The first chapter states and discusses the implementation of the five principles of investigative documentation. First, the investigator should take notes on everything he/she does. Second, every effort to contact a witness and all surveillance should be recorded in a running resume. Third, prepare a report whenever there is a reasonable possibility that the investigator will be called to testify. Fourth, take verbatim statements from hostile or unhelpful witnesses; obtain declarations from friendly witnesses. Fifth, provide all of the case's documents to the client at the conclusion of the case, or have a document-retention policy that decrees the maintenance of most records for at least 5 years. The second chapter reviews the numerous misconceptions that pertain to investigative documentation. This chapter sets the stage for the remaining chapter, which addresses note-taking, running resumes, reports, statements, and documentation-retention. Each chapter consists of four or five sections that suggest methods used to complete a particular documentation. The book also contains an exhaustive appendix that many investigators will find useful, including one that lists hundreds of abbreviations that investigators may find helpful when taking notes; sample reports that readers can use and templates for generating their own reports; an alphabetical stylebook that is based on styles used by the media and Federal law enforcement agencies that provides a quick tool for referencing abbreviations, names, capitalization, and numerals; and several sample statements and declarations that show the completed documents. A subject index