Tips for your CIRs

When you create a list, you should have it uniform in terms of listings nouns, actions, etc.

Lists should be parallel

I took photographs of the following:◦ 2 photographs of the broken window where the

suspect entered◦ Three photographs of the desk with the broken lock

and 1 of the latex glove left on the floor

I took photographs of the following:◦ Two photographs of the broken window where the

suspect entered◦ Three photographs of the desk with the broken lock◦ One photograph of the latex glove left on the floor

Parallel Form

Lists need a minimum Wrong – 1. Four Digital Photograph Print-

Outs

Right – Four digital photograph print-outs

Only capitalize proper nouns. In terms of lists, this is usually just the correct names of forms.

Lists need correct capitalization

Parallel form Wrong – 1. Two Digital Photograph Print-Outs 2. Copy of MSP Form 62

Right 1. Two digital photograph print-outs 2. Copy of MSP Form 62

Know your terms & their spelling Wrong – I dusted the two bags of Doritos

for finger prints but no prints were recovered.

Right – I dusted the two bags of Doritos for fingerprints but no prints were recovered.

Know your terms & their spelling Wrong – The victim has been made aware

of his right and the case status.

Right – The victim has been made aware of his rights and the case status.

Know your terms & their spelling Wrong – Six Polaroid photographs

Right – Six instant photographs

Right – Six digital photographs

Think through your actions Wrong – Fingerprints on gas pump were

made for identification purposes.

Right – Fingerprints were lifted from the gas pump for identification purposes.

Stick to the format/template Wrong – Each and all events occurred in

Carroll County.

Right – All events occurred in Carroll County, Maryland.

Be concise• Wrong – The Capitol Wireless Integrated Network

that is installed into our patrol laptops allows police officers to load pictures from the driver’s license, I brought up the picture of the suspect, Mr. Johnson, and it was confirmed that he was the man that committed the theft by the victim and witness.

• Right – I brought up the picture of the suspect, Mr. Johnson, on my laptop, and both the victim and witness confirmed that Mr. Johnson was the man who committed the theft.