Factors to Notice When a Crime Occurs
November 6, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Witnessing or being a victim of crime can be a very traumatic experience. If one witnesses a crime, it is important to make a note of the details of the crime scene and even the criminal act. This will ensure that the accused gets a fair trial and legitimate evidence is submitted at trial. Because there is so much crime taking place everyday across the country, it is important to be prepared in the event that you suddenly find yourself a witness to a crime.
Some factors to notice when a crime occurs include:
1. Physical Description of the Suspect: If you actually see the perpetrator of the crime, you should make a note of his or hers physical appearance. This includes the height, ethnicity, gender, weight, and any unusual way of running or walking. You should also make note of the clothing and any unique characteristics such as a logo, particular word, sports team name..etc. Are the clothes casual, formal, dirty, torn, bloody..etc? The facial features are also important and include complexion, hair color, eye color, hair length, body hair..etc. As well, note any unusual traits such as tattoos, piercings, unusual hair cut, deformities, scars..etc. As well, note if there is more than one suspect and try to remember their features.
2. Voice Recognition: Note any accent or speech characteristics such as slurring, stuttering..etc. Does the perpetrator have a deep voice or high voice? Is the voice gruff, wheezy, or shrill?
3. Accessories: Did the perpetrator have a gun, bag, umbrella, knife, tire iron, baseball bat, or carrying an object such as item that could have been stolen.
4. Familiarity of the Suspect: If the suspect seems familiar, think about where you have been recently and who you have seen them. This can include: mall, retail store, school, department store, supermarket…etc. If possible, get the suspect’s car license plate number.
5. Damaged Items: Note any damage that you see around the crime scene such as vandalized cars, broken windows, open door or smashed open door, open cash register, items spilled over the floor..etc.
If you witness a crime, immediately call 911. Provide as much information as you can over the phone as a recording will be made. Try to be detailed. After you thoroughly look around the crime scene without contaminating it, write down everything you see and remember about the crime. As well, do not talk to other witnesses as it can confuse what you observed. One other thing you can do if you don’t have a pen and paper is to call your voice messaging service and record everything you remember about the crime.
When observing a crime or a crime that just taken place, it is important to be as accurate as possible when giving details to the police officers. This will make things a lot easier if you have to give testimony in a criminal trial for the court reporter to record. To be a reliable witness, your testimony will have to be consistent. Whatever you do, make sure you do not contaminate the crime scene or become involved in a situation that is dangerous.
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Benefits of Each Type of Court Reporter
November 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Court reporting is one career that is in great demand. During any court session or other setting that requires a legal record, a record will be recorded by a court reporter. The job of a court reporter involves recording the spoken word during a session such as a deposition, discovery hearing, court trial, or arbitration. Speed and accuracy are two essential skills required to be a court reporter as they have to record verbatim everything that is being said.
There a number of different types of court reporters that include:
1. A Steno Mask Reporter is a type of court reporter that is employed in such places as court rooms and other settings that require verbatim recording. The ‘mask’ is a recording apparatus which gives the reporter the capability of reiterating what is being said word for word. The device contains a mechanism that prevents other people in the room from hearing what is being said when the reporter talks into the mic. The verbal recording is later transcribed ether by a transcriber or by computer that has voice-recognition software. The reporter can also report any reaction that may occur during testimony. The benefit of this type of court reporting is that you don’t have to manually record what is being said in real-time.
2. Steno Typing Reporting is a type of court reporting where the reporter will press a certain number of keys at a time using a stenograph to record what is being spoken. This allows for a lot of information to be recorded quickly and efficiently. The court reporter must be well trained to use the stenograph and can record quickly and accurately. Every bit of testimony must be recorded exactly as spoken. Often a computer is connected to the stenograph so that attorneys can follow along as the trial progresses. Precise and fast transcription skills are needed. The benefit of this type of recording is that you don’t have to enter every letter when typing.
3. Electronic Recording is a type of court reporting that involves recording what people are saying electronically. It can involve using mic installed in specific areas of the room, especially in areas where it is hard to hear someone speaking. Later, the electronic recordings are transcribed. This method is beneficial for rooms with poor sound quality and physical barriers. The benefit of this type of court reporting is that you don’t have to manually record what is being said in real-time and you get to use the latest technology.
The type of court reporter that is used in any given situation depends on what type of event is taking place. As well, it can also depend on the court reporter’s personal preferences. They are all a quality method of reporting and are all very important to maintaining the integrity of the judicial system.
The type of court reporter that is used in any given situation depends on what type of event is taking place. As well, it can also depend on the court reporter’s personal preferences. They are all a quality method of reporting and are all very important to maintaining the integrity of the judicial system.
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