A place to ask questions and add to probative and informative discussions associated with the various aspects of the field of fire investigation. -- FORUM RULES---BE CIVIL AND NO NAME CALLING, NO BELITTLING, NO BERATING, NO DENIGRATING others. Postings in violation of these rules can be removed or editted to remove the offending remarks at the discretion of the moderators and/or site administrator.
Re: Destruction of notes and data
Posted by:
Jim Mazerat (IP Logged)
Date: February 18, 2007 10:23AM
Our difference of opinion is in terminology it seems. I do not call what I do as destroying the notes. If all information contained in my field notes is still there but just in a different format, as far as I am concerned they are still present. Maybe we do our reports differently. I type my own reports from the notes. This assures all the information is contained in the report. As to appearances, there was a case were attorney was asking question about my field notes and I offered to let him or a person he designated to follow me on an investigation of a scene and through the report writing process on a couple of cases to show him how it works. My attorney, in from of the jury asked the judge for a continuance so this could be done and when the judge asked the attorney if he wanted to take me up on my offer he said no in from of the jury. During the closing my attorney told the jury we spent a half of a day on the questioning about the field notes and when the other side was offered the opportunity to verify what I said they declined. What appearance did that give the jury?
Do not get me wrong, I am not saying there is any thing wrong with keeping the notes; I just believe it is a personal preference. You, John, and Pat bring out good points I think every investigator should consider. If there is a policy by your employer, I would say follow that policy.
May I ask how long do you keep your notes on a file?