C. To what lengths will the character go in order to solve this case? What skills does the character have? Who’s relying on them? I.  Do they have tricks up their sleeves? Who knows about it? How can this aide the character?

3. Any red herrings or discoveries that surprise, not only the character but the reader?

A. How do they handle it? What do they do to keep it under control if they need to?

I.  The investigator would secure the area with the crime scene tape. Photograph everything from all angles, including the body. Once they have completed that they begin looking for a cause and manner of death, an example would be a gunshot wound, and then they begin looking for casings from the firearm, any possible locations of slugs that may have missed the victim, footprints, fingerprints, and any indicators that the crime may have occurred someplace else. Also if the body was transported to the scene where it was found.

Note: Vehicles or a boat could leave a track if it was pulled up on the bank where paint scrapings could be deposited.

Then once the coroner removed the body the character would examine the spot for any type of fluids that may have leaked out or have been deposited by the person who committed the crime.

Overview of what the character will do at the crime scene: 1. Establish boundaries. 2. Mark boundaries with crime scene tape. 3. Removing unnecessary individuals from scene. 4. Determine if evidence is present e.g. footprints, knives, cartridges, live rounds, etc. and if there is evidence (log it). 5. Record conditions, e.g. weather, surrounding as well as people at scene. 6. Release crime scene.

B. Maybe show the reader something that the character doesn’t know right away. Maybe give him to the solution or the answer but in a way that’s like a puzzle.

I.  Using your villain’s (or main character’s) traits, create scenarios for the location and discovery of each clue. For mysteries other than murder or abduction, it’s usually advisable to populate the list with subtle clues that are easily dismissed and sprinkle in a few more obvious (and increasingly dramatic) ones at periodic intervals to ratchet up suspense.

II.  Organize and pace carefully. If you need Clue A to lead to Clue C, then obviously you can’t have Clue C found before Clue A. Similarly, you lose tension if you have a bunch of clues come at once and then a big empty stretch where nothing happens. Don’t randomly throw in clues. Readers have to be able to connect the dots or they won’t buy it.

C. Where did this all come from? And is more coming along? Or is this it? If so how significant is it to the story? I.  Did they know about it all along? Did it come out of the woodworks? How does the change their role or the significance to the case? II.  What obstacles are added and are they moved to the forefront or put on the backburner? How does this affect the personal life of the investigator?

4. How close are they to solving it?

A. Describe their feelings and emotions. Maybe even insert a conversation to themselves or to their fellow partner investigator. I.  Give elaborate detail. What are they fantasizing about when and if they finish the case soon?? Do they have nightmares? Does this affect their wellbeing? II.  Is the conversation lighthearted? Do they always talk about the case or anything else in life? How close are they? This is a great time to reveal character and information about both investigators and their concerns.

B. What are the final Clues? How do these Clues connect? How do these Clues combine with the surprise that you included in part 3? How does it all come together to become a big reveal, and without one of the pieces how will it be incomplete?

I.   Crime team can use technology & science to go through and log the evidence. They take it all back to the lab and run their tests and examine the body.

C. Are there any rewards? It can be something that’s actually physical, like a trophy or money. It could be something like a raise or promotion, it can even be a peace of mind or happiness. Describe for a sentence or two the prize that the investigator is wanting.

I. Does this change his character and his personality at all? Does it make them more focused or less focused? How often do they talk about the prize? Is that their main motivation to solving this crime?

5. Have the mystery be unveiled. Who is to blame? What have they found out?

A. Who’s the culprit? Remember it doesn’t always have to be human it could be an animal or an object or even nature itself. I. Have they captured the culprit? If so what happens to them? II. You can add a twist by making it something other than expected: human. Also, if it is human, was it on purpose on accident? Were they forced to do it? Did they crime to the wrong person/people?

B. What happens to the victim or the victim’s family? How does the investigator give them peace of mind, if at all? I.  How are they coping? Are they giving anything from the victim as memory? What words are exchanged? II.  Does the investigator have a heart? Do they care to ease the people’s anymore? Or has all this crime turned them numb?

C. Is there a warning or a threat of another occurrence? Give hints to another crime happening, especially if this is a serial occurrence. I.  Maybe a sound, noise, or written letter? Could be a threat spoken or shown? II.  Has this criminal escaped from captivity before? Do they know the investigator personally? Are they not yet finish with their devious plan?

• An abduction case, hurried (maybe starting in a very public place) so there are lots of easy clues to find, with one location being the place of abduction and the other the location at which the abductee is being held, a strong investigator who has relevant experience or some other trait that will end the case in the desired way, a villain with simple motivations (a generic pedophile, or a jealous boyfriend), an abductee who “would never play around like this” so it’s taken seriously from the get-go.
• A politician is found dead in his/her office. Was it a popular or unpopular politian? Was s/he killed by a employee, another politician, the former one, a parent, or someone else, like a friend or family member?
• A group of young people forms a secret club. Soon people notice that this club seem to have a lot of spending money. Are they doing something unlawful in the club? Selling things they shouldn’t? Charging for unusual procedures? What’s going on there?
• A child leaves home to walk to school, but never arrives. Was the child captured? Did s/he run away? Where is the missing child?

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FREE 11+ Sample Crime Reports in PDF | MS Word

Police stations or any law enforcing agencies must have a crime report template for them to have the official format they can use when recording any significant details of a crime and sequence of events that take place when a crime occurred. This statement tool is needed to be able to record all the witnesses’ statements, collected evidence and forensic investigations that were done to be able to solve a crime.A sample news report templates can be made at Microsoft word program where you can customize the report form you can use when recording any crime incidents and print it whenever you need one.

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Crime report template can guide any law enforcers to properly record the pertinent details in a crime to be able to pinpoint any foul play or primary suspects that committed the crime.

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This sample of crime report template has a detailed description of all the details related to the crime scene and the offender. It begins with the time, date and place of the incident and has further provision for describing the ethnicity, residence, driver license number and other details of the offender. At the end of the document there is a provision for the officer to write down the details of the incident.You may also see police reports .

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This sample of simple crime report template begins with a set of certain instruction about submitting the report within a 24 hour time line. This template is meant for reporting a crime at the facility centre, so it begins with the name of the facility manager, the address and contact details. The subsequent paragraph contains details about the state survey agency and law enforcement department. The provision for writing a summary of the incident is given in the end paragraph.You may also see background reports .

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This sample of crime report template has a basic design and starts with the case number, date, name of the reporting officer and incident. The details are followed by a detailed description of the incident followed by a summary of the incident.You may also see security incident reports .

What Is The Importance Of Crime Reporting?

Many people often shy away from reporting a crime, because they do not wish to get involved in the judicial process which can be very demanding. There are however many good reasons which can motivate you to do report the crime like you can help stop a crime in progress, by reporting a crime. You can get assistance for the victim. You can help prevent the occurrence of future crime and give police a chance to arrest the criminal. It can serve as an alert for the police as well as for the community.You may also see background check reports

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This sample of Free PDF crime report template is another example of a simple and basic crime scene report. It starts with the name and other details of the victim, followed by a brief description of the crime scene. The third and forth section is dedicated for writing down the initial finding along with the details of the victim’s past history and medical record.You may also see forensic reports

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How to Write a Good Crime Report?

While writing a crime report pay close attention to details, even a small piece of information can hold a lot of evidence which can help to identify the criminal. After you have written the details about yourself and the victim include details about the crime scene. Make use of diagrams and write in first person. Before submitting, proofread your report and make sure there is no grammatical mistake or spelling errors. You May also See annual reports

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Is It Possible To Make A Report Online?

Reporting crime online depend s totally on the nature of the crime and varies according to the district jurisdiction. Usually when the loss or damage of property is less than $500 an online report can be filed. Any other incident involving a murder, accident or crime of serious conduct needs to be reported in person.You may also see newspaper reports

Crime reporting plays an important role in ensuring that a victim receives justice. Use of our crime report templates to list down every available information in a systematic manner without losing track of any vital or important information.You may also see fire incident reports

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Family mourns loss of 6-year-old girl killed in coral springs crash, video shows moment fleeing suspect slammed into suv, splitting it in half.

Bridgette Matter , Reporter

Christian De La Rosa , Reporter

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – A 6-year-old girl lost her life in a devastating crash in Coral Springs over the weekend , and a small memorial of flowers and stuffed animals now stand in her honor.

The family of Harlow Tran is grappling with unbearable grief after her passing.

According to Coral Springs police, the crash happened just after 5 p.m. at the intersection of West Sample Road and Northwest 85th Avenue.

Following the crash, chaos erupted as an SUV was split in half, the aftermath of which was caught on camera.

According to an arrest report, an officer had been trying to stop a 2023 Mercedes-Benz driven by Chevon Dalton Graham, 26, of Sunrise, for having “extremely dark tint” while driving along Sample Road.

Police said Graham, who had two passengers with him, accelerated to flee police; the officer then turned his lights and siren off, but the suspect continued speeding away.

He then slammed into a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse, police said.

That SUV had Harlow secured in a car seat inside. The arrest report states that the force of the crash split the Chevrolet in half and ejected her and the car seat.

Witnesses recounted the heartbreaking scene of the child, ejected from the car but still in her car seat amid the debris. Despite frantic efforts, Harlow later succumbed to her injuries.

Tanjina Akter described hearing a loud crash, while nearby Ring camera footage captured the initial collision and the suspect’s car coming to a stop after hitting parked cars.

Harlow’s uncle, Alvis Tran, visited the memorial and remembered Harlow as a shy girl who adored dancing and princesses like the Little Mermaid and Frozen characters.

Tran said he saw Harlow five minutes before the incident at a family BBQ and his family is devastated by the loss of his niece.

Enrique Perez, Harlow’s uncle, spoke to Local 10 News about how Graham was driving when the accident occurred.

“He was grossly negligent and driving at speeds that were fast enough to split a car in two,” Perez said.

Perez also confirmed his mother was driving Harlow when the crash occurred, and she is still in the hospital.

Police confirmed Graham was driving with a suspended license when the crash occurred and now faces charges including vehicular homicide.

Witness Germaine Knibbs expressed anguish over the innocent child’s fate.

“That is an innocent child riding with her grandmother and now her family has to live with that,” he said.

A GoFundMe has been created to support Harlow’s family at this difficult time. Click here if you would like to contribute.

Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

About the Authors

Bridgette matter.

Bridgette Matter joined the Local 10 News team as a reporter in July 2021. Before moving to South Florida, she began her career in South Bend, Indiana and spent six years in Jacksonville as a reporter and weekend anchor.

Christian De La Rosa

Christian De La Rosa joined Local 10 News in April 2017 after spending time as a reporter and anchor in Atlanta, San Diego, Orlando and Panama City Beach.

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News | Ballroom culture coming to the Long Beach Pride Festival

The “Rhythm of the Rainbow Ball,” a new feature of the annual Long Beach Pride Festival, will showcase more than 20 diverse performers from around Los Angeles and Orange counties on Saturday evening, May 18.

House of Ninja , an international group of LGBTQ+ and ally performers, will throw “the ball” at the Pride Festival’s main stage at 6 p.m. The event will feature different performance categories, such as vogue and vogue femme, with participants competing, in front of judges, for cash prizes and trophies.

Destiny Gray is a “princess” for the L.A. chapter of House of Ninja , where she teaches ballroom, helps run meetings and cares for other house — or chapter — members. As one of the chapter’s founding members, she has been involved in L.A.’s diverse ballroom culture scene for the last eight years and is proud to be able to share this part of her life with her community.

Damian Velazquez and Brandi Chun practice voguing at the Madilyn Clark Dance Studios in North Hollywood on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Destiny Grey practices voguing at the Madilyn Clark Dance Studios in North Hollywood on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Destiny Grey, center, with her ballroom children, l-r, Vance Medeiros, Damian Velazquez and Brandi Chun practice voguing at the Madilyn Clark Dance Studios in North Hollywood on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

People practice voguing at the Madilyn Clark Dance Studios in North Hollywood on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

“It means a lot to be able to combine the love of my city and my passion for ballroom together,” the 31-year-old Long Beach resident said. “I’m excited because there’s not much ballroom presence in Long Beach, so I’m really trying to cultivate and curate ballroom people within the city. That way we can have more balls here in Long Beach and it won’t be so foreign to people.”

For the uninitiated, ballroom refers to a competitive, inclusive subculture for primarily Black, Latinx and other communities of color in and beyond the LGBTQ+ community. Through often choreographed, stand-out performances that comment on race, class and gender, historians say, that ballroom culture was created   as a way to combat racism and homophobia. It became a way for Black and Latinx people to find their own collective, as a response to discrimination they faced within New York’s predominately White drag pageant scene, in the 1970s and earlier.

Ballroom, festival organizer Eugene De Guzman said, has been a “safe space” for marginalized communities.

“For a long time, there were no centers, no gay-straight alliances; a lot of the LGBTQ+ people were just treated as outcasts,” De Guzman said. “This (ballroom) was a space where people could really lean into being themselves, expressing themselves for who they are and what they want to be.”

De Guzman said he saw the importance of bringing ballroom as a culture, competition and whole “healing” art form to a wider audience at this year’s Pride Festival, which takes place Saturday and Sunday. The event was going to include ballroom lessons, but those were scrapped instead for Long Beach’s first major ball competition.

Performing, De Guzman said, helps participants “start to embody confidence.”

“What I love is, with it being a competition, it can get really fierce,” he said. “But then at the end of that category or battle, there’s always a hug or acknowledgment of each other’s work and still having love for each other, despite how hard they’ll go for each other when competing.”

Ballroom features often fashionably dressed performers competing in a range of categories, including:

• Voguing: a highly stylized form of hitting poses, catwalks, hands, floor performance, duckwalks, spins and more on beat. It originated in ballroom but was popularized with Madonna’s 1990 hit song, “Vogue.”
• Vogue femme: A type of voguing that features typically hyper-feminine looks and dances.
• Face: a style more focused on the structure of one’s face, and displaying elements such as eyes, nose, skin, structure and teeth.

Ballroom has come into mainstream popularity over the last few years, with shows such as FX’s “Pose” and HBO Max’s “Legendary.” Artists like Madonna and Beyoncé also featured ballroom performances on stage during their world tours last year.

Within LGBTQ+ ballroom culture, “houses” refer to a form of a found family, and are meant to be safe, creative and accepting spaces. The houses are seen as a lifeline for queer and transgender people, with family members often taking on the house name as their “last name” while performing. Leaders, called “house mothers,” take on parental and leadership roles, guiding the newer ballroom members, called “children,” and providing training and lessons.

The house structure is seen as a substitution for the typical family structure — usually for trans people who weren’t fully accepted by their families, members said.

Gray, for example, has seven “children” within the L.A. chapter of House of Ninja, which started in April 2019. The house gained some notoriety after competing on the inaugural season of “Legendary.”

Gray — whose ballroom name is “Destiny Ninja” — is a host and longtime participant of the ballroom scene. As a Black woman and an ally, Gray said she always felt welcomed because “a lot of ballroom and LGBTQ+ jargon is deeply rooted in African American culture — so I never felt out of place.”

One of Gray’s children, Klaude Matias, will compete in Saturday’s ball in the “performance” category. Matias — who is Filipino and identifies as nonbinary — said they are happy to see the diversity prioritized in ballroom culture, and is excited to see it come into the mainstream.

“Ballroom is made up of majority beautiful trans and BIPOC people,” Matias said. “In the ‘normal world,’ those communities are not welcomed, but in ball, they’re the power players and ones we admire.”

Matias emphasized the importance of being among other queer creators, and said they have been able to explore gender and queerness through becoming a member of House of Ninja LA.

“Having this support system both from our sisters and mothers is really quite beautiful and unique,” Matias said. “I don’t think there’s anything like it in the world.”

What: Long Beach Pride Presents: “Rhythm of the Rainbow Ball”

When: 6 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Long Beach Pride Festival main stage, 386 East Shoreline Drive.

Cost: Free for those with tickets to the festival:

Information: Tickets for the 41st annual Pride Festival, which will take place Saturday and Sunday, can be purchased on Eventbrite or at longbeachpride.com/festival.

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