When taking notes, which principle should guide what you write?

When taking notes, which principle should guide what you write?

• A. Do not write anything you wouldn't want the court to see
• B. Write down everything the suspect says, including threats
• C. Only write nonverbal cues
• D. Take no notes at all

Answer: (A)

When you take notes, aim for a record you could defend in court. The best guiding rule is to write information you would be comfortable having shown to a judge or juror. This keeps your notes accurate, complete, and credible, because you’re recording what was said, what was asked, relevant timings, and observable details without adding speculation or fluff. If you include material you wouldn’t want the court to see, it can undermine the record’s reliability and your credibility. Note only what matters for the factual account—verbal statements, questions asked, timestamps, and pertinent nonverbal cues—while avoiding unnecessary embellishment or irrelevant content. Writing only nonverbal cues misses essential statements, and taking no notes at all loses a crucial, reviewable record. Recording everything including threats can overwhelm the core facts and risk prejudicing the case; the goal is a clear, defensible, court-ready account.

When you take notes, aim for a record you could defend in court. The best guiding rule is to write information you would be comfortable having shown to a judge or juror. This keeps your notes accurate, complete, and credible, because you’re recording what was said, what was asked, relevant timings, and observable details without adding speculation or fluff. If you include material you wouldn’t want the court to see, it can undermine the record’s reliability and your credibility. Note only what matters for the factual account—verbal statements, questions asked, timestamps, and pertinent nonverbal cues—while avoiding unnecessary embellishment or irrelevant content. Writing only nonverbal cues misses essential statements, and taking no notes at all loses a crucial, reviewable record. Recording everything including threats can overwhelm the core facts and risk prejudicing the case; the goal is a clear, defensible, court-ready account.