MCCCD Program Description

Effective Communication and Report Writing in Criminal Justice

Course: AJS205

First Term: 2019 Summer

Lecture 3.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S - Standard Load

Description: Overview of effective communication for criminal justice agencies. Covers the communication process and flow. Written communication emphasized with report writing, including characteristics of reports and field notes, and the importance and uses of each. Form, style, and procedures for writing various reports, including elements of composition, required substance, proper and improper conclusions, and descriptions of persons and property.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Explain how effective communication is vital to criminal justice agencies. (I) 2. Summarize the communication process and the types of communication styles. (I) 3. Explain non-verbal communication and the limitations it has on the communication process. (I) 4. Review the advancement of communication technologies and their impact to the professions of criminal justice. (I) 5. Summarize the process for preparing to speak in an investigation/interview, for trial, for an oral presentation and televised presentation. (I, II, III, IV, V) 6. Prepare an oral presentation. (I, II, III, IV, V) 7. Differentiate between the characteristics of the generations. (II) 8. Explain techniques for moving beyond generational communication barriers. (II) 9. Explain the principles of taking operational field notes and writing reports. (III) 10. Investigate common law enforcement incidents and record clear and accurate notes. (III) 11. Write reports after examining common law enforcement incidents. (III) 12. Contrast types of reports in the criminal justice agencies and their purpose. (IV) 13. Summarize the impacts that poorly written reports have on a criminal justice case. (IV) 14. Explain how the communication process differs in an informal interview versus a formal interview. (V) 15. Summarize the principles of effective questioning strategies. (V) 16. Examine how personnel of criminal justice agencies are involved in the court system and how they prepare for court. (V)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Effective communication in criminal justice A. Definition B. Communication process C. Communication styles D. Verbal vs. nonverbal E. Communication Technologies II. Communication with diverse groups A. Ethnic/cultural B. Generational C. Special groups III. Field notes and note-taking A. Purpose and value B. Process C. Accuracy D. Outlines IV. Report writing A. Grammatical overview B. Effective report writing 1. Definition 2. Types/content 3. Format 4. Principles 5. Steps V. Interview/interrogate/present A. Formal vs. informal B. Principles C. Court System 1. Personnel 2. Professionalism 3. Pretrial

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: March 26, 2019

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.