What is the primary function of field notes in an investigation?

• A. To replace the formal report.
• B. To record contemporaneous observations that support a formal report.
• C. To publish publicly before the report is finished.
• D. To record only hearsay.

Answer: (D)

Field notes are meant to capture what you observe in real time to support the formal investigative report. They provide a contemporaneous, factual record of events, observations, and actions as they happen, including times, dates, locations, who was present, descriptions of the scene, evidence seen, and statements heard. This real-time documentation gives you a reliable basis for creating the official report later, helping establish an accurate timeline, correlate details, and reinforce conclusions with specifics you witnessed firsthand.

Notes should be objective and precise, avoiding speculation. Distinguish between direct observations and information from others, and if you record statements from others, note who said them and the context. Field notes are not meant to replace the formal report or to be published publicly before the investigation is complete; they are the working record used to craft and validate the final document and to support the case in review or in court.

Best practices include dating and time-stamping entries, recording the exact location, identifying yourself, keeping notes legible or in an electronic system, and preserving the notes securely with proper chain of custody. This approach ensures the notes remain a trustworthy, useful part of the investigative record.