3. Objective vs. Subjective
ï subjective refers to your opinion
ï objective refers to impartial facts
Subjectivity (opinions, conclusions) is not
appropriate in a criminal justice report
4. What makes a report objective?
ï It includes factual information only
ï It records what you saw or heard, and
nothing else
ï It excludes your thoughts, opinions,
hunches, guesses, and suspicions
5. Why is objectivity important?
ï It demonstrates your professionalism
ï It increases your credibility in a court
hearing
ï It facilitates investigations and
prosecutions
ï It eliminates the need to defend your
thinking processes
6. What does objectivity look like?
subjective objective
sloppy faded shirt, torn sleeve,
brown stains
defiant stared straight ahead,
didnât answer questions
afraid lips trembled, hands shook
drunk failed two sobriety tests
reckless 45 mph in a 20 mph zone,
drove through a stop sign
crazy zigzagged along the
sidewalk, talked to herself
7. Avoid subjective statements. Instead, quote
exactly what suspects and witnesses say:
ï not threatened but âIâll kill her if she
comes back hereâ
ï not confused but âI donât know why he
did that to meâ
ï not disrespectful but âYou ainât my
father, and I ainât listening to youâ
8. Avoid conclusions. Record only what you saw
and heard:
ï not suspicious but âwalked rapidly and
looked behind him six times in less than
a minuteâ
ï not dangerous but âclenched his fists
and shoutedâ
ï not filthy but âroaches, urine, and dishes
with moldy foodâ
9. Subjectivity comes from your commitment to
integrity, not verbal gimmicks:
ï I is just as objective as this officer
ï Lucia Caruso is just as objective as
Victim 1
ï Sam Wiley is just as objective as the
abovenamed suspect
10. To Learn More:
Criminal Justice Report Writing is available in
softcover ($17.95) from www.Amazon.com and in a
variety of ebook and Apple formats (Kindle, Nook,
SONY etc.) for $11.99 from www.Smashwords.com.
Read a free sample online!
11. Find FREE report writing
resources online at
www.YourPoliceWrite.com