Learn why brevity is so important to police reports - and review tips for avoiding unnecessary wordiness.

1. Brevity in Police Reports
by Jean Reynolds, Ph.D.

2. Brevity in Police Reports
by Jean Reynolds, Ph.D.

3. “Brevity” is a
term you
probably
didn’t hear
much in your
English
classes in
school...

4. …but it’s vital to good police writing.

5. There are three
reasons why
brevity is so
important.

6. 1. Unnecessary
words waste time.

7. 2. Long-winded reports can be
confusing.

8. 3. Wordy reports make you sound
old-fashioned and out-of-date.

9. Here are some tips about brevity in
police reports.

10. Use normal, everyday language.

11. Don’t waste time with words that
don’t do any work.

12. Take a look at these examples:

13. Don’t pad your writing with useless
words.

14. Clumsy wording slows you down when
you’re writing—and reading.

15. Avoid repetition:
I asked Carson why he didn’t have any ID with him.
He said he never takes his wallet when he walks his
dog. I asked where his wallet was. He said it was at
home on the nightstand next to his bed. I said I
needed to see it. He said I could walk to his house
with him and his dog, and he would show me his
driver’s license.

16. This version is more concise:
Carson told me he never takes his wallet when he
walks his dog. His wallet was at home on the
nightstand next to his bed. He said I could walk to his
house with him and his dog, and he would show me
his driver’s license.

17. You can learn more about brevity at
www.YourPoliceWrite.com.

18. All the resources there are FREE:
www.YourPoliceWrite.com.

19. And if you’re
looking for a
low-cost,
practical book…

20. Criminal Justice Report
Writing is available
from www.Amazon.com
for just $19.95.
View a free sample
online.

21. An e-book edition is
available from
www.Smashwords.com
for only $9.99.

22. A discount price is
available for class sets
(minimum five books).
A free Instructor’s Manual
is available for instructors
and administrators.
Send an e-mail request
from your official account
to jreynoldswrite at
aol.com.