THIS BOOKLET BY THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING GOOD REPORTING TECHNIQUES THROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. IT ENCOURAGES WRITERS TO ACQUIRE PROFICIENCY IN SPELLING AND VOCABULARY AND TO LEARN BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GRAMMAR, PUNCTUATION, AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE. SINCE REPORTS ARE READ AND REVIEWED BY MANY PERSONS, AGENCIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS, AMBIGUOUS WORD USAGE CAN RESULT IN MISINTERPRETATIONS. HENCE VALUABLE TIME WILL BE LOST IN CLARIFYING DOUBTFUL POINTS. THE FORMAT OF AN ADEQUATE REPORT REQUIRES ATTENTION TO FIVE AREAS: PERSON(S) CONTACTED; INITIAL SUMMARY; REPORT BODY; NARRATIVE CAPTIONS AND FORM; AND CONCLUSION(S). CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD REPORT ARE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY, BREVITY, OBJECTIVITY, AND EXPLICITNESS. STEPS TO FOLLOW IN REPORT PREPARATION ARE DESCRIBED. THE VALUE OF REPORTS TO THE PUBLIC, INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATORS, AND AGENCIES IS DISCUSSED. (DEP)