Notes are contemporary data designed to assist the investigator in remembering details of what was observed or collected. Notes are meant to be accurate representations of data. They are therefore important in verifying that the mateial which is reported,verbally or in writing, is equally accurate, and can infact be evidence.
Written reports on the other hand, are declarations of the conduct and analysis of investigations. Only finalized reports accurately reflect the facts. These to can be evidence.
However, if you feel that drafts of reports should be kept, then by all means keep them. Be sure that every time you run a spell check, or move any text to another place within the report, or correct a typo, that you print out a copy of your "draft" report and identify it as to the date and time that it was created. That ought to produce more paper files than you can store.
Really Jim, sometimes it is obvious that you argue just for the sake of arguing.
Pat Kennedy, CFEI, CFPS, MIFireE
Fire and Explosion Analyst
Sarasota, Florida
[
www.kennedy-fire.com]